Scientific Name: Cynops orientalis.
Common Names: Chinese Fire-bellied Newt, Oriental Fire-bellied Newt, Dwarf Fire-bellied Newt.
Distribution: China.
Size: 6-10cm.
Sexing: Males have more swollen cloaca, and when in breeding condition they develop a sheen to their tails. Females are often plumper when viewed from above.
Colouration: The dorsal surface is a dark brown to black. The ventrum ranges between bright orange to deep red with irregular black marking.
Requirements: Chinese Fire-bellied Newts are mainly aquatic and require a relatively small aquarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for 4 adults. These Newts can be maintained in a totally aquatic set-up, provided they have a few floating islands (pieces of cork) to climb out on to. A base substrate of gravel or sand is ideal with large pebbles arranged to provide a number of hiding places and densely planted with aquatic plants. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 20cm (8"). The water will need to be filtered using a submersible power filter to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water, and partial water changes should be carried out at regular intervals. It is also a good idea to lightly oxygenate the water with the use of an air-stone. A water temperature of 15-20°C should be maintained, and a low wattage fluorescent tube should be used as a light source.
Feeding: Juvenile Newts should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including Tubifex, bloodworm and whiteworm. Adult Newts should be fed every other day with a mixture of earthworms, slugs, maggots, and Tubifex. It is possible to get them to eat pelleted foods, and captive-bred individuals are most likely to be already well adept at taking pellets.
