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Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Fire Belly Newt Care Sheet and Information
Please click here for a printable PDF version.
Common Name: Fire Belly Newt
Latin name: Cynops pyrrhogaster
Native to: Japan and parts of China
Size: up to 6 inches
General appearance: Dark brown to black in color with the ventral (belly) side being orange or red with dark patches.
Housing requirements:
Enclosure: A semi-aquatic aquarium will be needed.
Fire belly newts need to climb out of the water and have a land area to
bask or hide. You can do this in different ways:
- Dividing the tank in half using a piece of Plexiglas to create a dry and water area.
- Add gravel and slope it out of the water to create a land spot.
- Use rocks or platforms at the waters' surface for the fire belly newts to climb on to.
Temperature: Room temperature at 68° - 70° F seems to be fine for them.
Heat/Light: A normal fluorescent or incandescent aquarium light can be used during the day. Turn off the light at night to produce a natural setting.
Substrate: Large aquarium gravel should be used so it is not accidentally ingested. Plants, rocks, moss and wood can be used to create hiding areas and land portions.
Environment: Semi-aquatic
Diet: Fire belly newts will take live insects including crickets, wax worms, and bloodworms. Make sure the prey is small enough for the newt to eat it. Some will eat fish food such as shrimp pellets, brine shrimp, or turtle floating food sticks.
Maintenance: Water will need to be added if it starts to evaporate. The filter should be cleaned and rinsed every two weeks. Clean entire aquarium as needed. Handlers should always wash hands thoroughly after handling the fire belly newts or related products.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
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Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.