The Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt & Sharp Ribbed Newt

The Japanese Fire-Bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) and the Sharp Ribbed Newt ( Pleurodeles waltl) – also sometimes known as the Spanish Ribbed Newt or Ribbed Salamander – are amongst the best known varieties of amphibians kept as pets.

Japanese Fire-Bellied Newts

These amphibians are one of a number of oriental species which are commonly offered for sale. Growing to 4 or 5 inches (10-12.5cm) in length, they are very attractive animals, especially when seen from underneath – their bright reddish orange bellies giving them their common name. Males are generally larger than the females and slimmer looking relative to their length and develop a purplish sheen to their tails during the breeding season – though not many people seem to have much success breeding these handsome newts in captivity, at least not in the average domestic setting.

Sharp Ribbed Newts

Growing up to 12 inches (30cm) long, the Sharp Ribbed Newt is the largest of Europe’s tailed amphibians – their unusual common name comes from the fact that the sharp ends of their ribs can be felt through the orange wart-like tubercles along their flanks. These striking looking newts have greenish brown backs, pattered with irregular blotches, while their bellies are typically a much lighter creamy-white or yellow colour.

Housing

Both of these newts spend almost all of their lives in water, naturally to be found in ponds, ditches and slow moving streams in their native lands and will do well in a totally aquatic environment in captivity, provided you give them a few floating cork bark “islands” to climb onto when they wish.

Gravel makes a good flooring material for these amphibians, while an area of dense planting in part of the aquarium and the addition of a few suitable rocks will be appreciated as places to hide.

Water quality is essential for the health of your pets, and water straight from the tap is potentially harmful to both kinds of newts, so you’ll need to use de-chlorinated or spring water – and fill your tank up to a depth of around 8 or 10 inches (20-25cm). Adequate filtration is also important to prevent the build up of toxins from the animals’ own waste products – so an under-gravel or power filter is called for – along with regular routine partial water changes.

Given the large size of Sharp Ribbed Newts, they obviously need more roomy quarters than their Japanese relatives. As a guide, four adults would need at least a 22-gallon (100 litres) tank and water around 22 degrees C (72F), with the same number of Fire-Bellied Newts only requiring an aquarium of 12-15 gallons (55-70 litres) capacity and a temperature of about 20C (68F).

The tank could also do with a securely fitting lid – although these amphibians are almost entirely aquatic, escapes are certainly not unknown!

Food And Feeding

Both species are carnivorous and will eat a wide range of typical live foods, juveniles and small adults taking whiteworm, tubifex and the like, while larger specimens will also take more appropriately sized prey, such as slugs, earthworms and insect larvae from the garden.

Until they get used to their new surroundings, it’s a good idea to leave newts alone after feeding them, since they can often be a little shy and retiring – at least at first – and if they feel insecure they may refuse to eat. Rather than start off with problems, it’s better to leave them alone and they should hopefully soon become more trusting, and allow you to watch their feeding times more closely.

Whichever of these two amphibians you choose, you’ll be sure of an easily maintained and striking pet; fairly undemanding in their needs, both of these newts do well in captivity and make fascinating additions to any exotic pet-keeper’s collection.