Fire bellied salamander | Facts & Information

Origin

It is found in some pet-shops from us, but quite difficult, because it is still not very known.

Also called the fire-bellied Newt, this animal belongs to the family Salamandridae, class Amphibia. Its closest relative is the Japanese fire-bellied salamander (Cynops pyrrhogaster), with which it is often confused.

In the natural environment salamander lives in ponds, lakes and slow flowing waters. It has a predominantly aquatic lifestyle, but it also steps on land to bask in the sun or to look for extra food.

They prefer to hide among aquatic plants. He likes waters without currents and with lower temperatures (15-19 degrees Celsius).

Feeding the fire-bellied Salamander

In nature they feed on amphibians, fish, Bream, shrimp, worms.

The feed should not be wider than the width of the head.

Adults feed once every 2-3 days.

In the first few days after you bring them home until they get used to their new home they can refuse food.

Features fire-bellied Salamander

The Chinese salamander is found more often than the Japanese, as a pet. The Japanese fire-bellied salamander is larger in size 12-15cm, has rougher skin, rounder and thicker tail and more prominent parotid regions. Japanese Newt is more toxic than Chinese Newt.

The Chinese fire-bellied salamander is a small amphibian (7-10 cm) native to Southern and eastern China. Life expectancy is up to 30 years, but with an average of 12-15 years in captivity.

The physical appearance is special, the name accurately describing the specific characters: black or dark brown body with a bright orange abdomen.

The Chinese believed this Newt to be a rainbower, and the description of the animal was found in writings from more than 1,000 years ago. Her skin is smoother than that of her Japanese relative, and the parotids less prominent.

As indicated by its strident coloration (alarm for possible predators), this amphibian is toxic. The toxin secreted by the parotid is released through the skin. Upon simple contact with human skin this toxin is not absorbed and is not dangerous.

Avoid handling the animal if you have open injuries, wash hands thoroughly and avoid contact with eyes, nose or mouth. If ingested, the Newt can be lethal. There have been cases when children or other animals of the House swallowed it.

In captivity this Newt is relatively easy to please. It does not require special environmental conditions and expensive investments, but some minimum maintenance rules must be observed. Unfortunately the animals in the trade most of them come from their natural environment, imported directly from China.

Since breeding is quite laborious in captivity and the selling price low, only a small percentage of the demand is covered by specialized breeders.

Many specimens die during transport or due to adverse conditions in the pet-shop or later provided by the owner.

That is why when buying a salamdra of this type check well the state of Health: moisturized skin, without injuries, shiny eyes, the presence of the entire tail and all 4 legs, the level of activity.

Breeding fire-bellied Salamander

It reaches sexual maturity around the age of 1-3 years. Females are longer and more robust than males, the latter having shorter and higher tail and the cloacal area is more swollen, especially during mating season.

In nature this species hibernates, except in areas where winter is milder, such as Zhengjiang.

You can stimulate reproduction by simulating winter for 4-6 weeks, lowering the temperature to 5-7 grC. A female can lay over 200 eggs in a single season, usually on aquatic vegetation.

The eggs are internally fertilized and the tadpoles hatch at about 3 weeks. Tadpoles are between 10-12 mm long at hatching, reaching 30 mm when they are completely metamorphosed, after 50-80 days.

Eggs are laid from March to July at a temperature of 15-23 grC. Sometimes cases of cannibalism can occur among tadpoles. They can be kept in groups.