Japanese Fire Belly Newt
Encyclopedia
The Japanese Fire Belly Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) is a common Asian newt
. It is commonly confused with the Chinese Fire Belly Newt
(Cynops orientalis) due to similarities in coloring and size, and most newts sold as Japanese Fire Bellys are likely to be the more commonly collected Chinese Fire Belly instead.
s.
They are typically brown to black above, often with red specks or spots, and orange to crimson below, usually with a blotched darker pattern. Males can be distinguished from females by their swollen cloacas, and male newts of this species will often become a blue iridescent sheen and smoother skin during the breeding season.
In the wild this species of newt lives on the islands of Honshū
, Shikoku
, and Kyūshū
. It lives in clear, cool bodies of water, usually ponds, ditches, pools, or lakes. There are reportedly six subspecies or races found through the Japanese islands. These six races are Atsumi, Hiroshima, Kanto, Sasayama, and Touhoku. Each race originating from the region of Japan they are named after.
These newts are poisonous in the wild, however animals bred in captivity "may" lose their toxicity. The skin of the wild animals contains Tetrodotoxin
(TTX), which is one of the most effective non-peptide toxins known to man. It is a neurotoxin, which has no known antidote and can cause death by suffocation in as little as six hours after ingestion. It is speculated that the toxin could be formed by environmental bacteria, and this could be the reason that some newts in captivity have a lower toxicity than their wild counterparts.
Like other newts, they can be fed commercial pellets or freeze-dried food, but if they refuse these, they should be given live food such as bloodworms, earthworms, mosquito
larva, ghost shrimp
, nightcrawlers
, or pinhead cricket
s. In order to feed a newt earthworms of any sort, you must chop them into bite sized pieces. Worms can live as long as 8 years if kept at good health. At least one inch of the clitellum (head) is left. You can either feed by hand, or with tweezers of forceps of some kind. Uneaten crickets must be removed, as they will bite a sleeping newt.
It isn't a good idea to house them with other amphibians other than their own kind because the fire-bellied toad
is known to try to eat newts. They may be housed with their close relative, Cynops orientalis but it is not recommended as Cynops pyrrhogaster tends to get larger by at least two inches.
Newt
A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
. It is commonly confused with the Chinese Fire Belly Newt
Chinese Fire Belly Newt
The Chinese Fire Belly Newt is a small black newt, with bright orange aposematic coloration on the ventral side. Cynops orientalis is commonly seen in pet stores, where it is frequently confused with the Japanese Fire Belly Newt due to similarities in size and coloration. C...
(Cynops orientalis) due to similarities in coloring and size, and most newts sold as Japanese Fire Bellys are likely to be the more commonly collected Chinese Fire Belly instead.
Description
This newt is usually 3.5 - 5.5 inches long and can be distinguished from its Chinese relative by its larger size, rough, pebbly skin and distinct parotoid glandParotoid gland
The parotoid gland is an external skin gland on the back, neck, and shoulder of toads and some frogs and salamanders. It secretes a milky alkaloid substance to deter predators...
s.
They are typically brown to black above, often with red specks or spots, and orange to crimson below, usually with a blotched darker pattern. Males can be distinguished from females by their swollen cloacas, and male newts of this species will often become a blue iridescent sheen and smoother skin during the breeding season.
In the wild this species of newt lives on the islands of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, and Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. It lives in clear, cool bodies of water, usually ponds, ditches, pools, or lakes. There are reportedly six subspecies or races found through the Japanese islands. These six races are Atsumi, Hiroshima, Kanto, Sasayama, and Touhoku. Each race originating from the region of Japan they are named after.
These newts are poisonous in the wild, however animals bred in captivity "may" lose their toxicity. The skin of the wild animals contains Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin, also known as "tetrodox" and frequently abbreviated as TTX, sometimes colloquially referred to as "zombie powder" by those who practice Vodou, is a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote. There have been successful tests of a possible antidote in mice, but further tests must be...
(TTX), which is one of the most effective non-peptide toxins known to man. It is a neurotoxin, which has no known antidote and can cause death by suffocation in as little as six hours after ingestion. It is speculated that the toxin could be formed by environmental bacteria, and this could be the reason that some newts in captivity have a lower toxicity than their wild counterparts.
In captivity
Japanese Fire Belly newts prefer aquarium with a small land area to crawl out on and heavy stands of aquatic plants. They do not need any special lighting, but incandescent light can be used. You will need at least a 2.5 gallon terrarium. The best land-water ratio is 1/3 land and 2/3 water, with at least 4 inches in depth. It is best to have a hiding spot/cave to avoid stressing out the newts. The ideal substrates for a newt terrarium are either any moss besides peat moss, sand, or fairly large gravel to avoid ingestion. The water should be about 60-74°F, though these newts can tolerate much higher temperatures than other species.Like other newts, they can be fed commercial pellets or freeze-dried food, but if they refuse these, they should be given live food such as bloodworms, earthworms, mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
larva, ghost shrimp
Ghost shrimp
Ghost shrimp is a name applied to at least two different kinds of crustacean:*Palaemonetes, small mostly transparent shrimp commonly sold for use in freshwater aquaria*Thalassinidea, crustaceans which live in deep burrows in the intertidal zone....
, nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers are a form of earthworm. Prized primarily for use as fishing bait, nightcrawlers are generally known as either Canadian or European...
, or pinhead cricket
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s. In order to feed a newt earthworms of any sort, you must chop them into bite sized pieces. Worms can live as long as 8 years if kept at good health. At least one inch of the clitellum (head) is left. You can either feed by hand, or with tweezers of forceps of some kind. Uneaten crickets must be removed, as they will bite a sleeping newt.
It isn't a good idea to house them with other amphibians other than their own kind because the fire-bellied toad
Fire-bellied toad
The Fire-bellied Toads is a group comprising eight species of small toads belonging to the genus Bombina...
is known to try to eat newts. They may be housed with their close relative, Cynops orientalis but it is not recommended as Cynops pyrrhogaster tends to get larger by at least two inches.