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Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt

Cynops orientalis

BeginnerFamily Salamandridae

The classic beginner newt — small, hardy, with a bright warning belly.

🖼️ Free Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt wallpapers — phone & desktop →

⚠️ Before anything else: Toxic skin secretions — wash hands; never house with axolotls.

A Chinese fire-bellied newt cheerfully noting it's toxic, which is why it always washes its hands. The point: fire-bellied newts have toxic skin secretions, so wash hands and don't handle them.
Fire-bellied newts have toxic skin secretions (the bright belly is a warning). Handle as little as possible, never near your eyes or mouth, and always wash your hands.

✅ We have a full, fact-checked care sheet for the Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt.

Open the Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt care sheet →

📋 At a glance

Tank
10 gal+ semi-aquatic/aquatic: shallow water + land or islands
Temp
Cool 65–72°F · avoid above ~75–80°F
Water
Shallow, dechlorinated, gentle flow (a few inches for juveniles)
Food
Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, newt pellets
Lifespan
10–20 years

✅ Small, inexpensive and long-lived — a forgiving first newt as long as the water stays cool.

🛒 Before you buy

  • An aquarium with a land area AND a tight lid (they escape a ¼-inch gap)
  • Cool, dechlorinated water with gentle filtration
  • A way to keep water below ~75°F in summer
  • The knowledge that they climb well

A healthy one: Active · good weight · bright belly · clear skin · using both water and land.

🚨 See a vet / act now if…

  • Floating or bloating
  • Not eating, or weight loss
  • Skin fungus or lesions
  • Staying out of the water persistently

⛔ Never

  • Warm water (over ~78°F)
  • An open-topped tank (they escape and dry out)
  • Housing with axolotls or fish (toxic skin harms tankmates)

Common chinese fire-bellied newt questions

How hard are Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts to keep — are they good for beginners?

Beginner. A hardy starter newt — cool water and a truly escape-proof lid are the essentials.

What do Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts eat?

Bloodworms, chopped earthworms, newt pellets

What size tank do Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts need?

10 gal+ semi-aquatic/aquatic: shallow water + land or islands

What temperature do Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts need?

Cool 65–72°F · avoid above ~75–80°F

What water setup do Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts need?

Shallow, dechlorinated, gentle flow (a few inches for juveniles)

How long do Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts live?

10–20 years

What are the signs Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts are sick?

See an exotics vet if you notice: Floating or bloating; Not eating, or weight loss; Skin fungus or lesions; Staying out of the water persistently.

Free tools for the chinese fire-bellied newt

Calm, honest help — each one knows when to say "see a vet."

Symptom checkerTriage a worrying sign and know when to see a vet.Water-or-land plannerAquatic or terrestrial? Right for its life stage.Feeder cultureCulture your own feeder insects, cheaply.Male or female?The honest way to sex this one — and when you can tell.Common questionsReal questions keepers ask — answered straight.

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