Expert: Nicole - 12/27/2008

Question
Hi I recently got a chinese fire belly newt for christmas and a betta.I was wondering if you could put them in the same cage.my newt is not eating and he has gotten out of his cage twice in the last two nights. he always runs into my mother's room and the next morning I find him covered in dust and puff balls. It concerns me a lot, knowing that he might run away the next night. He is also turning a little bit greenish instead of the light black or brown that he's suppose to be.I think it's because he wont eat. My uncle says that he eats the same food as my betta, and that's what we feed him but he won't eat.Any suggestions or pointers? Thanks!

Answer
The fire belly newt cannot go into the same tank. The newts need to be able to get out of the water occasionally, and they will occasionally nip at the fins of the bettas. They are prone to climbing out, so if you get a secure lid you shouldn't have to worry about it climbing up. You can't feed him betta food. They have very different food requirements, after all...one is a fish, the other is a newt. Any pet store should have either newt/salamander pellets which will be good for him. You can also feed him frozen/live food such as bloodworms(an all time favorite) and brine shrimp. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Good Luck! :-D