Fire-belly Newts

Cynops pyrrhogaster

Info
size: 2-3in (5-8cm)
origin: Southeast Asia
food: small invertebrates, and pellets
scientific name: Cynops pyrrhogaster
also known as: Fire Newt; Japanese Newt; Fire-belly Newt; Red-belly Newt; Orange-belly Newt

From above, pyrrhogaster appears to be an uninteresting black newt. But if you see one from below, or even from the side, you'll notice that underneath it is a bright fiery orange, with black occurring in small globs and dots. The exact pattern varies; some individuals have a solid orange underside, while most have some sort of spotting. The top color can also be a dark gray (which looks white under some aquarium lights, giving a very eerie look).

Fire-belly newts are rather common in the pet trade. Unfortunately, they are so common that dealers have taken to labeling as a "fire-belly" any newt that has an orange underside. Lots of newts have orange undersides. Identify your newt to be sure. fire-bellies are smaller than all the other newts I discuss here, so often the easiest way to tell what you have is to compare its size. If it's under 3 inches, it's probably a true fire-belly. Otherwise, check the pages about crested newts and California/Oregon newts.

Fire-bellies are a good first newt, because they're active and playful (not all newts are), and are small, inexpensive, and commonly available. Of course, be sure to read the newt care pages before making any decisions.