Living Science Center: Fire-bellied Newt
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Newts are part of a group called "amphibians" (am-FIB-ee-uns). Amphibian means stuck between two worlds. Can you figure out what two worlds newts live in? Need a hint? Look in our newt's tank for two worlds! Do you know what the two worlds are now? I bet you do. Did you spot the newt? Lets take a closer look... Hmm. I don't see it in the water. Let's look on the other side. Are they on the land? I think I see something in the left corner! Let's take a closer look from above... What do you see?

Can you guess why these are called "Fire-bellied" newts? Wow! Do you think the newt's belly is REALLY on fire?

We feed the newt little green pellets we bought at the pet store. I wonder what kind of food the wild newts eat? Newts breathe oxygen from the air into their lungs and hold their breath when they dive. I wonder how long a fire-bellied newt can hold its breath under water? Do you know anyone who can hold their breath under water? (insert snorkeling kid photo) Hmm! Kids go on land and in water. I wonder if kids are amphibians? Can you breathe through your skin? Amphibians can but only if their skin stays wet! How do you think the newt keeps its skin wet?

Can you pass the newt Quiz? Its "newt" (not) very hard--try it! How is a newt like a you? How is a kid NOT like a newt?   How is a newt like a fish? How is a newt NOT like a fish?   How is a newt like a frog? Amphibian habitat equipment: 20 gallon high aquarium with hood and light Viquarium (the white plastic parts, including dividing wall, pump, waterfall, raceway and bio filter; moss and 3 small plastic land plants) 40 pounds of medium rocks for the land support and filtration. 10 pounds small decorative rocks for pond bottom. floating island and a decorative water plant. Feeding: We follow directions on the amphibian food purchased from the pet store but we break the food into smaller pieces. This lets more students participate in each feeding and we hope the skinny newt gets some food before the fat one gobbles it all up.   Maintenance: We remove and clean the moss, rinse the bio filter, scrub the plastic parts clean of the slimy green stuff (we are still researching to discover what it is so please don't tell us yet ;), vacuum the gravel, and change out several gallons of water every two weeks.   We chose to add some small fish (neon tetras) to help clean up the uneaten newt food before it rots.

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