Two new newts

[Chrispy]

ok, so today i went out and got 2 new little FB newts. Well i am curious about water level in the tank. mine keep climbing on top my filter. So i have a 10 gallon aquatic tank with floating things. it has a glass lid with tape, homever there still are holes to vent air. Right now my water lever is a little high. i have it about 3.5 inches from the top. now what should it be at? i still want a lot of water in it for my fish. I have a whisper filter that sticks to the inside of the tank can that injur them at all when they get in the top? i am not sure atm. I have a ugly plastig floating island thing and one of those nice floating logs. any tips on how to make it better for the newts. Also my tank sits between 68 and 70 digrees. now i wold like it cooler, but have trouble with that because its snowing outside so opening a window will cool ot off really quick. any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Blackbeard]

How warm is the room where the fishtank is? Keep it as far away from the heater/vents... Maybe move the tank a bit closer to the window (without putting it in direct sunlight)?
Do you think there's enough holes in the top for excess heat to escape?

I'm no newt expert, but I've played with my tank a TON to finally establish a happy temp.

I hopped around online and found this article. I dunno if it'll help, but may be a starting point.
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/salam...liednewt_2.htm

[JustOneMore20]

According to the article that Blackbeard found, newts like cool temperatures....your fish aren't going to be happy in cool water, which is why you really should have a tank just for the newts. You'd be able to meet their needs alot better that way in terms of water level and temperature. Seriously consider doing what is best for these critters.

[Blackbeard]

Yeah... my research has said that bettas and guppies dig the warmer waters (bettas in particular).
Guppies range from 64-81 degrees F (respectively), and Bettas thrive in water between 75 and 84 degrees F (again, generally). Keeping the two species of fish together, I wouldn't go any lower than 75 degrees in the water. I dunno about the newts. :S

[sidneymysnake]

Another reason you might not want to add fish with newts is that newts love to pick off smaller fish and bigger fish like to pick on the newts. Either way it doesn't work out.

[Lexus]

I had FB in a 10G before with fish. I had platies and guppies in with them and they did just fine. I also had a betta with them at one point. I had the same filter as you. The FB would often climb up and into it, getting stuck. I would fish him out and he would wind up in there a few hours later. Pain in the butt. He never got hurt just liked to hide in there. Then they took to climbing out of the tank. Eventually both climbed out and died because we couldnt find them. My advice to you is make sure EVERY hole is covered!

If you keep them well fed with frozen brine shrimp they should avoid picking on the fish... mine did.

Another note, the newts didnt swim much they mainly laid on the rocks we had for them. So the water to me was almost point less. I kept it half to 3/4 full.

[Chrispy]

Well i have had them for about ten days and they are doing fine They are pretty awuatic. The one i had in the tank still stays on the long and never gets in the water. also about the tank temp. the heater is just below the window and the tank is next to both. so i turned off the heater and cracked the window till the temp was about 64. and now with the window closed and the heater off the tank stays between 64 and 68 which works great for everything. the guppies will live and the betta is fine. she can take a lot colder and still is lively. when i had her a while back and no heater i had no problems. thanks.

[Blackbeard]

Great to hear! I hope all stays happy for your little community.
Apparently, you gotta keep an eye out for the filter. Glad to hear your betta is happy! WTG, Chrispy!