I am keeping a 10 gallon aquaterrarium (A.K.A. Paludarium, Vivarium) at my middle school with my friend. We have:
3 Fire Bellied Newts
2 Fiddler Crabs (different species)
2 Silvertips
The tank is set up with medium-fine gravel sloping up into the middle out of water with two areas of water on either side. There are three black PVC-like pipes extending from one of the areas of water to the other through the land. The newts and crabs both love these and use them like caves and for getting around quicker. The silvertip tetras use them a little less frequently as they seem to prefer the side of the tank with the micro-filter installed.
The 3 newts have not eaten in front of anybody yet, and we've had them in the science class about two weeks. Well, not exactly, since we got them at different times over the last two weeks.
We have tried feeding them frozen bloodworm cubes, which I have seen the silvertips and I think possibly at least one of the crabs eat. There is a possibility that the newts are eating particles of decay from the food overnight but since this species of newt is not really known as extremely nocturnal I very much doubt it.
The bottom line is that this species of newt (although there is a similar species commonly called the Fire Newt that grows larger and is more aggresive) is, although readily available in the hobby, not a very good one for it. They aren't very hardy unless the owner is really lucky when purchasing them. They are not very tolerant to many foods, and although some, like bloodworms, work for some newts, this isn't very consistent between individuals and many will not take food in captivity
at all and most are at least a little picky.
I talked to numerous specialist stores in my area, and most say it is a pain stocking this species since they lose almost 80% of their stock every time they recieve a shipment. A couple of my stores only stock them in the spring because they are cheapest then due to breeding and if they were any more expensive they might not stock them at all.
I am going to try mealworms and crickets tomorrow, and if I can get my hands on some brine shrimp or live bloodworms I'll try those too.
I hope some of this information helps.
-John