I cannot believe I got them! Paludarium Update 

FINALLY making progress on this tank! The paludarium is growing in amazingly well, and I am stupid stoked to finally add its first inhabitants. What do you think?

oh my god they're adorable I'ma need that species spotlight

Make sure that you have a tight cover on these guys. They are wonderful escape artists. Back about 1990, I was working in a small aquarium store that was housed in a rather dilapidated building. One day in December, I noticed something odd behind a piece if the door trim. I called the owner over, and we removed the piece of wood. Crammed in behind it were about twenty five fire bellied newts. They had escaped from the tanks and had apparently been living on flies, roaches, termites and other insects. As winter came on, they had gathered in that space and gone into hibernation. Since they were torpid, we had no trouble rounding them up and putting them in a tank. We had no idea how long they had been living loose since we had not stocked fire belly newts for many months, maybe years. For all we knew, only a couple had escaped and the rest were their descendants. If your newts do escape, do not give up on them. As long as they have a damp corner to hide and a chance to eat some kind of bug, they might survive. Unlike fish, dry land is no problem for them. PS. since newts secrete a toxic slime through their skin, your cats would probably leave them alone.

"Well she turned me into a newt" A newt? "I got better"

This is awesome Rachel! I keep blue tailed fire belly newts and in my experience they are super breedable. When the summer comes I'm sure you will will find the female newt folding plant leaves around her eggs to keep them protected. Also I would not bother feeding meal worms. Its more work than it's worth, I feed mine pellets, enriched frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms and I've had lots of success keeping them happy and breeding them. If you have any questions or want some tips on breeding them please let me know.

I kept newts many years ago. I'd forgotten how much joy they brought me until I watched this. I swear these two move together like an affectionate, bonded couple. I was mesmerized.

These little guys have such a adorable personality! Beautiful set up for them!

❤️ love this. This brings many communities together. Aquatic,reptilian,and plants 🌱❤️

I got fire bellies too at the beginning of quarantine! So excited to see someone I watch getting some. I look forward to more newt videos in the future!!!

They are SO flippin' cute! 😁 I'd be really interested in a species spotlight. 😊

Its so relaxing, between the music and the visual i feel refreshed. Thanks for the tranquility Rachel.

I have wanted these for years and have never been able to find them. Your are super lucky!

They’re adorable! Wiggles. Poses. They’re perfect! 😍

with everything thats been going on in your life, its been a long time since i've seen you this excited about something. so happy for you.

I would love a species spotlight! They're beautiful and full of character.

Still getting those plants to you, just tough right now with odd hrs, school schedule, but they will be sent...sorry to be late, again. 😁. The new residents are great!! It's coming along nicely. Newts are such fun critters...cute little fire bellys. 🤗 My friends feed there's live worms and small wax worms.

NEWTS!!! Who would've thought. What an interesting and unique addition. I could watch them for hours. No wonder you find yourself doing the same. Very well done paludarium.

Amazing! Well done! Excited to see how the tank matures and grows with the newts!

Love these lil guys ! When i was a kid we had all kinds of pets with my mom as the manager, sorta like a Mrs. Noah. She'd figure out what a particular species needed. Along with having a varied diet, the newts and turtles had their diet based on canned dog food. It gave them all the important elements. This and making sure they got a couple hours of direct sun light every day....they lasted for over 20 years. Good luck doll !

How tranquil and relaxing. Enjoyed having my morning coffee with you and your newts. ☕️🦎🙂. Nice to see your smile. Glad you’re back.

I love newts! I am having my tank's plants fully establish before i get eastern newts for the tank, it has 9 months and just now is my amazon sword producing more babies :)

Yes!!!! Hopefully I can continue to live vicariously through these videos. I have always wanted newts as pets.

It is amazing how beautiful this paludarium is! I find myself to be baffled at its beautiful each time you show it. The newts are a fantastic addition to this paludarium. They seem to have an awesome personality, and while watching them just for a short time in the video, I had a huge grin on my face. They are just adorable and funny to watch. Thank you for this video! I am very interested to see the progression of this enclosure and its inhabitants on the long term.

Wow, I’m in awe. This paludarium is stunning, and the newts are beautiful and quirky. Can’t wait to see updates on this!

Oh my, wow and not just the beautiful newts but the paludarium setup itself.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Looks amazing Rachel.💜

I can't wait to see how this setup evolves with time. Now you just needa go full Serpa and get some isopods for the land portion!

How adorable! Thank you for sharing, Rachel!

Beautiful tank. Your friend Nick must do this as a profession.

Soooo cute!! What charming little creatures. May you enjoy them for many, many years.

How exciting! I had newts many many years ago and the firebelly was the longest lived and the most entertaining. I look forward to seeing more of this group and a species spotlight.

Such an exciting new setup! Can’t wait to learn from this

It looks great!! I have had my fire bellied newts for 14 years & I love them. They love it when my cat sits next to the tank. They swim over & look at her. They also like it when I talk to them

Oh my goodness! Super cuteness!!! They are freaking adorable!

I’ve had my fire belly newt for over 8 years and he is still doing well 😊

Omg! They are sooo stinking cute!!! I love them! That tank looks amazing !!

this is truly amazing and the newts are such an extra ordinary addition never really thought of it but it seems so interesting i wanttt!!!

Omg, these are AWESOME!!!

That's nature!! I love this set up ❤

Looks great, thanks for sharing!

So adorable!

Wow! This looks great! When I was a kid our Wal-Mart pet department actually sold these newts. I always wanted one.

I have been so looking forward to this! Newts are the best

It looks absolutely stunning Rachael, I’m not sure what video the three negative people that gave the thumbs down were watching but it can’t have been this one... what’s not to like! keep the video blogs coming they’re always fabulous and informative. Really good to see you looking so well too... keep well and safe.

awesome results. ive been looking forward to the vid on this tank seeing glimpses of it here and there.

This really inspires me to create one. I have thought about it several time but didn't really have a direction to go with it. What you created is perfect. I have seen similar thing in nature many times. I have to have one in my life!

Oh my gosh! So cute!

Stunning

I’m stoked to see how these do over time! I’ve been wanting to turn my 125 into a palludarium eventually and these look like a perfect addition

Beautiful and so relaxing! I'm a waterfall lover too. :) I would enjoy a species spotlight. The little one missing toes is especially adorable.

Ohmygosh! These guys are so cute and they have a great setup! I’d love a species profile video! I look forward to more update vids about them 🥰

I had fire bellied newts in the late 80s for several years. Sturdy guys and rhey actually liked being held. One of mine loved hanging out on my shoulder as I did college homework.

Love the look of this and really like the little fellas living here.

Thank you Rachel

Wow! 30 years. Beautiful and very interesting.

That’s awesome Rach! I Haven’t seen fire belly newts in years

When I was a little kid growing up in the Bronx I had a 10 gallon tank like that. I would go to the empty lot near my house which was a wet area and catch them and tadpoles. You brought back some memories Thank you Rachael. I still keep fish in New York and in Florida, Butterfly Koi. 😎👍

Definitely a spotlight would be great. I'm glad you emphasize the life span of the animals you show on your channel. So many people don't take that into account. Such amazing newts.

Very exciting!!!

Such a beautiful setup. You always do everything so perfect for whatever you are keeping. These newts will bring you much joy. They are always doing something. Yes for the species spotlight.

So cute!! I love them!

ohh! they are soo cool love the little guys!

Absolutely stunning could watch them all day and I so can’t wait to see more of them 😍👌

Very cool setup- I like it. That one that stood up, hilarious 😂

That’s an amazing paludarium setup! Those newts will be really happy in there.

They are so cute! Look forward to following the marathon!

They are incredible 🧡 how awesome!! ❤️❤️

Hope you had good time on the back packing trip, Paladarium and newts are super cool

Beautiful. I love how lush the plants are getting. A species spotlight would be awesome. My husband wants some but I'm the one who tends the animals, kids, and tanks. I know nothing about them and honestly I don't think the hubby does either.

Another great video! I was dying to see what was going on with your paludarium... I really want one. Now I can show this video to my hubby and get him on board!

Wow what a knockout!!! I love the whole thing!

I used to keep these as a kid. They were some of my favorites.

Amazing. Love this. Cant wait for updates. Inspired me to do something similar : )

Lol so cuuuute! I love their faces and curiosity 😊

Fab! Yes please to the species spotlight.

I love this tank and the newts!!

Awesome video Rachel

Damn they are amazing! That is a phenomenal setup!

Of course we want a species spotlight of these guys--so cute!!

I miss these guys. I had them many years ago in my first ever aquarium. They do fine with fish as long as you make sure that the newts can get to the food before the fish eat all of it and that the fish aren’t big enough to mess with the newts obviously. You should put a school of small fish like white clouds in there with them to add some action. A sorority of female bettas or some livebearers would be cool too. Make sure they can’t escape through a tiny hole because then you’ll find them in your closet dried up like I did. Also they love to eat bloodworms, blackworms, and brine shrimp, not really mealworms but if it works then that’s fine too. Good luck with them, looks like they have a perfect home!

Awesome Rachel! Looks amazing! I have Spanish newts. I learned right away how well they climb. They are so curious... like underwater cats. All the best to you and your family and friends.

They have so much personality!! So cute!

Love that tank so natural very relaxing to look at👌

Love it! Now I need newts.

So glad you're back, hope you had a nice vacation!

Yes please do a spotlight! This set up is amazing!!

Congratulations for these beautiful kids

Awesome Rachael

Love it! I am looking forward to more on your fire belly newts. We had a pair growing up. Well ... they live for 22 or 24 years. They were cool. I also love your paludarium and would love to do a set up like this someday!

Oh wow they are so stinking cute!!!!! 😍

I admire your dedication and love for all this beautiful hobby, I wish to have time or dedication for this but I don’t think I’m good person to do it, that’s why I love watch your videos and enjoy every single one :) you are amazing

The paludarium looks great!

This is my new favourite aquarium ❤️❤️💚💚 and yes we need spotlight on this species 😅🖐🏻

Beautiful

Totally on the creature spotlight. Love this video

GORGEOUS

So cute good choice🐟🌿👍😊

They are adorable. I never had a nest but my brother did.

This is beautiful and awesome! Definitely want a Paludarium now.

Love it Rachel! The thumbnail reminds me of SerpaDesign!

Hope you had a good break..take care..be safe x