Eastern Newt - tankmates?

[spitz006]

I'm considering getting an eastern newt. My plan was to get a 20 gallon aquarium, stick a sponge filter in there with the BB on it so it cycles faster, and get a ton of live plants. Fill it up about 75 percent of the way and add some floating driftwood. Then I wanted to add some fish. I can't think of any fish to add because if they are too small the newt will eat it and if it's too big the fish will pick on the newt. I need a very peaceful temperament cold-water fish. Any suggestions?

If no fish will work, maybe I will just do pond-snails and amano shrimp and cherry shrimp. amanos and cherrys are expensive though and I don't want to have to keep replacing them...

I've been checking out this website
http://www.zimmermansfish.com/Care.html
and I think maybe the topminnows will work because they're cold-water, they're surface feeders so they wont pick on the newt, and they are probably fast enough to get away from him.

Let me know your experience with newt tank-mates, thanks!

 

[rudukai13]

Read through this article:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/fish.shtml

It outlines specific fish to avoid and provides a few examples of fish that are acceptably kept with newts. Mostly the only thing I'd suggest would be fish that are normally used as feeders, since they are generally relatively cheap and hardy. Guppies would be a great example.

 

[Noto]

Certain topminnows would work, such as blackspotted and golden topminnows, and bluefin and rainwater killifish. Larger topminnows, such as Seminole killifish and the various studfish, should be avoided as they could harrass and outcompete the newts, and really need a bigger tank anyways. Many topminnows need brackish water, so do your research before selecting one.

Temperate minnows like rosy reds or white clouds would work, and would also help with algae control. Avoid mosquitofish, they are aggressive.

Any of these fish has potential to annoy the newt or outcompete it for food, but this problem should be reduced in your heavily planted tank.

I would also suggest small shrimp, such as ghost shrimp, cherry shrimp, etc. The adults should be too large for the newts to take down, and the young will provide some live prey.