Will newts fight or eat live fishes?

[ahkarboy]

Hi i might be going to Thailand and i was jsut wondering what would happen if i were to put a newt in a tank with a betta? will the newt eat the betta or will they fight?

[vinz]

Depends on several factors:
- Species of newt. Some like the Paddletail newt is fast and aggressive enough to go after fish.
- Is the fish small enough to fit in the newt's mouth? Newts have to swallow they prey whole.

The betta might pick on/nip/bite the newt if it is a very aggressive and/or territorial individual. That's not good for the newt as they have very thin skins and breaking the skin will invite fungal growths and sores... which usually lead to death.

Newts are not very agile... only capable of sudden well aimed bursts to capture prey, so if the fish decides to bully the newt, it won't have a chance of getting away or defending itself.

In conclusion, my recommendation is NOT to risk it.

[Justikanz]

If yours is a paddletail, do NOT risk any fish. I had a paddletail that eats almost any fish in the tank. And don't think the mouth looks very small, it can swallow a fish almost as big or bigger than its head! I had bettas and guppies missing...