04cobratorchred said:
If they are quite small, then they are probably in the eft stage, where they are mainly terrestrial and rarely enter the water.
Fire belly newts..?
- Thread starter WinterWind
- Start date
If they are quite small, then they are probably in the eft stage, where they are mainly terrestrial and rarely enter the water.
04cobratorchred, have you found the site www.caudata.org? They have fantastically detailed articles, caresheets, forums, etc. I've been getting ready for some Eastern Red Spotted Newts and I've learned a ton from that site.
Thanks a lot green thats a great site. Also i have 2 clear light bulb's 15w/120v do you think this is to much on the newts. it seems to be putting off a lot of heat.
Sorry, I'm new at newts myself so I don't really know first hand. Reading other people's posts it seems that overheating is a big problem for newts, though. Some people recommend a screen lid with no lighting at all.
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Try the screw in Power compacts instead of Incandecent. This would help any plants you would want for them and it would put off little heat.04cobratorchred said:
i was just looking at one of my newts and it is missing its front two feet. there is just a white little numb there. it looks like he has a hard time swimming and climing up stuff should i do anything for him.
one more thing it seems they are shedding there skin and then eating it off there body do you guys know anything about this. i was trying to read some but didn't really come up with anything.
Was he missing the feet when you bought him? Sometimes the LFS keep these things in tanks with fish....and they get thier feet nipped off.
Mine have never shed thier skin that I know of...... :huh:
Mine have never shed thier skin that I know of...... :huh:
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Answers for some questions
Why won’t my newt go in the water?
First, be sure that your newt is an aquatic species. Some, such as Tylototriton shanjing, are not supposed to live in water. If your aquatic newt is not going in the water, it is usually caused by one or more of the following:
Illness. Sometimes sick newts head for land.
Stress. Stress can be caused by other animals in the water, being in a new environment, too much handling, a current in the water, temperature too high, etc.
Bad water. Use a product that removes chloramine. Remove uneaten food promptly. Check the ammonia level, especially if the tank is new. Keep the temperature below 72°F (22°C), even cooler if possible.
Habit. Sometimes a newt just gets in the habit of living on land and is reluctant to enter the water, which is a strange new environment.
Youth. Juvenile newts of many species tend to be more terrestrial (usually the first year or two after they metamorphose). If your newt is very small (under 3 inches) this may be a factor.
Nocturnal habits. Some newts enter the water at night and stay out during the day.
Pecking order. The dominant newt may stay in the water, causing the smaller one to stay out. Since firebelly newts are not very aggressive or territorial, it should be possible to get them into the water.
How can I get my newt to go into the water?
Aquatic newts are easier to care for, grow faster, and are generally more healthy than newts that stay on land. Obviously, this does not apply to species that are naturally terrestrial. To encourage an aquatic newt to go into the water, try the following.
Test the water to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. See Water Quality FAQs.
Give it a few days to acclimate to its new surroundings. Do not handle it, keep the lights off, and generally do everything you can to reduce its stress level.
Get rid of any fish or other animals in the water.
Keep it cooler. The least stressful temperatures for most newts are 50-68°F.
Put the newt(s) in a shallow water setup (1-2 inches of water). Provide lots of plants in the water, and lots of wading areas and resting places just below the water surface. Because the water is so shallow, skip the filter and gravel, just use an airstone and remove debris daily with a turkey baster or siphon. Once the newt has adjusted to water, raise the water level.
Spray the land and newt with water daily.
Put some tempting food in the water. Live blackworms will stay alive in the water until eaten.
My newt’s skin is coming off. Is that normal?
If the skin is coming off all in one piece, it’s just normal shedding. It is also normal for the newt (or another newt in the tank) to eat the shed skin. However, if the skin comes off in small, flakey pieces, or if the skin gets stuck around the animal's abdomen or legs during shedding, these can be signs of illness.
My firebelly newt's toe/foot/leg is gone! What happened and what should I do?
There are two possibilities. A tankmate could have bitten off the leg. In this case, remove the offending tankmate. Or else the leg eroded away due to infection. This is fairly common in newly-acquired Chinese firebellies. Keep the newt cool and clean. If the newt is strong enough, the leg will grow back. If there are signs of infection, see Treatment of Infected Wounds in Newts.
Why won’t my newt go in the water?
First, be sure that your newt is an aquatic species. Some, such as Tylototriton shanjing, are not supposed to live in water. If your aquatic newt is not going in the water, it is usually caused by one or more of the following:
Illness. Sometimes sick newts head for land.
Stress. Stress can be caused by other animals in the water, being in a new environment, too much handling, a current in the water, temperature too high, etc.
Bad water. Use a product that removes chloramine. Remove uneaten food promptly. Check the ammonia level, especially if the tank is new. Keep the temperature below 72°F (22°C), even cooler if possible.
Habit. Sometimes a newt just gets in the habit of living on land and is reluctant to enter the water, which is a strange new environment.
Youth. Juvenile newts of many species tend to be more terrestrial (usually the first year or two after they metamorphose). If your newt is very small (under 3 inches) this may be a factor.
Nocturnal habits. Some newts enter the water at night and stay out during the day.
Pecking order. The dominant newt may stay in the water, causing the smaller one to stay out. Since firebelly newts are not very aggressive or territorial, it should be possible to get them into the water.
How can I get my newt to go into the water?
Aquatic newts are easier to care for, grow faster, and are generally more healthy than newts that stay on land. Obviously, this does not apply to species that are naturally terrestrial. To encourage an aquatic newt to go into the water, try the following.
Test the water to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. See Water Quality FAQs.
Give it a few days to acclimate to its new surroundings. Do not handle it, keep the lights off, and generally do everything you can to reduce its stress level.
Get rid of any fish or other animals in the water.
Keep it cooler. The least stressful temperatures for most newts are 50-68°F.
Put the newt(s) in a shallow water setup (1-2 inches of water). Provide lots of plants in the water, and lots of wading areas and resting places just below the water surface. Because the water is so shallow, skip the filter and gravel, just use an airstone and remove debris daily with a turkey baster or siphon. Once the newt has adjusted to water, raise the water level.
Spray the land and newt with water daily.
Put some tempting food in the water. Live blackworms will stay alive in the water until eaten.
My newt’s skin is coming off. Is that normal?
If the skin is coming off all in one piece, it’s just normal shedding. It is also normal for the newt (or another newt in the tank) to eat the shed skin. However, if the skin comes off in small, flakey pieces, or if the skin gets stuck around the animal's abdomen or legs during shedding, these can be signs of illness.
My firebelly newt's toe/foot/leg is gone! What happened and what should I do?
There are two possibilities. A tankmate could have bitten off the leg. In this case, remove the offending tankmate. Or else the leg eroded away due to infection. This is fairly common in newly-acquired Chinese firebellies. Keep the newt cool and clean. If the newt is strong enough, the leg will grow back. If there are signs of infection, see Treatment of Infected Wounds in Newts.
