Baby Newt

[SamanthaE]

Hi everyone! I am new to this forum and I could definitely use some advice! I just purchased two newts this past Friday at a local pet shop. They were the last two newts in the aquarium and they were very little. By very little, I mean they are only about 1 and half inches or 4cm. The associate pulled them both off a floating rock to put in a container for me. I didn't have a lot of confidence in him, since he picked them up with his hands and were manipulating them. I have read that human skin contact can irritate the newt's skin. He informed me that the pet shop was feeding them frozen blood worms so that is what I purchased to feed them.

First you should know, I have a 10 gallon aquarium set up with a filter, large gravel, fake plants, and wood. The aquarium had run for a full 48 hours before I purchased the newts. I am keeping a thermometer in the tank that keeps track of the water temperature. It seems to stay between 65-70 degrees.

When I brought them home, I put them into the water and they immediately swam to the land. I have read on some posts on this website that they are not fully aquatic since they are probably not adults. Therefore, I took out a lot of water and only left about 3 inches in the bottom of the tank.

But lately, I have noticed that they did not want anything to do with the water. I have watched them the last 3 days very carefully and they will not eat nor will they swim. One of the newts is pretty thin (compared to other one) so I am a little worried about him. I have tried to feed them blood worms and brine shrimp from tweezers, but they will have none if it. Finally, I bought newt food and put it in a small floating dish. I am worried that they are not eating.

PLEASE HELP! I love my little babies and I want them to grow big and strong!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Do you have any idea what type of newt you have?. If you don't can you provide a photo or description....different newts will have different requirements.

 

[SamanthaE]

They are both Chinese Fire-bellied newts.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Have a look at the link below.

Caudata Culture Species Entry - Cynops orientalis - Chinese firebelly

Hopefully this may help.

 

[SamanthaE]

Thanks for the link! =] Does anyone else have any advice? Maybe someone that has had to deal with baby fire belly newts?

 

[Jennewt]

Also be sure to read the FAQ on the Caudata Culture web site. You comments "my newt won't go in the water and won't eat" are very common for newly-acquired Chinese firebellies. I would suggest hand-feeding with a toothpick or tweezers. See CC website for feeding suggestions. Once you get them eating, it doesn't really matter whether they go in the water or not.

 

[SamanthaE]

I am hand feeding them as we speak with tweezers. One of them has eaten, but he would only eat one blood worm and then he didn't want anymore. Is this normal?

 

[dipsydoodle]

I am hand feeding them as we speak with tweezers. One of them has eaten, but he would only eat one blood worm and then he didn't want anymore. Is this normal?

They are probably just sulking; they get stressed from the move. One of mine ate one blood worm every other day for a week or so then ate normally (adult newt) another adult are nothing for a month; I thought I was going to loose him but some brine shrimp changed his mind and my 3rd newt; I put her in with the other two on feeding day and she walked over to the food bowl and helped herself straight away.

 

[SamanthaE]

Thank you so much for the post! That made me feel so much better! =] It will be a week tomorrow and only one of my baby newts (out of two) has eaten, but I am trying everyday to feed them. Hopefully they will come around soon because I would be so sad if they died.