C. Oriental firebelly newts

[sarah]

These are my two new newts that arrived today

They are so small and cute, i am told they are mostly aquatic, am i right?

 

[alexander]

You are right... But I recommend the initial depth of water 15 cm (for the several days) and don't forgot to put in your aquarium a lot of Elodea (or other floatable plants) just in case. Better safe than sorry.

 

[sarah]

yes they do have plenty of Elodea in their tank, the depth isn't quite that deep so i will increase the depth tomorrow morning
They are really quite small, about 2 inches, incredibly cute, haven't eaten yet but that is to be expected after a journey!

 

[alexander]

Sarah, I have remarked that your female has salient coxal-bones. It is evidence of infectious affection of bowels of the newt. The organism of newt can overcome the infection without medicament in the early in the development of illness. One thing only is lacking: it is necessary to force your newts to eat. The best stimulus for Cynops orientalis is earthworm. Offer 1 cm of not great earthworm (but do not confuse with muckworm!) from tweezers for a start. From time to time I confront with the illness when I buy new Cynops orientalis.

(Message edited by alex_tsukanov on March 25, 2006)

 

[sarah]

How can you tell that, are you talking about the smaller of the two?

 

[alexander]

The infection penetrates in each organism of newt from aquarium. But strong newt in the good conditions overcomes the ilness.

(Message edited by alex_tsukanov on March 25, 2006)

 

[joseph]

I think he is observing that the female of the pair looks quite thin.

to my unexpert eyes other than that they look quite healthy for newly purchased newts

. Providing they both eat and gain weight you shouldn't have too much trouble.

 

[jennifer]

I see the bones that Alex refers to (part of the pelvis). Based on only this evidence, how do you distinguish between a bowel infection versus underfeeding, Alex? I would say that the newt did not eat during import/sale, and thus is partly starved. I fully agree that the best treatment is pieces of earthworm.

 

[sarah]

so you are talking about the larger of the two?
That one seems very healthy, in the water all the time and swimming around, it also ate 2 very small tigerworms this morning, however the smaller one doesn't go in the water, it just sits on the land all day, it did take a worm from me this morning but didn't eat it, i will try again later though.

 

[alexander]

Jennifer, have you ever seen a healthy newt but very belly-pinched (e.g. the owner is in hospital during several weeks)? Call your attention that the starveling hasn't salient bones of the pelvis, the newt loses flesh evenly!
Unfortunately my experience serves as confirmation of my words. I maintain friendly relations with importers of Cynops orientalis from China. I rummage in new consignments of newts for the find of animals with natural digression of coloration (see my correspond with Mr. S: http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/55800.html?1143327154). I buy several newts for me or my friends. I feed my newts by earthworms. But masters of pet-shops feed newts by bloodworms (mosquito grubs). It is no secret that in the countries with poor sanitary control of feed for aquarium animals (Russia is no exception) the overwhelming majority of tradesmans of bloodworms get out they in sewerage settling gutters... When I go back in the pet-shop in two weeks I usually see grievous picture: declinatory from feed newts with salient bones of the pelvis. The non-treated disease rapidly strike organism of newt. The way of each natural newt (especially from China) has several trans-shipment points. Who know what kind of food is there?

Joseph and Sarah, in 50% cases newts overcome the ilness in the good conditions, but if newts don't eat during several days, it is necessary keep them in the individual aquarium (glass jar) with solution of "Furan-2" /Aquarium pharmaceuticals, USA/ with change of water each day (but no more than 2 weeks), feeding - pieces of earthworm.

 

[sarah]

well she seems ok, she ate and is active,
Also she wasn't from a petshop, she is captive bred bought from an online shop.
It may just be the picture not doing her justice, as she is stretched in that pic.

 

[alexander]

I am very glad that this story has a happy ending. But avoid purchases of newts with salient bones of pelvis in the pet-shops.
Good-bye!

 

[jennifer]

Sarah, I do not believe that your newts are captive bred. Frankly, the seller is lying (99% certainty). Most online shops are no better than petshops. They often claim that animals are CB in order to boost sales. Real breeders of newts sell juveniles, and yours are not juvs.