Chinese Firebelly activity and eating

[kellee]

I've had my firebelly for about six months now, hopefully I'll be able to get some photos of him up soon. I'm pretty certain he's a juvie, he hasn't touched the water at all until just recently. I live in phoenix, az, a damned hot place. The little guys tank is 5 gallons, and usually about room temperature. He was eating quite healthily for the months I had him like this, but only came out of his little rock house to be fed.

For winter break at my university I moved up to Northern Arizona, lots of snow and cold, I put him in a tiny plastic carrying case about 3 inches long and 5 or 6 inches wide. The small tank has water, a gravel beach, and a fake leafy plant for some hiding space for the little guy. Instantly and constantly since I've moved him into this temporary tank (which will be for about 3 weeks, and 1 week or so has already passed), he has been extremely active, actually going into the water (only an inch deep), climbing the plant, and well, just being active. The temperatures in his tank are around 60F right now, so I know he's happier with that. However, despite his new found activity, he doesn't seem to want to eat. I've been feeding him blackworms, because in the beginning he rejected everything else, and he's been quite happy with the blackworms, however, he won't eat with tweezers nor from his food dish. Any ideas as to what might be going wrong?

 

[heather]

Just a guess: maybe because its cold his metabolism has slowed down and he isnt hungry??

 

[john]

You could try puting a feeding dish on land that is baried enough in the substrate for the newt to see down into it. I used a milk jug cap. I sand away the thread so it wouldn't have a chance of harming the newt. Fill it will alittle water, like half way, than just put some live blackworms or bloodworms in there. Leave food in there till he starts eating from it. This worked for my C.O. that wasnt eating. You might not see him eat out of it, but just watch his belly to make sure he isnt getting skinnier. You could also try some pinhead crickets, my C.o.'s love that. Good luck.

p.s. Your temps are perfect. anything in the range of 69 F and 50 F is ok for the C.o. I keep mine around 65 F all the time.

(Message edited by nuggular on December 28, 2004)

 

[hayden]

John, I would watch out with that shallow container such as a milk jug lid. If the blackworms get out the will foul the soil Big time.

 

[kellee]

I actually have the lid to a container of freeze dried bloodworms in there, he sits in it all the time, just hanging out in the water with the blackworms. He has gotten a bit skinnier, and there are still the same amount of blackworms in there as I'd originally put in.

 

[john]

thx hayden, didnt know that. They dont seem to escape, but I watch it more closely. Try some live bloodworms if you can. The smell is greater from them and might attract the newt. Try some small moving pieces of chopped earthworm or some wax worm or something. And definitely try the crickets.