Feeding question

[erik]

I'm going out of town tomorrow (Christmas break here at school) and I'd like for a friend to take care of my newt if possible, but I don't want him to have to sit there and dangle food in front of the newt until he eats. If my friend were to just drop in a few freeze-dried bloodworms, will he be OK? Or, if I'm just leaving for 3 weeks, will the newt be ok without getting fed? I'd really rather avoid that situation because I'd hate for it to die and screw up my tank. My last option is just to drain some of the water from the tank (it's only 10 gallons) and take it home with me.

 

[jennifer]

If you can turn down the thermostat and keep the newt cool (60F or thereabouts), I would definitely leave it there, unfed, for 3 weeks. Just feed it well before you go. If someone feeds it, there is a high risk of the tank getting foul from leftovers. If you do take it home with you, don't carry it in water, take it in a container of damp paper towels. But traveling could be rather stressful for it.

 

[erik]

The problem I have, though, is that I have no timer for the light and I don't want him to sit in darkness for 3 weeks. And if he dies, he's really going to screw up the system - especially if he sits there for a week or two. Know what I mean?

 

[jennifer]

He'll be fine in darkness. Are there other animals in the tank? Are they going to be fed during your absence?

 

[erik]

Just the newt.

 

[jennifer]

If the newt is healthy and well-fed (you've had it for a couple of months at least?) and the temperature is kept really cool, it'll probably be fine. I'm not sure I understand your concern about it screwing up the tank. Yeah, you'd have to clean the tank out if the newt died, but you would probably do that if the newt died while you were in town too. Even if it gets gross, it won't be killing any other animals.

 

[erik]

Good point. Since my last post another concern has come to my attention. I live in the dorms here at school and our air system is messed up lately. Right now very hot air is blowing from the vent. It did this earlier this semester and the room turned into a sauna. If this happens again while I am gone, the temperature of the water could get well above 75 degrees for as long as a week.

 

[michael]

The same situation has come up here at my school (Umass Amherst). You could always try leaving the windows open, this should help keep the room cool, but you should also check to make sure any of the school staff won't come in and close them over break.

It seems like leaving your newt in your room is causing allot of problems. Why don't you just bring it home and save yourself the worry.

~Michael

 

[erik]

Hahaha....sorry, that was funny. School staff coming in and closing the windows. I'm an RA in the dorms. I live on the first floor, so leaving the window open is just asking for trouble. Yeah, I'm taking the newt home now. I'll just risk it. It'll suck if he dies, but hey, we've had some great times. LOL

 

[(unregistered]

I didn't think it was funny, I had an RA bust me for my microwave last year because she came in to shut my window. It cost me 250 bucks!
Anyways, I'm glad to hear you've decided what to do. I would definatly take Jennewt's advice on how to transport your newt, she knows her stuff. I;ve tried to transport tanks before (my beta splendis) and it was almost a disaster.

Good Luck
~Michael