Fire Belly Babies- developemental problem?

K

kelsey

Guest
I have a batch of 15 surviving fire belly babies that are about a month old now. They're about 1 cm long, smaller than a dime. They've been surviving on microworms. I tried daphnia and brine shrimp but they're giving me trouble. The brine shrimp that i did get i couldn't separate from the egg shells and it just created a mess in the baby bowl. The daphnia are also being very hard to keep alive on pea baby food and yeast. I think they're slowly dying down. I tried putting an adult daphnia or two in the baby newt bowl, then they had small babies overnight, but i didnt notice the newts eating them. So anyways, my point is that the babies are looking funny and i'm wondering if it's because i'm not feeding them well enough. I think i've got the water changes and airation down. They're in a tupperware container with water about an inch high. Everyday i suck out debris from the bottom with a medicine dropper and replace the water i've sucked out. It turns out to be around a 50% water change every day. Then about once a week change the water almost 100%. So here's why i'm worrying. I know that they slowly grow limbs, however, two of the 15 (they're all about the same size) have no arms or legs yet, just small stubs. Two of them have only one full size arm. One has one of its arms twisted backwards like it is broken and dangling. Two of them have two arms and two legs, but one of the arms has a stump end instead of little toes. Also- it just seems like they aren't growing. I see them looking for worms and sometimes i see them jump to catch one, but not very often. Most of the time they just sit still. So basically im wondering if you guys have any thoughts on why they're looking injured or whatever it is. The only thing in the container with them is a little bit of duckweed, the microworms, and a few tiny snails. Could the snails be hurting them? I figured that if the snail came up to them they would dash away like they do if i touch them while i'm cleaning. Thoughts welcome, thanks!! I also have photos on my webshots page(http://community.webshots.com/album/126381125qQQgHq/1). if you're interested i could try to post some of the injured ones.
 
Microworms are only worthwhile food for the first couple of weeks. They will never grow well on that. The reason for the missing and mangled limbs is that the newts are trying to eat each other.

If possible, try to get live blackworms. Call every pet store that you have accessible and ask if they can get them. If not, then start to try defrosted frozen bloodworms. You will have to use a tweezers to "move" the worm in front of the larva, as they only respond to moving food. At least a few of them will probably learn to eat the bloodworms and be OK.
 
hmmmmmm... I didnt notice anything like that, but i guess that could be it. I did have live blackworms a while ago, and i cut them up small but i didnt see the newts going for them. I'll have to try the dangle with tweezers method. My only problem with live blackworms is that i cant keep them alive. I store them in a small container in the fridge and change the water everyday, but somehow after a few days they're just gross smelly mush. ??? Thanks though!! i'll try to get ahold of some blackworms asap.
 
followup question: Will the lost legs grow back? i know they regenerate fingers as adults.. but this young will they be okay?
 
Great!! didnt know the water couldnt be deep.. i may have drown mine. Also that they dont like water conditioning drops... (blackworms) Thanks so much!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Back
    Top