Help!! Baby Spanish ribbed newts 3wks old are they dying?

[elizabeth]

I have lots of Spannish Ribbed hatchlings from a pair I bought only 2 months ago. They are 3 weeks now and seem to have been doing well. Many are just starting to grow their front limbs. Today however,they all seem to be floating to the top and staying there. They have air bubbles in their stomaches and seem to struggle to swim flat on the tank floor.

Are they dying? I am really worried. I have been feeding them on fleas mainly and they have been housed in a large tank with perhaps an inch of water}

 

[rubén]

You must put on the tank a stone or a little land part, if they are in process of metamorphosis.

On the other hand, a lot of aquatic plants allows larvae to take air easier on this moment

I think feeding it's not your problem

 

[jennifer]

At age 3 weeks, they are much too young to think about metamorphosis. Gas bubbles are a common problem for larvae. Possible causes: over-airation of the water, sudden changes in temperature, using fresh tap water (without time for gasses to escape), general problems with water quality.

With only an inch of water, there is a good chance for the water to "go bad" quickly. How often do you change the water, or part of the water?

Unfortunately, I don't know any cures. Sometimes bubbles in the gut will "pass through" and the larva is OK. Often, they die.

 

[joeri]

I had it with some of my newts as well. Put the larves with bubbles in very low water. So low they can touch the bottom with their tiny feet. Keep an eye on this setup, water evaporates quickly and they musn't be dry at this stage; it's way to early for metamorphosis.
The key-element is to reduce the stress and let nature go ahead. I had no losses this way, but maybe I got lucky.
Also consider what Jennifer said concerning water-quality.

Metamorphosis won't happen until they have 4 legs and their gills have disappeared. In the case of Spanish Ribbed Newts (Pleurodeles Waltl) it's even possible to skip this phase. They can stay in the water without leaving it.