Help! Red-Spotted/Eastern Newt Eft Care Info Needed!

[amazon]

I have 7 Red-Spotted/Eastern Newt Efts that are terrestrial. 3 are "babies" while 4 are adults. I have had success with one in feeding it bloodworms with tweezers, but the others won't eat from the tweezers or from the water dish with bloodworms in it. I would like to know some information on caring for terrestrial efts, and if tap-water is ok for them to have in their tank. (As a small section where they can swim in/drink) Thanks for your help, please post soon!

 

[nate]

Red efts do not enter water until they are adults, so it's useless to try and feed them in water. They do not swim or drink, but they need moist (not muddy) soil to provide the necessary water. Tap water must be dechlorinated. Feeding efts by hand is a training process...some take to it immediately, others must be "trained". Keep trying. Try touching the worms gently to their snouts to let them get the smell. Another strategy is to skillfully wiggle the worms, sorta like a fisherman moves his lure. Most of all be patient and don't freak out if they are not eating immediately, they can go months without food before any real health problems arise. As they get hungrier, they'll snap sooner or later. Other foods to try are chopped bits of earthworm, pinhead crickets, and fruitflies.

 

[amazon]

thanks, do you think they will be ok with moss that was moistened with tap water? or if they were in a little bit of tap water for a short period of time?

 

[nate]

Chlorine is nasty stuff to amphibians, and there's a good chance it already caused damage to the eggs (which are not eggs from the efts). The efts might have problems from it, but only time will tell.

If you're not able to keep the efts on soil, try keeping them on moistened paper towels (unbleached preferably). Moss will be ok in the short term, but it tends to mold over.

 

[amazon]

there were no eggs in the cage, and i have the terrarium filled with moistened moss that doesnt mold. how do i keep the moss moistened without tap water, and without buying dechlorinating stuff? i took out the tupperware with tap water in it, and they haven't been showing any signs of illness from the moistened moss. will they be ok, or did i hurt them badly with the water?

 

[amazon]

wait. let me reword that a little. the moss is moistened with tap water, will they be ok?

 

[amazon]

should i wash the moss out with spring water? will that be ok for the newts?

 

[nate]

Tap water that is not dechlorinated will kill your newts, plain and simple. There is no way around this. You MUST buy dechlorinating drops. It's only like 2$ a bottle at pet shops.

 

[amazon]

i washed the moss out with spring water, and the newts still show no sign of anything, will they be ok?

 

[andrew]

i thought that spring water didnt even have chlorine in it? so it should be alright

 

[amazon]

good news! i found out that you can dechlorinate tap water by leaving it overnight, so they actually weren't even exposed to the chlorine very long! I think they'll be fine. I just released some small crickets from the pet store in their cage, they're going crazy trying to catch them! thanks a lot for your help!