HELP!! When do I feed?

[andrea]

I have a P.hongkongensis, and though I have found SOME information, there isn't much. I know WHAT to feed him and what I know he eats (ghost shrimp fromt he place I bought him, I've seen him eat them) but WHEN do I feed him? How often? Should I leave the live shrimp in the tank. He doesn't seem annoyed by them, but I've only seen him eat once. Right after I set the tank up and he got settled, I saw him munch down on a couple. I'm not a big worm or cricket person, but I could cut up dead worms. Should I feed him some of those every now and then? How do I feed him, just like put it in the water or hold it for him? Should I remove the shrimp from the tank and only put a few in when I should feed him? I'm SO LOST!!! HELP!!!

-Andrea

 

[chris]

HI Andrea,
I feed mine some defrosted bloodworm evry 2/3 days. Experiment with amounts and how often to find out whhat he likes. Be sure to remove any uneaten food after about a day with a siphon etc. before it goes rancid
Hope that helps, Chris

 

[jennifer]

If you can drop in a small live earthworm or waxworm occasionally, he will be very grateful (you don't have to watch!). My hongkongesis loved live blackworms, if you can tolerate those. You should offer food 2 or 3 times per week (maybe less often if he always has access to the shrimp). If you see him eat at least once a week and he isn't getting skinny, he's fine.

 

[andrea]

phew, thanks. I got some meal worms today because the pet store only had frozen blood worms. I know I can handle the meal worms cus that's what we fed baby peacocks when they were pushed out of the nest. (i had one i was raising actually eat ham and turkey.....) so it's okay to leave the shrimp in there with him? I was kind of worried about that! Thanks for all of your help!!! I really appreciate it!!

 

[jennifer]

Mealworms are OK, but too fatty to use for every feeding. Also, they should be chopped, or at least the head cut off before feeding. You should also try the frozen bloodworms, they are good newt food. My hongkongensis didn't go for them, but tastes vary.

 

[andrea]

Well, I just moved him (pant pant) into a 10 gallon with a river rock substrate. He seems much happier now. I'll try the blood worms, but i'll definitely thaw them first, cus of what I have heard can be in them. I really like the tank setup I've got now, it seems much more complete than before. I even created a waterfall out of the filter and a suction cup "water dish" from when I had my geckos. This definitely gives him more room. I'm going to try to feed a meal worm tonight, head cut off and all. He seems more active now. Should I just plop it in the tank, or make sure I have his attention first?

-Andrea

 

[chris]

Meal worms go off quickly, so don't leave it in the tank for too long before removing it. Also, be careful that food does not slip between gaps in roacks (I'm assuming you mean pebbleish things) other wise it's hard to get rid of the waste. The setup sounds great - have you got a digital cam. to post pics of both the setup and the newt?
Chris

 

[andrea]

Chris, i've got a thread in Pictures of the setup and of him under "My P.Hongkongensis: this time right" :-D have fun

 

[chris]

Sorry - didn't notice it...
Setup looks great! I have mine in a barebottom tank for cleaning ease, but it doesn't look as good though...
Chris