Japanese Firebelly Newts

[jaia]

Hello All

I recently (yesterday) purchased 4 JFBN's, in my excitement (and need to get 100 other things in there for other pets; not an excuse... anyways) three of the four are missing their front leg or parts of it.

I am new to newts, so this has me quite anxious....what can I do for them, i am already attached to their inquisitive little selves.

Their tank:
- 40 gallon breeder
- Adequate filtration for this tank (set up so that is flows down a piece of driftwood to break the outflow, like a stream)
- Natural coloured gravel, not to thickly spread.
- Plants (hornwort, anubis, ludwigia and wisteria)
- A light (low wattage household bulb)
- 3 pieces of floating driftwood (plus the stream also provides a dry spot)
- and a lid....smile.

Oh the temperature is 72-74F, the water depth is 9-11 inches.

All three injured newts, are bright eyed and somewhat active....moving from basking to a dip in the water and back up. Except for the one uninjured guy, he found a rock cave and hardly see him. They use the injured arm....but have not eaten yet, but food was offered (in separate bowl). I havent seen any aggression and they share a log for basking. They are abt 2inches, one being distinctly thicker and healthier looking. The uninjured guy is the smallest one at abt 1.5inches.

Any help and advise is appreciated.....I really do not want to lose them....what can I do for them and what nneds changing in their habitat....I have pics, not sure how to post them.

Thanks Everyone (and nice to meet you all)

 

[mike]

Hi Jaia.

Fire-bellies are often sold in petshops in poor condition, but there definitely is hope for them.

They should regenerate their limbs, see: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/limb_series.shtml
Your newts are probably Chinese Fire-bellies! Cynops orientalis, see:
http://caudata.org/cc/articles/firebelly.shtml
And a caresheet:
http://caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml

 

[jaia]

Thanks for the reply.....I was little freaked out, I really like these guys....lol

So I am doing what I can and now I need to sit and wait?? Their arms should be regenerated in a few weeks??What are signs of infections? Duing regeneration will they bask more, eat less....??

Also they havent eaten yet. I put them into a bowl with a little water and some bloodworms, frozen....but they havent eaten anything yet? Any ideas on how to get them to eat.

Thanks much
jaia

 

[chris]

Feed them in their living tank. Leave the blooworms in the water over night. Remove any left overs in the morning. Make sure the water stays clean so infections don't set into the legs. Taking them out to feed will make them think only about escaping. Try lots of foods. Some ne newts won't eat non moving food - they need to be stimulated by movement. Try small earth worms (I remove the head so they don't escape fwith new animals/poor feeders) or black worms, if you can get them. Live bloodworm is very good as well, as it doesn't rot. Again, remove any uneaten food the morning after feeding.
Good luck!
Chris

 

[chris]

Also, DON'T USE THE HOUSEHOLD BULB!!!! Firebellies need cool water. Use either a low wattage strip lamp for reptiles/amphibs or if the tank has ambient lighting (NOT direct sunlight!!!) you don't need a light at all.
Chris

 

[jaia]

Thanks all....

Unfortunately the newt tank is on the bottom shelf of a tank stand....no natural light at all. I thought a low wattage used bulb would be okay (those yellowy ones, not bright white), the tank is heavily planted and with lots of floating things....but I will look into that strip lighting. Will my plants be okay with little to no light??. I planted the tank heavily as that was what I thought they liked .

Thanks for the feeding, the first night I put some into their tank and they ignored it, so I thought a bowl might work....nope....I will feed them at night, before going to bed and clean them up come morning (can this be changed to feeding in morning and cleaning around dinner??) Or are they night eaters? two are doing more basking, how can I know they are eating??

Also, I would like to get another filter, but as I said the tank is on the floor and most hang ons dont work well with lower water levels....useing an Aquaclear on the stream part, but just barely....lol. Any suggestions.....??

Again thanks everyone.....i may have just have gotten these guys, but I so adore them already.

jinxx

 

[jaia]

Oh and i think they may be Chinese, I will post some pics...thanks

 

[jaia]

Well the one that had no problems is dead...he was the one that preferred the water and that is where he died....when I first looked he was sitting under the water, about an hour later, he was still there, just chilling, but dead......the other three are just basking....what could have happened. He was one of the 4 that had all his ars and legs and was the healthy looking one, weight wise??

Thanks

 

[nesaraj]

Sorry to hear of your loss, jaia. Did you check the water quality?

 

[jaia]

No I am going out tomorrow to buy one (I keep mainly turtles; so never had a need for one....never realized this guys were so sensitive). Bad pet owner me. What specifically am I testing for and looking for. The other three are mostly basking (sitting on their driftwood sleeping and not eating). Their tank temp is reading 70F all day. They move when I touch them but they feel cold. I do have air con on.

I was doing some reading on this site and was wondering how one can tell how old their newt is or which stage of life it isin. My three seem to prefer land, so if that is the case for a little while longer, I would provide them with more land area than driftwood to hangout on.

Thankyou

 

[kaysie]

Cold is good. 70F is probably a bit on the warm side. You need to test for nitrites, nitrates, ammonia and pH.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml will give you a good idea on housing and eating and such.

 

[hayden]

Hand feed them is all i can say...Try Melafix.

 

[jaia]

Hey....Just to let anyone know....One finally ate!!, not much, barely a mouthful and even then I think it was simply to get it out of his face...lol....the other is still completely ignoring it....she or he must have more patience than the other. But a little bit of faith is restored in me.

 

[jennifer]

In answer to the earlier question... no, they don't NEED any light, just enough to find their food.