My newt does not submerge!

[alexandra]

Hi there, I recently adopted Izzie, a Taricha granulosa and I noticed that he never submerges. He just floats on the water. I just raised his water level to about 8 cm. He had been kept in a tiny tank with about 2 inches of water for a number of years. I have never seen him submerge to the bottom of the tank. He does swim around actively but always stays on the surface. I read that this species of newts prefers deeper water levels. Any suggestions anyone?

 

[joeri]

If he's been kept in these conditions, his skin may not have adapted to water yet. If you notice a more robust skin, rather than a smooth skin that's it. It will adapt to it's new conditions. Just make sure it can climb out very easely, it may drown as long as it's skin is not full adapted.