Need help!! firebelly newt new enviroment

[Devenchinso]

Hello. Pretty new here

Had this lil guy. Garth. For about 15 years now. I decided to change his tank up
Wild hair i guess. I really love him and become a part of the family. I put new bigger gravel in and a peace lilly and anubias plants from reading all these forums. I left most of the same big rocks for hiding places and whatnot. A plastic reptile hideaway thing i bought from petco. Water temp is fine i think. Never really worried too much. Never really knew actually. Just fed him bloodworms.

I used to have a firebelly toad in there. I could tell they didnt really get along that good. But they definetly loved each other as i saw them trying to mate a couple times lol

Just wondering if something looks wrong. In kinda scared by changing his enviroment pretty drastically in two days. seems to be moving around more. Looking at me more lol. Is there anything you guys would suggest

Was getting no help from begginers forum and im kinda freakin out. He seems good but ya know cant read his mind

Thanks

 

[evut]

Hi, first of all, read all the articles about housing here. You will get a better idea about what establishes a suitable tank for a newt.
Caresheet can be found here.
Changes in environment will always upset the newt in the short term, it is only natural that it will be more lively while it's settling in. I am afraid your new set-up doesn't sound so good so please read and read...

Some very important things:
Never put the newt and the toad together - it is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of both animals.
Do not use gravel - sand or bare bottom are good.
Have an escape-proof lid.
Do not use a filter which creates strong currents.
Newts like it cool so no heater.
The newt needs cycled water which retains it's parameters well. (No drastic water changes.)
Plants are great for the newt.

Details explaining the above and lots more can be found in the articles.
You should also give the newt some other food apart from bloodworms - in particular earthworms which are very nutritious.

 

[Devenchinso]

My newt and toad seemed ok. Newt definetly picked on the toad. If i remember correctly
They were together for about 13 years so they got along mostly

The gravel is more like big rock for aquariums
I feed him mealworms too, find out those arent that good either. Is definetly nicer and cleaner in the new setup
I just hope its not stressin him out since hes old and the id the first real renovation with more things to hide in.

I just have a little stone bubbler thing.

 

[Azhael]

They might have seemed to you to get along, but you could have also missed on the signs of stress, plus there were risks involved in mixing those two animals that go beyond physical harm.

15years of bloodworms? Wow, i´m assuming your water hardness must be quite high because if i did that, i would have a severely calcium deficient animal in my hands.
Try to get earthworms, that´s the best food.

If you can upload a picture of the tank, it will make giving advice much easier.

 

[Devenchinso]

Heres my tank. 15 years of bloodworms and crickets.

 

[evut]

The substrate is too deep and will trap too much dirt. I would recommend either a thin layer of sand or a bare bottom instead. Or soil and sand for a planted tank.
You should also fill the tank more, just keep a small island. More water means more stability, which is good for the newt and also for you as it will require less maintenance.