S
stacey
Guest
About 10 years ago, I was given a Newt from an acquaintance that worked in a pet shop. He told me that he was a Crocodile Newt. Needless to say, 3 years ago I did a bit of research and revealed that he is indeed a Hong Kong Warty Newt.....
Anyway, I named him Iov (Yeah... "Eye Of Newt"). I had only had furry pets and reptiles as pets, and I didn't know much about Iov. Iov was an escape artist. The first time he escaped his enclosure, I found him walking in the hallway, covered in cat hair. The second time he did it, I thought he was dead. My husband found him, and he looked all dried up. He showed a tiny sign of life, so I rushed him into the bathroom and submersed him in water. He was fine. I attribute his hardiness to the fact that I keep him well fed, he's a bit on the chunky side.
So, we moved him into an unescapable 10 gallon tank with screen cover and clamps. I have sealed up the cuts made for the tank heater wire and airlines, and he hasn't gotten out in 9 years. His tank is right next to my Crocodile Gecko's tank, and Iov looks at her longingly... I think he's in love, thus his desire to be a land lizard. We got him a girlfriend, but I think she was in bad shape to start with (scrawny, like Iov had been when we got him), and he ended up killing her. He's a loner now and will remain that way.
A few years ago he developed a problem with a couple of his toes and the tip of his tail. They turned white and fuzzy and fell off. Believe it or not, I used Hydrogen Peroxide on his toes, which he didn't like and he tried to bite me, and some triple antibiotic ointment. I also used Melafix and Pimafix in the water, as I wasn't sure if the infection was bacterial or fungal. His problem cleared up pretty quickly, and sure enough his missing parts have been regenerating. It's not a fast process, but his little toes and tail are growing back gradually.
He does go through phases where he refuses food (frozen bloodworms), mostly in the winter. He seems very active and he eats well when his water is 74-75 degrees, which I think is too warm, but if I set it for 72, he seems inactive and doesn't eat much. I do remember that I was keeping his water at like 78 when he developed the infections I mentioned above. I'm careful now not to let it go above 75, and I often have to ice his water in the Summer. Isn't it odd that he prefers warmer water?
I also do complete water changes, cleaning everything with sea salt, rinsing the gravel, etc. I keep his PH at 70.
So, I may be doing some things that might be considered out of the norm, but it seems to work for Iov, I've had him for a long time, he's fat and happy. Once in a while I can't resist, I pick him up and kiss him on the nose. That's the only handling he ever gets, and he doesn't seem to mind.
Anyone know the life expectancy for Hong Kong Wartys?
Anyway, I named him Iov (Yeah... "Eye Of Newt"). I had only had furry pets and reptiles as pets, and I didn't know much about Iov. Iov was an escape artist. The first time he escaped his enclosure, I found him walking in the hallway, covered in cat hair. The second time he did it, I thought he was dead. My husband found him, and he looked all dried up. He showed a tiny sign of life, so I rushed him into the bathroom and submersed him in water. He was fine. I attribute his hardiness to the fact that I keep him well fed, he's a bit on the chunky side.
So, we moved him into an unescapable 10 gallon tank with screen cover and clamps. I have sealed up the cuts made for the tank heater wire and airlines, and he hasn't gotten out in 9 years. His tank is right next to my Crocodile Gecko's tank, and Iov looks at her longingly... I think he's in love, thus his desire to be a land lizard. We got him a girlfriend, but I think she was in bad shape to start with (scrawny, like Iov had been when we got him), and he ended up killing her. He's a loner now and will remain that way.
A few years ago he developed a problem with a couple of his toes and the tip of his tail. They turned white and fuzzy and fell off. Believe it or not, I used Hydrogen Peroxide on his toes, which he didn't like and he tried to bite me, and some triple antibiotic ointment. I also used Melafix and Pimafix in the water, as I wasn't sure if the infection was bacterial or fungal. His problem cleared up pretty quickly, and sure enough his missing parts have been regenerating. It's not a fast process, but his little toes and tail are growing back gradually.
He does go through phases where he refuses food (frozen bloodworms), mostly in the winter. He seems very active and he eats well when his water is 74-75 degrees, which I think is too warm, but if I set it for 72, he seems inactive and doesn't eat much. I do remember that I was keeping his water at like 78 when he developed the infections I mentioned above. I'm careful now not to let it go above 75, and I often have to ice his water in the Summer. Isn't it odd that he prefers warmer water?
I also do complete water changes, cleaning everything with sea salt, rinsing the gravel, etc. I keep his PH at 70.
So, I may be doing some things that might be considered out of the norm, but it seems to work for Iov, I've had him for a long time, he's fat and happy. Once in a while I can't resist, I pick him up and kiss him on the nose. That's the only handling he ever gets, and he doesn't seem to mind.
Anyone know the life expectancy for Hong Kong Wartys?