Question: Newt appears after 11 months!!!

[JeannieH]

Hi everyone.

I have a 72 gallon bow tank which I turned into a paludarium with approximately 20 gallons of water. Last year I attempted to keep firebelly newts in it. I bought one in November and another in December 2013. I found one dead in the end of December, never saw the other one for again, gave it up for dead and decided to give up newt-keeping. I increased the temperature, added fish and have been feeding them flake food only. There is no cover on the tank.

Yesterday I was astounded to see a small, (about 2 1/2 - 3" tip to tail) firebellly newt walking over my land mass, hanging out in my stream and then slipping behind a large piece of bark and disappearing! I had seen this same behavior in the newt I bought last December but never daw again. Could this be the same newt? Could a baby have been born in the tank? I am dumbfounded.

What do you think is going on?

 

[jAfFa CaKe]

I have heard of this type of thing before, but 11 months is a VERY long time for a newt to go in conditions like that! So it is most likely the same newt.

 

[JeannieH]

Thanks jAfFa CaKe!

If I ever see it again I may try to catch it and give it a more appropriate home.

 

[jAfFa CaKe]

That would be a good idea.

 

[JeannieH]

Yeah. I was too busy staring with my mouth hanging open wondering if I was hallucinating to think of that at the time:happy:. I wonder if I will see it again.