Newt is going to die <IMG SRC="http://www.caudata.org/forum/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0>

[an]

i'm new to keeping newts. i have two that i just got less than a week ago. one of them is eating good and moves around the tank, but the other one just stays on the driftwood all the time. he won't eat either. also, i didn't notice it at the pet store, but he's missing one of his front feet.

i got the only two they had in the pet store at the time, i should have looked at them closer.

anyways, i think he's going to die. he's skinny too. is there anything i can do? or is he just doomed?

 

[fra]

what kind of newt is it, AN?
maybe you should start trying to separate them, keeping the ill one alone in a tank to see if it begin to eat..

it's not certainly going to die...

 

[(unregistered]

it's a fire belly. he's tiny, i haven't measured him, but probably less than 2 1/2 inches including the tail.

 

[jennifer]

Try feeding him with a tweezers, either chopped earthworm or frozen (thawed) bloodworms (NOT dried).

 

[kaysie]

and dont worry about the foot, unless it gets infected. its totally not uncommon for newts to lose limbs, either in fighting, or some sort of accident. it will grow back. but definately try separating them for feeding. if the second newt is bigger, it may be bullying the smaller one and taking its food. and keep in mind that newts can go for some time without food. if you've just gotten them, it may still be stressed from the new environment. keep us updated