NEWT TANK WAY TOO WARM.. PLEASE HELP

[harpy]

I am having trouble keeping my newt tank cool enough. I have a trio of paddletails in a 20 gal tank. They are supposed to have temps of BELOW 70 degrees..BUT IT IS OVER 90 INSIDE MY HOUSE.. I have been putting ice chunks in twice a day, but that raises the water level too much. I don't have the money for anything fancy, like the chillers I've seen for saltwater tanks. Other than sticking them in the fridge...what can I do??


How can I lower the temp??
HOW do I tell if newts are stressed because of temp??

ANY ADVICE???
Harpy

 

[jennifer]

Is your house going to be 90F often during the summer? Or is this a temporary unusual heat wave? That makes a big difference in what kinds of things you should do to lower the temp. If it's temporary, then using frozen water bottles is the way to go - keep one in the tank and one in the freezer and switch them back and forth. There are a list of other suggestions in the FAQs at Caudate Central.

 

[yago]

If you want to decrease around 2 Cº all year around the temperature you could put them on floor level with the aquarium laying on a metal surface (cold material). On the other hand, for desperate situations the bottle water method is the best.
Good luck

 

[kaysie]

if the ice is raising the water level, why dont you try freezing chunks of tank water?

 

[mandy]

where is your tank? if you have a basement this is the best place. avoid direct sun light and windows.putting the tank at floor level is good too. short of giving them up to a better home. try to find a close friend to take them on for the summer until you can control the temperature situation in your home. Good luck