Odd question (swimming frenzy)

K

karen

Guest
One of my nvv newts has been swimming around pretty frantically the last few days. He (she) swims very fast along the sides of the tank and it looks like he's trying to find a way out of the water. But, in my tank I have a rock which is partially above water to crawl out on (I haven't noticed either newt doing that) and also a floating lily pad for basking/relaxing. (Never saw that used either.) I don't want my newt stressing over trying to find "land" when there is some available. They're almost always in the water so I haven't put more rocks or land areas in the tank. I thought about the floating turtle dock but it takes up alot of room (I only have a 10 gal tank) and they look pretty cheap. I also heard some negative reviews about them. Has this swimming frenzy been observed by anyone else? What should be done?
 
Karen, I'm not sure what is going on with this either. I keep taricha granulosa and I have witnessed them doing the same thing. They seem to flip out once in a while and swim frantically until they run into my floating island. Then they crawl up on it for MAYBE three seconds, then get back in the water and go about their regular swimming. Strange. I've not been too worried about it, but we'll see what others say.
 
My cynops orientalis did that as well. Perhaps even sometime never stop for land. just keep doing it. But later on, they stopped doing that. I think it might has to do with stress. Once they relaxed, they will be fine.
 
I think that they just swim frantically against the glass because they can't turn around or swim backwards, so they don't encounter any land that's in the middle of the tank. If you put something in their way to block them like a rock at surface level at the edge of the glass, a piece of driftwood leaning against the glass, etc, my T. grans tend to run into it, and then stop swimming about.
 
Ali, where did you get your floating island? I know I have seen them in pet stores (many years ago) and now every store I have gone to says they really aren't made anymore! That's why I bought the floating water lily (although it seems to go unused). Did you make the floating island or buy it? Thanks for any info!!
 
Actually, I bought a piece of corkbark that I found with the hermit <font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font> stuff (I've seen this in many pet stores). Corkbark floats. So, to be easier on their skin (and prettier) I covered it in java moss. The moss was really expensive but if you spread it out on the corkbark, so that the edges still touch the water, it will stay wet and grow like crazy.. When I want to put some somewhere else, I just pull a piece off, and it soon grows to compensate for what you've removed. This works wonderfully.

I also have ghost shrimp which love to hang out on the bottom of the corkbark. Be sure that you rinse it VERY WELL before you put it in, mine had a lot of dirt that I needed to wash off.
Voila! Floating island.
 
it blocked out the word c-r-a-b. I wasn't swearing you guys, I promise! hehe.
 
In my experience Triturus sp.like to rest beneath the corkbark. Especially when there is some space between the corkbark and the surface of the water. There usually is in the larger pieces. The newts then float at the surface. I suppose it gives a secure feeling.
 
I find that newts who are looking for "land" will often refuse floating cork bark or lily pads. I would suggest to Karen adding an upended brick (or other solid island) to the tank. Also, how long has the tank been up and running? I'm thinking that perhaps the water is toxic due to cycling stress.

I've seen newts display this frantic behavior for short periods of time. But if it goes on for hours, I would remove the newt from the setup and figure out what is wrong. Are there other newts in the tank acting normally? Are they in breeding condition? (If so, sometimes N.v. males will harrass a female excessively).
 
Thanks for your response Jennifer. I do have a large piece of rose quartz (beautiful) that is standing in the water which breaks the surface of the water but the newt in question doesn't climb up on it. He/she seems to be more calm when he rests on top of my fluval filter (which is submerged), but when he's on top he's partially out of the water. I just don't understand why he won't use the rock or lily pad.
My tank has been running for a few weeks now, so it isn't fully cycled yet. I test the water every few days, and at my last testing the pH was about 6.8, the ammonia level was zero but the nitrite level was high (2.0 ppm). I did a partial water change but the level didn't drop. Nitrate level is 20 ppm. Am I doing something wrong? I know the nitrite level will rise and then drop to zero when the tank is cycled; perhaps it's too soon? I'm diligent about keeping the water clean; removing newt scat and any uneaten worms. I am a bit concerned about the water though- any suggestions?
 
Oh, I forgot, there is one other newt in the tank who doesn't do the swimming frenzy act. And I'm not sure of the sexes so I can't answer about breeding conditions; I did think they were both males b/c of their broad large tails and it looks like they have strong hind legs, but the truth is I just am not sure.
 
The nitrite level is high. This will come down on its own after the cycling process is finished, but in the meantime it's not good for the newts. I would suggest changing about HALF of the water every day until it comes down. Either that, or else remove the newts to another setup until the level comes down on its own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Back
    Top