Please Help Fast With Red Spotted Eft

[jr10]

I got a red spotted newt on Friday. He is really small and I think he is still an eft. I have tried feeding him pinhead crickets, frozen bloodworms, papaya chunks, and sinking micro-pelets. He has not touched one thing. Does anybody know why or anything else to feed him? Also, yesterday I went to check on him and it seemed like he was dead. He was not moving at all, was floating upside down, and looked like he was dried up. Then, a couple of hours later, I went to get rid of him an he was alive andmoving again. Is this normal for newts/efts? If anybody can help me out please do so. Thanks.*

 

[Kaysie]

It'll need small, live food. Pinhead crickets, fruit flies, sow/pill bugs, etc. I wouldn't bother at all with pellets, and papaya isn't an appropriate food. They're not lizards.

Efts are completely terrestrial. They will drown in any sort of aquatic setup. You can have a shallow water dish, but no more.

Efts are notoriously hard to keep.

 

[jr10]

Here's a link to a picture of what he is currently in.
Mobile Photobucket

Also, I have apinhead right now. Should I just drop it in the tank or feed him specially or something different?

 

[Kaysie]

That's way too much water with no adequate escape route.

Efts should be kept more like this.

 

[jr10]

So do newts have to have a big thing of water? This is my first newt and I found him in a filter in the pool?

 

[jr10]

How long could he gowithout that before I can get him moss

 

[jr10]

Until I can go out and get more supplies is tis better?
http://m1270.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/jmrisnear/776ad77a.jpg.html?o=0

 

[Kaysie]

That's a lot better setup. Like I said, efts are fully terrestrial for 2-7 years before they change into their adult form, which is fully aquatic. Just make sure you keep that setup adequately moist, but not too wet. Make sure you don't get sphagnum moss. And if you have access to some flat rocks, try to build him a little hide.

 

[jr10]

Ok thanks for all of your help.
He died this morning and I think it was because he wasn't eating. I tried giving him the pinheads. Maybe he will do wht he did last time.