Illness/Sickness: Rescued a red spotted eastern newt from my pool in Michigan. Need help!

[tbarrera]

My parents saved him from my pool and we were unsure what to do with him but I got him a ten gallon tank and have it set up pretty good for his likings now I think, I will try to post a picture or describe it better later. I can not get him to eat and he is moving very slowly and hardly at all, what could be wrong? Any and all advice on this species would be appreciated I am clueless other than what I've already found on this forum. Thanks.

 

[tbarrera]

This is the tank right now.

 

[tbarrera]

Also wondering heating lamp or no heating lamp? Someone please help soon!

 

[kay]

Absolutely no heat lamp! All newts and salamanders thrive in cool conditions. Please do some more research on proper care, as that would be one of the very first things mentioned on all care sheets.

 

[tbarrera]

Well I learned that they should be most comfortable around 70-74 degrees and I was trying to keep it around that in there with a small watt bulb in a very small clamp lamp like the guy at the pet store suggested, that happened for one day and now I have removed it. So is the temp not that important? or is there another way to regulate the temperature like that? Like I said I'm clueless advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[reptile]

Your setup looks great!

Temp.

Keep him at room temp.

Food

Feed him blackworms, local pet store should have fresh supply.
You could feed him earthworms but you will have to cut them up.
Tiny crickets as a treat.

Humidty

Mist often.Coconut coir does a great job as a substrate and keeps the tank humid and doesn't mold.

You wont see him walking fast unless you touch his tail, they scamper of when you do that.

 

[JessKB]

Don't listen to what they tell you at the pet store. Here is a great comprehensive care sheet that will teach you how to properly care for it. That is, if you plan on keeping it and not releasing it.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Notophthalmus/N_viridescens.shtml

 

[Coastal Groovin]

72-74 degrees is about room temperature. Anything under a heat lamp is going to be hotter than that. Is it an adult or is it still in the juvenile red eft stage.? Their care is very different. You tank is fine for a red eft but not for a green adult.

 

[reptile]

.Is it an adult or is it still in the juvenile red eft stage.? Their care is very different. You tank is fine for a red eft but not for a green adult.

good point, adult red spotted eastern newts are aquatic , whereas juvies are terrestrial.

the adults look like this

and juvies (efts) look like this

 

[tbarrera]

I believe he is still in the eft stage, what do I do and how can I tell when he's changing or changes? How do I care for him then? I appreciate all the help.
I've been told they can go a week or two with out eating with no real problems, is this true? Because I tried chopped earthworms yesterday and he didn't want those. I also tried thawed bloodworms. No interest shown.
And honestly should I keep him or release him? I'm an animal lover and the only reason I took him in out of his environment is because like I said he was stuck in my pool dying. If he's not going to adapt and be happy, I would rather just release him, I don't want a sad newt

 

[reptile]

live blackworms, should get him to eat, try feeding him with tweezers, shake the worms in from of him, if that doesnt work leave them next to him and see if he eats, I have had efts going for 3-4 weeks without food, ( water is very important )

 

[tbarrera]

He has that large dish in the corner with water and two aquatic plants in it, it has the steps on it for him. Is that good? How often should I change the water for him?