Sick eastern newt?

[U.S. Herps]

I've had 3 eastern newts for about 3 weeks now. 2 are fat and healthy eating straight away when fed. But one won't eat, can't hold its breath underwater, and thrashes like crazy around the tank at the surface when trying to get a breath. And yes its not a red eft. It stays half-way out of the water on a piece of wood but i know that's normal. I need to know what's wrong with it.

 

[Idnar196]

I will need quite a bit more information to help:
Where did you get the newts from?
what are they eating?
What is the enclosure they are in (size, substrate, décor, filtration etc.)?
What are the water parameters? (pH, Temp, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite)
What kind of water are you using?
How old/ large is the newt?

Pictures are always helpful too. For now I would quarantine the newt with the strange behavior until you have a better idea of what is going on.

 

[U.S. Herps]

I will need quite a bit more information to help:
Where did you get the newts from?
what are they eating?
What is the enclosure they are in (size, substrate, décor, filtration etc.)?
What are the water parameters? (pH, Temp, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite)
What kind of water are you using?
How old/ large is the newt?

Pictures are always helpful too. For now I would quarantine the newt with the strange behavior until you have a better idea of what is going on.

From ebay, so unknown whether wildcaught or captive bred. Cut Red worms as food. 50 gallon aquarium with 5 to 6 inches of water ranging because of evaporation. Substrate is a very fine sand. Decor is rocks, wood, and live plants. No Filtration because theirs lots of plants and their is only 3 in big tank. I'm trying to simulate a natural environment. Water parameters are unknown, no chlorine, and the water is a bit cold from room temperature, but the other 2 are fine and healthy so I don't think it's the parameters. The newts are adults.

I've been reading online and it says some eastern newts prefer more land, so I have put it in a separate tank with half water and half land. The land is soil with leaves and a hiding spot.

Hopefully I find out what's going on.

 

[Idnar196]

From ebay, so unknown whether wildcaught or captive bred. Cut Red worms as food. 50 gallon aquarium with 5 to 6 inches of water ranging because of evaporation. Substrate is a very fine sand. Decor is rocks, wood, and live plants. No Filtration because theirs lots of plants and their is only 3 in big tank. I'm trying to simulate a natural environment. Water parameters are unknown, no chlorine, and the water is a bit cold from room temperature, but the other 2 are fine and healthy so I don't think it's the parameters. The newts are adults.

I've been reading online and it says some eastern newts prefer more land, so I have put it in a separate tank with half water and half land. The land is soil with leaves and a hiding spot.

Hopefully I find out what's going on.

I wouldn't be so quick to write out water parameters as a potential issue. Plants take care of nitrate, but the tank must be properly cycled to break down the ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. How long was the tank cycled for?
Are you using tap water with dechlorinator, well water or RO/DI water?

Unless they said that they were captive bred I can almost guarantee that they are wild caught, because it can take years to raise eastern newts to adulthood in captivity.
I know that the other two newts are acting appropriately today, but newts hide illness quite well until they are often very sick. The best way to prevent the other ones from getting sick is to ensure proper husbandry.

 

[U.S. Herps]

I wouldn't be so quick to write out water parameters as a potential issue. Plants take care of nitrate, but the tank must be properly cycled to break down the ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. How long was the tank cycled for?
Are you using tap water with dechlorinator, well water or RO/DI water?

Unless they said that they were captive bred I can almost guarantee that they are wild caught, because it can take years to raise eastern newts to adulthood in captivity.
I know that the other two newts are acting appropriately today, but newts hide illness quite well until they are often very sick. The best way to prevent the other ones from getting sick is to ensure proper husbandry.

Ok. I will definitely do more research on water parameters. Hopefully the other two aren't hiding any sickness, but I guess time will tell. Thank you for the info!