Sick newt floating and yawning? Help!

[parkchim]

I've noticed that one of my newts seems to never go into the water, as goes onto land whenever he can. When he does go into the water, he floats and keeps his head out of the water at all costs. While he is on land, he constantly yawns and hiccups? for air. His mouth opens wide as if he's taking a gulp of air, is that okay if it happens a lot? He's only 2 and a half inches, so quite young but I hope he'll live a lot longer. My other newt is perfectly fine as he sinks, eats, and reacts quickly when I walk up to the aquarium. Is my other newt okay though? Thanks!

 

[Bellabelloo]

What type of newt do you have? Would you be able to add some photo's of them and maybe what they live in.
My initial thought is that the one that may be struggling is maybe not ready to be aquatic yet. But more information is needed to confirm this

 

[parkchim]

Thank you for replying! The newt I was talking about actually hadn't moved from its spot on land for two days, and hasn't eaten for a week or so. But this morning, I found it in the water, and it had sank like any other normal newt would. Is this good? I believe they are paddletail newts although I'm not sure ... I will attach pictures. I don't know what to do, as it won't eat or anything? It still kind of gasps and hiccups for air ...

The "unhealthy" newt is the darker one by the way, and it is smaller and much skinnier than the healthier newt, which is a lighter color. They have the same patterns on the stomach so I'm very sure they are the same type of newt. All the pictures with only one newt in them is the "unhealthy" one.

Thanks!

 

[Canecorsonewt]

Someone how knows will hopefully help more. Im probably rong but i think you have alpine newts. I pretty sure they need color water then most newts. Look up how to raise alpine newts on this site. First find out if there alpine newts you should be able to identify them by photos on the net

 

[Chinadog]

Yes, they are Alpine newts not Paddletails. Here is the care sheet.

Caudata Culture Species Entry - Mesotriton (Triturus) alpestris

They are very easy to care for if you start off with healthy animals, where did you get them?

 

[parkchim]

I got them at an animal expo, and the vendor selling them said they had been eating and growing quite healthily, and that he mostly kept them in an aquatic environment with a few plants sticking out. I set up my tank that way as well, and one of my newts eats a lot and swims healthily, but the other one still isn't doing too well. Based on the caresheet, they're supposed to stay in the water, but my "unhealthy" one went back on land and hasn't moved from up there since yesterday. Should I force it back into the water? I saw it nip the other "healthy" newts tail yesterday while the "healthy" one was eating bloodworms, but the "unhealthy" the itself still hasn't eaten at all for a week. It wemt back on land after that little fight, but the "healthy" one didn't nip back at the "unhealthy" one or anything at all. I'm worried about that one, how do I get it into the water and how do I get it to eat? I have them in a 20 gallon with 66-70 degree water, and a filter that makes very small water current. Should I turn off the filter or something as well? I currently have no light over them as I heard they like the dark. Thank you!

 

[Canecorsonewt]

You could try feeding the one on land with tweezers. It takes time i do it with my juveniles. Has the sick one eating since you got it. If your worried about water current you can try spong filter i use them and love them. You can get one for $3 on ebay.