Unexplained eft death

[Risigan]

I just found out that one of my efts died. I am just devastated by this. It was doing fine and I didn't expect this at all. About 3 days ago it stopped eating but I thought nothing of it, 3 days really isn't that long. Then I just looked at the tank and I saw it upside down in the dirt not moving. It has no external marks or anything like that. Any ideas? The other eft seems fine, but I am going to keep a close eye on it.

 

[Otterwoman]

If you are talking about red efts (Noto. viridescens), they are notoriously hard to rear. This is, unfortuntely, a common experience.

 

[deliriah]

Yes they are hard to rear. I had surprise eggs from mine a few years back. Of the five that hatched and survived (a few others hatched but died as larvae) they all died off at the eft stage. Very discouraging after getting through the larval stage where they were so small.

 

[Risigan]

I have had trouble with small efts in the past, but this one was beginning to turn into an adult. Is it common for a large eft (beginning to become aquatic again) to mysteriously die. One thing I did notice is that the eft always seemed skinny, although it was eating the same amount of food as my other eft. I have only had it for a little over month, but I would have expected it to put on some weight.