Question: Very thin newt

[webzdebs]

I'm quite worried about one of my CFB newts, it hasn't put on any weight since we got him/her....we think its a boy as he was smaller and thinner than the other newt we got at the same time (but we could be wrong).

His other tank mates are bigger than him and looking well fed, and he looks in comparison like a twig, so my worry is that the others are getting all the food and he's being left with nothing which could be why he's so thin or he could be ill.

I'm thinking a good start would be to move him to a tank on his own, that way if he is ill he can have time to recover but more importantly I can keep an eye on what he is eating so i can learn more about what might be wrong with him, he is still getting around the tank fine as well.

Does anyone have any thoughts, or had a similar situation to this one?

 

[Mac Myers]

It's pretty common and chances are the more aggressive animals are getting all of the food. You'll either need to separate him or feed carefully enough that you make sure he gets his share.
Not to sound like a jerk.... but you should be making sure everyone gets fed at each meal.

 

[webzdebs]

not sounding like a jerk Mac, thats entirely my fault for not thinking that (and its sounds fairly obvious now you've said it). Whats the best way to ensure this, hand feeding each individually?

 

[vistajpdf]

Many here advocate hand feeding. As a working mom to three elementary aged boys who coaches all of their sports and since I have 50+ juveniles, it's not an option. I do, however, separate the juveniles on a regular basis based on size. So far, I've had a lot of success and very few mortalities. However, my male (father of these) has suddenly gone terrestrial and isn't eating. He's been separated from the female for over a year, so I don't think it's that. I'd separate yours and just keep a watchful eye over the thin one, being sure something's being eaten. What are you feeding them? It's not uncommon for them to not eat when stressed or if you just got them.

Good luck,
Dana

 

[misslyss]

I think separating the thinner one for awhile is a good idea, that way you can easily monitor how much he is eating, or if he is refusing the food you're offering him.

Depending specifically on the size of the newt, you could try offering small wax worms, and chopped earth worms to his diet. These foods are much higher in fat compared to pellets and other foods, and should help the little guy put on some ounces

 

[dipsydoodle]

My thinner newt is terrestrial and he gets hand fed (separately) - well in the same tank but I make sure to hand feed him properly.

 

[CherryBlossom]

I bought wax worms today debs... I will give you a couple tonight.. you can but try them xxx

 

[JM29]

I fully agree with Alyssa : get it isolated.

The exact causes are difficult to know at this time. It could be a parasite, but, more probably, a problem of competition/domination with its tankmates. Another possibility is it doesn't eat the usual food you provide them (you don't say anything about it).

I once had this case with a sword-tailed firebelly, which didn't eat any more the earthworms I gave. I isolated it in shallow water, and gave it bloodworms. Now it is well and eats earthworms again.

Hope it will help.

 

[webzdebs]

thanks everyone for your responses, he's been separated and is eating well so i think it may have just been a competition issue. He is eating bloodworms, am looking into getting some earthworms to introduce into their diet (my friend kindly has a back garden i can scower for worms in

 

[misslyss]

Great news, I'm glad he/she is back to eating again!

Since he's doing so well on his own, I would keep him separate to give him a chance to catch up in size to his tank mates. If the rest are much bigger than him it could be why he is staying out of the water. He could be unintentionally bullied by his larger tank mates. Not allowing him to get food, knocking him around or even holding him down while in the water are some signs I've noticed while having this species in the past. Most of the time the larger tank mates don't seem to realize or care that they're doing it. Survival of the fittest, if you will.

 

[Mac Myers]

Yes... very good news... glad to hear it. :happy:
If he's still having trouble putting on weight you can send him to my house and he can follow me around for a week or so. THAT will put some weight on him.