~* What to do after buying? *~

L

lindsay

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Heya, It's me again...

In a few weeks after I get home from college I'm going to get a newt or two. What is the proper procedure for introducing them to their new home? From a pet store, will they be given to me in a bag of water like fish? If so, do I then allow them to adjust to the water temp of the tank (while inside the bag) like you do with fish? Will they be hesitant about the water? What if they're small and young looking...will this matter in the introduction? I want to make sure they're happy. Help.

Thanks again!!
Lindsay

(Message edited by Lindsay on May 07, 2005)

(Message edited by Lindsay on May 07, 2005)
 
Oh and what water temp should I set their new tank to? Somewhere around 65F-68F ?
 
It depends on what kind of newt you get. Axolotls are completely aquatic, while any other newt I would suggest putting in a small box with wet paper towel. Or better yet, take your own plastic container (Gladware's my favorite!) with a paper towel wetted with treated water.

If you want some that are aquatic, make sure you pick out animals at the pet shop that are already in the water. I would put them on land to begin with, and let them adjust to the water at their own pace.

Mid to upper 60's is fantastic temperature for caudates! You sound like you've got a good handle on things. Let us know what you get!
 
Thanks! I've been reading a lot about newts lately. I've got a whole folder on my computer with tons of word documents about newt care and behavior. I plan on getting chinese firebellies just because they seem simple and they're the only kind I can really find. I've seen a lot of posts on the forum about newts not going into water...will setting the newt(s) on a floating piece of cork bark (island) when I first put them in the tank be okay?? I'm just planning on having that and a couple floating lettuce plants as their terrestrial area (maybe a sm. water hyacinth too).
 
Also, since I'll be getting it(them) from a pet store, won't they most likely be on the younger side? Is it possible I need more land area? I read on the behavior faq page that if they're under 3 inches and younger that they may tend to stay on land. Should I then try to coax them into the water? Say I bring my newt(s) home and they don't go into the water for a while, should I just wait a few days and they'll eventually go in when they're ready? I'm asking so many questions because it took a lot of reading to convince myself that the fire bellies are mainly aquatic and that I shouldn't have too much land area. I'm becoming a little confused.

~Lindsay
 
Most that come from the pet store are wild caught adults. They're usually stressed from the terrible conditions from shipping and such. If you get some that look fairly fat and healthy (good skin, no fungus) and are already in the water, you should be okay. Bring them home and put them on a floating thing, I'd put one on each, so they don't snap at each other, and they'll go into the water at their own pace. If you find that they do not go into the water, you may want to introduce a bigger piece of land mass with places they can hide.

What size tank do you have? how many newts are you planning on getting? Have you cycled the tank yet?
 
Hi Lindsay,

Sounds like your little guys (when you get them) will have a nice home. I have the CFB (C.o.) and LOVE them.

First of all, don't worry right off the bat whether or not they will be landlubbers. Most take to the water right away. Although I have had a few that took awhile to go in the water. I would not encourage C.o. to reside on land. They are harder to feed and keep an eye on. They are much easier to observe while they are swimming around.

Each of my tanks have different "land areas". Some have just mats of Elodea plants, some fake floating lilypads, some plates on a wine glass. The latter is pretty cool. I get thin stemmed wine glasses and put a plate on the top. You can add whatever you want to this plate -- gravel, plants, Spongebob idols, whatever. This kind of island doesn't compromise water space. Also there is the handy dandy "Turtle Dock". I use them too.

I have a newcomer newt who like to live in the Whisper internal canister filter. Little bugger waits for me to feed him -- sticks its head out, opens it mouth and says, "Ahhh". Anyway, I am going to kick him out of his apartment shortly here. (I will be stuffing filter foam in the opening so he can't get back in.) I am doing this so he gets out and I can observe him for health, etc.

Hope this helps.
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Hey guys thanks! I will be back home next week. I am planning on getting a 10 gallon and cycling it for a month before hand (I have a doc. on my comp. about that too
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) I will either get one or two. I have seen those turtle docks online and I was planning on looking at them at the store when I get home. I really don't like the idea of buying animals from pet stores and usually don't, so I guess I'm being weak...
 
With the wine glasses, how do you stop them from toppling? I got a nasty shock this morning. I came in to find the 'rock' had fallen and all I could see was a tail emerging from underneath. I thought for sure my newt was squashed. But when I lifted the rock, he seemed OK. Hopefully, the rock had had fallen and he saw an opportunity to hide underneath in its hollow part. Ugh. Now I'm afraid to put the rock back in...I could anchor it with pebbles but I hate how the food gets trapped in them.
 
Hi Janice,

I fill the glass with marbles, or those cool glass pieces, then I put a plate on top of the wine glass. I have not had any problems with instability. If you use this setup for an island, you can get creative with what you put on the plate. If you use this for a baffle, the water flows evenly off the plate.

I will have to post some pics.


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I would love to see the pictures. Let me know where you put them. Any ideas how I could anchor the 'rock' without using muck-trapping pebbles? Do you use china or plastic plates? Do post the pictures. This is intriguing!
 
anyone mind if I post pics of my fbn's when I get them???? ~Lindsay
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Mind? We INSIST! You sound like you've got a good handle on things. You'll do fine.
 
Hi Ladies,

Janice, I gave up on using anything that I have to "anchor". I would get another rock.
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Will post pics for you soon.

Lindsay, as Joan said, "We INSIST!"
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Another question
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When I move back here to school in the fall...should I bring the newt(s) in a separate container like when I bought them. About the tank, should I let out 3/4 of the water for the car ride? (3.5 hrs) Will I need to recycle the tank when I get to school if I don't let out all the water? If so, would I put the newt(s) in a separate container until the tank was suitable again, I have a 1 gallon fish/small animal carry case/tank thing I guess I could use.
 
For transport, I use gladware. Round corners, and a lid. I wouldn't leave 3/4 of the tank water in there. 1. it would weigh 50 lbs! and 2. it would slosh everywhere. I took used milk jugs and saved about 3 gallons of the tank water to put back in when I moved, just as a kickstart to seeding the clean water. As long as you don't clean the filter or anything, it shouldn't be a problem about re-cycling.
 
Where should we post our pictures. I now have to prove I have a torosa.
 
oh no, I was saying that I'd let out 3/4 of the water and leave 1/4 in the tank so the tank wouldn't need to be recycled. I have been talking to people in the chat and they have said I can get by without a filter if I keep up with the water changes and keep a lot of oxygenators. So, if I don't have a filter, in comparison would I just make sure the rock at the bottom stayed so that the bacteria would still be there when I got to school?
 
Sure, just collect some of the water, and make sure the substrate stays moist. Again, I'll recommend gladware (I should be their spokesperson). Put the rocks into a container with water enough to cover it. This makes moving big awkward tanks a little easier too.
 
Thanks, will do!
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SOO excited!!!!!! NEWTS HERE I COME!! MUAHAHAHAHA

~Lindsay
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