Young, frisky newt needs help

[slowfoot]

Hi all

I have a problem with my young, CB N.v. dorsalis male: he is spending all of his time courting (nothing) and I can't get him to eat. I've noticed that his little hip bones are sticking out and I'm worried he might just waste away. Is there anything I can do to 'turn him off' or just get him more interested in food again, rather than mating. I'm considering sticking him in the fridge to simulate winter temps. Are there other options?

He used to be a great eater, but now I can barely interest him in anything. He eats maybe one frozen bloodworm a week (at most), but refuses earthworms, daphnia, an live blackworms. He lives alone now, and I've blocked his view of the other newts. Please help - I really don't want to lose him

 

[Jennewt]

Wow, that's odd. I've never had one that refuse food during breeding season, and I've never seen one continue courting when there are no other newts around. The fridge will lower his metabolism so he won't lose weight as quickly, but it won't necessarily bring him out of breeding condition. Be sure to offer food, even in the fridge. Keep us posted.

 

[ferret_corner]

Aw Erin!! I'm sorry he's giving you grief! i hope the fridging works. is it possible to fridge him through breeding season? or is that undeterminate?

 

[slowfoot]

I suppose it's possible that there might be something else wrong with him, but really: all I see him doing is court, court, court. And he seems active and alert. Apparently, down here in Florida the breeding season lasts from October until... now. My adult male is still courting. There are no signs of him stopping anytime soon either

I've been offering the little guy food throughout the day (when I'm home) and sometimes he'll bite at it before spazzing out and going back into dancing mode.

 

[Azhael]

My male dobrogicus was off food for a while(maybe four weeks? can´t remember) when he entered breeding season. He just didn´t seem to notice food even if it was practically inside his mouth, and would spit it out if tricked to bite some.
I found that as soon as temps raised a bit(from 12 to 16ºC) he started to show some vague interest. He finally started eating, although the frantic breeding behaviour was still going on.

Placing the newt in the fridge is very unlikely to have any impact in his appetite, but as Jen said, it will slow him down. I actually think, if you want to get the idea of breeding out of him, and increase his appetite...raising temps to a tolerable but higher point might do the trick. In my experience breeding seasons vanishes with higher temps(except with C.orientalis..they just don´t care xD).
Best of lucks Erin!

 

[slowfoot]

Thanks, guys! He's about the same, but I've stepped up the feeding schedule to about every hour or so when I'm home. He ate one bloodworm yesterday, and grabbed a bit of earthworm this morning... and promptly spit it out.

It looked to me like he had a little trouble actually eating the bloodworm, which is odd - there might be something else wrong with him after all. I'll watch and see how he eats more closely next time.

 

[Jennewt]

This doesn't sound normal. Almost sounds like a bizarre neurological problem.

 

[slowfoot]

Just a little update with some good news

Today was the first really hot day we've had here. All courtship stopped, and he's eaten 3 bloodworms in the last hour, which is almost more than in the past month, combined. I guess the warmer weather has finally had some effect.

 

[slimer]

That good that he started eating again, You should get him a girl friend.