Land-Ho (C. orientalis)

My CO has been acting really strange as of late. He avoids water like the plague. I have read the water quality FAQ, and all seems well. there is 0 ammonia, a pH of 7.3, a nitrite count of 0, and a nitrate count of 11 ppm. He has no visible signs of illness, and his desire for Terra Firma is not a normal thing. He used to spend maybe 5 hours a week on land, but now he won't even enter the water. I'm getting really worried. I started doing bi-weekly water changes and I am at a loss for ideas. There are no other inhabitants to stress him out. After about seven years, with very little land contact, this is fairly disturbing. I have been dripping water on him whenever i see him, to moisten him up. Thankfully he is still vigorously taking nightcrawlers, and is otherwise active on the land.

Should I remove him from his tank, and put him in a 60/40 land setup(land being 40%)?

The only other thing i can think of is the pond creatures that have taken over my aquarium. I know having cyclops and anchor worms are not a problem for adults, but will a limpet annoy a newt? I also have an abundance of baby snails. I know there is a small chance of this being the reason, but i just want to state all the conditions of my aquarium.

Thanks, Rich

I know this is an obvious question, but have the temps gotten any warmer? It doesn't seem likely since you say the newt continues to eat, but you stated water quality but not how cool the tank water was. Good luck with the little guy!

Thanks for all of your concern, but finally some good news! He returned to the water this morning and ate a nightcrawler piece I gave him. The reason for his terrestrial urges escapes me....By the way the temp was at 66.

Rich:

I've had two CO for about 4 years..through several tanks and set ups one has stayed stubbornly terrestrial. The other is almost completely aquatic. Occasionally mr.land lubber gets wet for a while..and looks like he may go aquatic.Soon enough he's back up on his cork sanctuary. I just put my two older C.O. in with two juves in a 20 gallon tank. One of the juves instantly went aquatic, the other is up on land. So it's still a 50/50 split. Every one is healthy though.

GE