Fire Bellies & moss?

My local pet store recently got 6 Fire belly newts they came in a small plastic terrarium with mossy eco-terra substrate 2 or 3 weeks ago. So far 3 of them have died, I've only ever owned 2 fire bellies ( i had a third that i was told was an "organic" fire belly when i was younger but i am pretty sure it was not as it grew to be something like 7" or 10" long). for both my newts i used marbles for substrate.. is moss not good for them? Why would they be dying?

She is currently feeding turtle pellets, which is what my newts lived off of when i had them, it doesn't seem like they are eating them though what else could we feed that would interest them more?

Just off the top of my head it sounds as if:

1. The container is too small
2. They are being kept in a terrestrial enclosure instead of an aquatic one (with a haul out) as they should be
3. If this is a typical petstore then the room temperature is probably too warm for salamanders
4. It is often very difficult to get newts to adapt to pellet food (depending on the species)

In addition most newt imports are stressed and over crowded which can cause a weakened immune system and eventual death if proper conditions are not established. It would be best to set them up in an aquarium partially filled with water, a sponge filter, and a haul out area. The tank should be kept as cool as possible in a petstore setting. Food should be small chopped earthworm sections, live blackworms, frozen bloodworms and the like. Just some random thoughts.
Chip

There are quite a lot of issues here. If the newts are living on land, they are certainly not eating the pellet food. They need small LIVE food, such as pinhead crickets, small earthworms (or pieces thereof), etc.

And the next question is should they be living in a terrarium? And is the substrate appropriate? Just because the pet shop sold them that way, I wouldn't necessarily trust that. What species are they? This is fundamental! See:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/firebelly.shtml

Haha, once again, Foster and I answered at the same time. At least we didn't give exactly the same answer this time

Oh sorry, they are being kept in 3/4's water 1/4 land tank they are Chinese i forgot to mention.

Thank you for the advice on food all 3 newts i ever had ate turtle pellets heartily, and where quite a bit bigger then these ones (biggest one is a about an inch) i kinda thought maybe these had been brought up on different foods since they are still very young. I'll tell her to start feeding live. I think that temperature may be off too. the water doesn't feel hot but it doesn't feel as cold as mine felt either. thank you for the help i will bring these things up tomorrow when i go to see her.

Hey Jen,
Maybe John should start assigning replies Seriously though. I do not have time to post very often so I just try to chime in when I feel like I can help. My hat is off to you and some of the others who seem to tirelessly answer the same questions over and over again.
Chip