Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

CFB newt eft won't eat

Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
81
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ, USA
I just received my CFB newt (I was told it was Japanese but from what I've read it doesn't appear to be so). I thought he was going to be an adult and I only have adult food for him. I've tried feeding him newt pellets (I don't know where to buy live food) but he won't eat it. What do I do? He's also not moving a lot, he's walking around slowly every few minutes. Is he going to be okay?
 

Asevernnnn

Active member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
854
Reaction score
33
Location
ATX
Photos would help, as would additional information. Doesn't sound like a very good breeder if they don't know what specie they have, I feel they may even be wild-caught.
-Is it terrestrial or aquatic?
-Whats the setup like? (Temps, plants, etc)
-Have you checked water quality?

Also, newts may not eat the first few days of being in a new environment, I would also try keeping it dark and not bothering it often and try later.
Some newts may also refuse pellets entirely.
 
Joined
Mar 12, 2015
Messages
81
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ, USA
Well, I tried to put him in the 10gal semi aquatic tank set up but he freaked out when he got into the water. So I switched to a much smaller tank with a wet paper towel as substrate. There is some type of plant that came with him in the container and a rock. The water is from a bottle. I am thinking that I can feed him some pinhead crickets, which I am going to get within the hour. Should I even bother trying that?
 

Attachments

  • photo (2).jpg
    photo (2).jpg
    66.2 KB · Views: 200

Asevernnnn

Active member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
854
Reaction score
33
Location
ATX
Yes it looks like H. orientalis, and I don't believe it is an eft, it looks too large to be a juvenile. Theres a good chance that it is not CB too. Housing I would keep it cool, in a very shallow (approx. 1" of water) filled with plants like java moss with no dry solid land to get it used to the water. I would ditch the moss too, unless you want to test it to see if its acidic or not. This shallow tank can have a papertowel substrate or just be left bare bottomed.
Feeding I would suggest chopped or small whole earthworm or nightcrawler for the staple diet. If you try crickets, don't leave them unsupervised in the tank with the newt, the crickets could bite, and they aren't even that good nutritionally. You could try leaving pieces of worm in the tank in the dark and see if it eats any.
And when it is aquatic and healthy, a semi-aquatic tank is a waste, it won't use a dedicated land area often if ever. They are fully aquatic given good conditions, a permanent tank should have a minimum of 10 gallons of water, lots of plants, and just a small floating piece of land.
 

Chinadog

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
2,685
Reaction score
89
Location
Chesterfield, England
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
    +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
    +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
    +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
    +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Top