Is Oliver sick or just fat?

YellowSloth · Jun 12, 2007

This is my little big boy, Oliver... or maybe he's a girl... I've never figured that part out either...

I noticed the other day he's growing close to the middle and a bit to one side. I've had him/her for over a year now with no problems at all... Can anyone tell if this is bloat or fat? I've been checking the water once a day and all the tests tell me my water is just about perfect. It has been hot here and the tank has gotten a bit warmer, but not by a huge difference...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Jennewt · Jun 13, 2007

The animal does not look bloated to me. Overall, it looks healthy. I don't have an explanation for its condition - I've never seen a lopsided fatness like that. I think your newt is male, which also makes the fatness a mystery, as it cannot be eggs. I'm thinking it's some kind of abnormal growth, like a tumor, but that's just a guess.

YellowSloth · Jun 13, 2007

Thanks! I hope you're wrong about the tumor, but I'm definitly relieved that you don't think in looks like bloat! When I first noticed it, I thought maybe he'd hurt himself, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all, he has been swimming and eating like normal. I'll keep an eye on it and post more pictures if it gets bigger/easier to see....

Thanks for sexing him too... they all look like girls to me :dizzy:

mp2952 · Jun 13, 2007

that is really strange. another possibility is that oliver ate some gravel. but you said it doesn't seem to bother him, so i'm not sure. hope you can figure out what it is

YellowSloth · Jun 13, 2007

hmmm... That's an interesting theory too! I never thought they'd be able to eat their gravel... But that is what it looks like.... It might be a bit bigger today than when I took the pictures.. I just checked on him and it was hard to tell. I'll try for some better pictures tonight after work.

I hope he's going to be okay.......

mp2952 · Jun 14, 2007

more pics would be great. some tail shots would help to sex him. the angle of the cloaca in the first pic made me think he was a she, but the second pic he looks pretty swollen so i couldn't decide.

John · Jun 15, 2007

Jennewt said:
I think your newt is male, which also makes the fatness a mystery, as it cannot be eggs.

Are you sure it's male? I see the bulge but it's not exactly "comin' atcha" ? I've never kept pyrrhogaster so shoot me down at will.

YellowSloth · Jun 15, 2007

Poor Oli is feeling very angry and probably at least a little violated.... he did NOT want his picture taken today so this is the best I could do.... couldn't get any new ones of his lump, but maybe these will help in sexing... He's in the tank with two others that haven't been sexed yet either....

I'll try for better lump pictures later on.... when I had him out for these pics I tried to look, but he kept squirming so I had trouble finding it at all...maybe it's getting smaller again.

Thanks for all you help!

mp2952 · Jun 15, 2007

i'm leaning more towards female. is the end of oliver's tail more rounded or angled?

Mark · Jun 15, 2007

I'm notoriously bad at sexing newts but I would opt for female if forced to guess.

John said:
I've never kept pyrrhogaster so shoot me down at will.

Isn't it orientalis rather than pyrrhogaster? Now it's my turn to be shot.... :kill:

YellowSloth · Jun 15, 2007

hmmm... if Oliver is a girl could it be eggs? his tail is pretty round I think.....

mp2952 · Jun 16, 2007

i'll say female. http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/sexing.shtml check that out and look for all the signs. if oliver is a girl, the lumps could be eggs. my female had some bulges when she was ready to lay her eggs.

rigsby · Jun 16, 2007

i'd go for female judging by the first side on photo..

YellowSloth · Jun 16, 2007

hmmmm.... if Oliver is pregnant, how long until there are eggs?

mp2952 · Jun 18, 2007

she could be laying eggs already. they lay them one at a time usually on plants that they can fold the leaves over. check around your tank for eggs. the egg laying period for my newt was about 2 months as far as i could tell, but i'm sure they vary

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