Are these Red Efts Aquatic?

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for posting so many threads, I just have so many questions:tongue:

Anyway, I moved my two Red Efts into a new Aquarium, a larger enclosure with a small pool. I didn't expect them to use the pool since I assumed they were still juvenile, however they will both go into the pool. One never leaves it.
On multiple occasions I took the Newts out of the pool to make sure they hadn't fallen in by accident (even though there's multiple rocks they can use to climb out) and upon doing putting them back on land they B-Line right back into the water.

This always gets me though, I've always been told that they would turn Olive-Green when they were aquatic adults, however one seems to be a black-ish brown (this one swims occasionally) and the other is a light brown (this one swims all the time). Seeing as many posters on this forum own Red Efts I thought somebody could fill me in.

Here's some pics (I put them next to a pen so you could compare size, not sure how big they are as adults)

The first pic is of the Newt that is in the water all the time, he is also the one who was dying yesterday. But thanks to the help I received on these forums she's made a fully recovery! Thanks again

I've just filled their tank with water shallow enough so they can simply climb the large rocks and plants that aren't completely submerged to get back on land.

So far they keep heading to the water where they seem to walk calmly on the bottom. They don't seem to be panicking or struggling, they seem fine. Although I'm about to go to bed and I don't want to wake to see my newts drowned when I wake up.

I think, just for safety purposes, I'll keep them in a dry tank while I sleep. I'll wait for some opinions.

(I don't know if this means anything but when I look at them underwater their throats are moving, you know the movement where it goes in and out really fast. I'm not sure if this is them breathing or something.)

They both look like they have adult coloration to me.

How old are they? Mine trek in and out of their water dish, but I think they are quite a way off being aquatic. They dont have the greenish colour yours have yet, they are more beigey brown

obicat said:

How old are they? Mine trek in and out of their water dish, but I think they are quite a way off being aquatic. They dont have the greenish colour yours have yet, they are more beigey brown

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I'm not really sure, my step-sister gave them to me in August, although I know she had them for quite a while. They've also grown quite a bit since then too.

I agree with Kaysie, they look like adults. I would recommend putting them in a setup with a larger water area. If they continue to go for water, you can keep them in a mostly-aquatic setup from then on.

Jennewt said:

I agree with Kaysie, they look like adults. I would recommend putting them in a setup with a larger water area. If they continue to go for water, you can keep them in a mostly-aquatic setup from then on.

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Sounds good, I just took your advice and added more water and they seem to like it

I'm just afraid they'll drown, if they feel like they're going to drown will they go back on land? Or will they just stay at the bottom.