Firebelly Newts won’t go in the water

My firebellys are about 3.5 years old and won’t go in the water in their tank…best I can tell. I never see them in the water even though they are wet the odd time. I also think they are really small for their age.

I got them at a few weeks old with external gills where they lived in an aquarium until the gills went away. I moved them to a tank with a dirt bottom for their EFT stage. I believed they were ready for water so I built a paludarium with a water fall. The plants grow well. I have a couple of snails in the water that are doing fine. I’ve also put shrimp in hoping they would be a CUC or food but they don’t last long.

The land base for the tank is florite completely covered in Christmas moss. I wanted to ensure the newts can’t get to the Florite due to their size. The rest of the tank is larger river rocks.

The newts spend most of their time hiding in the plants on the back wall. They do go down to the land base/moss when I feed them (fruit flies since they don’t seem to consistently go in the water for pellets or blood worms).

My back wall is pretty wet due to the waterfall and I think it is causing excess decay/waste in the tank. There is definitely some slime algae in the water.

WOW… sorry for the novel. I am looking for general thoughts and advice on why they won’t go in the water. At this time I think I am going to move them to a glass bottom tank with plants and some rocks for them to come out of the water while I rebuild the paludarium. Attached are some (not very good) pics.

Wonderful scape you have for them. I think if you give them the opportunity to stay on land they will. Do you plan on breeding or have a breeding pair? I have two that are sub adults maybe a year old and I have heard that if you keep them aquatic their entire life the chances of them breeding is higher and sooner. I have mine in about 5-8 inches of water and they have one corner with rocks where they can get out at and a floating cork bark. I have same set up for my ribs too

Thanks for the compliment and insight. I do have a pair and it would great if they would breed but I feel like I’m a long way away from that. Nose to tail, the big guy is 1.75”, maybe 2”.
I have about 30% land which is what is recommended but I don’t factor in that they would climb the back wall and hide in the plants. That gives them a lot more “land” to be on.
Maybe I should just be less stressed and let them live their live how they want to

Hockeyrooster said:

Thanks for the compliment and insight. I do have a pair and it would great if they would breed but I feel like I’m a long way away from that. Nose to tail, the big guy is 1.75”, maybe 2”.
I have about 30% land which is what is recommended but I don’t factor in that they would climb the back wall and hide in the plants. That gives them a lot more “land” to be on.
Maybe I should just be less stressed and let them live their live how they want to

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No worries we understand that you are probably a new newt dad and just concerned for your newt. Newt problem! Sry that was definitely a dad joke but definitely try not to stress. Easier said than done. You can keep them terrestrial and I'm sure they're happy. If you want them to breed then when you get a chance and are ready you can get them newt legs wet. I have a basic 10g set up and would recommend no or lil substrate and plants

Dad jokes are appreciated and enjoyed
Thanks for confirming all is likely well with these little newts. I still think I’m going to redo the tank to reduce the bioload. I also have an extra 10 g tank that I am going to put them in during their home reno. If they really like it I may just leave them and hope for the best regarding breeding. I would love to have more firebellys!!!

What is the nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia levels in your water, what is the waters temperature?

Last test showed ammonia and nitrite at 0, nitrate at 2. And these have been consistent numbers. Ph has been increasing and I’m wondering if that is an issue. Temp is 67 F

Do a few big water changes and start feeding right at the waters edge or even in the shallow water. Switch to a feeder that works for this like cut earthworm. Thereafter do big water changes at least once a week. This way you can encourage them to enter the water while at the same time making sure the tank is clean enough that there is not something keeping them out. Just my 2 cents.

minorhero said:

Do a few big water changes and start feeding right at the waters edge or even in the shallow water. Switch to a feeder that works for this like cut earthworm. Thereafter do big water changes at least once a week. This way you can encourage them to enter the water while at the same time making sure the tank is clean enough that there is not something keeping them out. Just my 2 cents.

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Thanks for the tip. I will see if I can source some earthworms for them. I have been doing large water changes so I’ll continue.

Hockeyrooster said:

Thanks for the tip. I will see if I can source some earthworms for them. I have been doing large water changes so I’ll continue.

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You can dig them up out of the yard. Or buy fishing bait. Just cut them to be no bigger than the size of their head.