aggressive newt question

[newtons13]

Hi!

I have four Oregon/California/Rough Skinned newts living in a 30 gal tank with 1/2 water and a nice land area. About a month ago one of my newts began biting me when i take him out to put him in his feed tank. He will also attack the other newts if put with them to feed. Obviously this doesn't hurt me, but is quite strange and dangerous to the others. He also tries to mate with the other newts, constantly. Siince the weather got warmer he is mounted for hours at a time on top of a very irritated other newt.

any suggestions on ways to calm him down, or is my only option separation???

ps: they are all male... silly horny newt!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blackhawk IV]

hi,
i must say that i cant really say anything as i know little about these newts however,
a) it may be that this is their normal mating period, which would explain the 'strange' behaviour
b) it may be that he is mounted on the other one for territorial reasons i.e. this is my territory get out!
c) maybe he just feels threatened by a big hand coming in to grab him
d) he may feel overcrowded in the tank

how long have you had them? they may calm down after a while anyway. do you have water test kits? the water may be the problem
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Taricha/T_granulosa.shtml

here is a link to read if you havent already

Blackhawk

 

[newtons13]

Blackhawk,

Thank you! That article was the best info i've seen so far. Esp. with regards to breeding. I do think it is more mating than territorial, this didnt happen as much in the old smaller habitat. But what do I know, I'm learning as I go. The biting of myself only started recently maybe since April, and I've had them since October, so who knows, but yeah a big hand can be scary. I try to come from the bottom and let them come upon me.

I get the water tested at a local pet shop, and have been told that it is as good as I can probably get. Somehow the PH is nullifying the amonia into a non-toxic state, and is okay for them. The water is a little soft, so i add a pinch of baking soda at every change.

So far so good. Thank you for responding.

I wonder if separation in the tank might just make the "tough guy" more upset, as he would have no sexual outlet....