FBN Hiding?

[discoverlight]

I'm working on my tank right now, I have a few live plants, moss balls, and I'm buying a few Java ferns and other hardy plants for my tank soon, but I realized despite all of that my newt hides. I have a small cave-like hiding place made out of rocks, and he sits in the shallow water there and hides all day, it's been about 2 weeks, almost 3 and he barely comes out, just peeks his head out from time to time to get air.

I did recently buy some mollies to liven up my tank. Do you think he's stressed out over the fish? If so I could move them, and just start working up from there. My tank temperature is about 19-21C in my basement and my nitrates and stuff are all good, Is it normal for it to just hide and eat and do nothing else?

 

[Chinadog]

I would say it's definitely the fish, almost all newts will not share any water body with fish if given the choice. Forcing them to share a tank with them will result in the exact behaviour you describe. Pet store newts really need/deserve perfect conditions in order to stand a fighting chance of fully recovering, remove the fish, stuff their tank with fast growing plants and keep on top of the water conditions until the tank has matured.