Is my newt ok?

[abby]

i have one newt. (i had two, but one died.... he was really skinny and missing a foot when i bought him.) anyways, how can i tell if it's eating? i put the foot in and come back later and he's usually moved, but not much. and he's hardly ever in the water (although all my water parameters are good).

before i get them, i read a ton of informatin, spent 2 solid weeks reading newt info online for several hours a day. i think i have a good setup for it, but it doesn't seem happy?

since my other one died, does this one need a compainion? are newts social creatures?

my setup is a 10 gal tank, half full of water. i have some silk plants and a couple plastic log-looking things in there for it to sit on.

so i really don't know exactly what my question is, i just need some more advice! thanks!

 

[kaysie]

what kind of newt is it? what setup do you have it in? what are you trying to feed it?

 

[jennifer]

Try some live food. Bits of chopped earthworm fed from a tweezers will sometimes work total miracles! If that's too gross, try frozen (thawed) bloodworms from a tweezers. Or live blackworms placed on the rock right in front of him.

He does not necessarily need a companion. They do interact, but do not need company.

 

[abby]

Kaysie,
it's a chinese fire belly. i described the setup above and the food below.

jennewt,
ok, i'll go check the pet store tomorrow from frozen bloodworms. (right now i'm feeding dried bloodworms).

thanks!

 

[jennifer]

Abby, while you are at the shop, ask about live blackworms too. Live food is really your best bet. Don't dismiss the live earthworm thing, it's worth trying if that's what it takes to get him eating. And if you have a yard, it's cheap too!

When it comes to food, if it wiggles, newts consider it food. If it doesn't wiggle, they may take it, based on its smell. If it's dried, they often never even recognize it as food - no wiggle, no smell.

Also, if you can try to feed him at a time when he happens to be in the water, he's more likely to take the food.

 

[abby]

yay! he ate the worm!! will he eat small insects like tiny moths and stuff too? or just worms? thanks!

 

[abby]

??

 

[jennifer]

Great! I've never heard of them eating moths, but it's probably OK. I know that their wild diet includes all sorts of insects and spiders. Worms make a good staple food.

On that "other" forum, you asked about how often to feed. If the newt is skinny and just starting to eat, every day is great. Once he begins to "fill out", then every 2-3 days.