New to newts, and advice welcome!

[Derz94]

Hey guys! I purchased some fire belly newts about 3-4weeks ago from a pet store. They had them completely submerged in a fish tank with NO plants or floating dock to come out on. Unbelievable. So I bought the two they had there even though they were in pretty poor condition(I felt so bad!) the really skinny one didn't make it unfortunately but the other one is still here despite the fact that he has only eaten about 7 times this whole month.

I have Litterally tried feeding everything..frozen/thawed bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, pinhead crickets, silk worms, chopped earthworms, feeder fish, and even newt pellets and dried shrimp. I have had the most luck with earthworms and crickets. Should I dust his meals with supplements since he is not eating as much? Will dusting deter him from eating it?

I used to have the water level at about 3in. (10G tank) with a couple of plants and the rear side of tank the land portion stacked high with River rocks and terrarium moss. I have since raised the water level about two inches and packed it with greens so that it is mostly aquatic now. His appetite has increased!! But he still refuses to get into the water. If I put him in the water he will stay for a a second and Rush right back on land. I have tested the waters for ammonia, nitrates, and chlorine and everything checks out fine. The temp is kept around 68°F. And the pH is around 7.4-7.5(I live in central florida, it is hard to change the pH of water)

I know this is a lot but any advice will help I just want this little guy(or gal) to do okay!!
Will post pics !
Thank you!!

 

[Derz94]

Sorry and also, what do you guys use to clean you glass tanks? I don't want to use any chemicals or anything, but it is starting to form a film from the water.
This is my 10g setup

 

[AuSu]

Hi!
I think it would be best to take the rocks out and keep bare bottom so it's easiest to clean. I've once bought a chinese fire belly newt in a pet shop, which wasn't the smartest thing to do (I even supposed it to be a JFBN as they had named it and that time I had no idea they are all wild caught and already suffered a lot) but luckily, it survived. First weeks (maybe month or so) I had it in a 50 litre smart box with water, plants and one stone to climb on and changed water often and offered food two times a day even it didn't take it at first. Crickets are quite hard, earth worms are probably the best. Just keep on trying! When you have bare bottom, you can even leave the worm there for a while if the newt is too afraid to eat from tweezers (or what they are called...). With bare bottom, it can't hide and you can pick it up if not eaten in a few hours. Live worms were much more attracting because they move, although in water newts are said to hunt by smell.
So, keep it quiet, clean and offer good food. Good luck!

 

[Derz94]

I was thinking about changing my setup to bare bottom with just a few rocks but he just doesn't seem to have any interest at all in spending any time in the water. I don't want to stress him out so much by forcing him to not have any land. He is so iffy about taking food on land he will most definitely not take any in the water.

 

[Asevernnnn]

If you dont attempt to make it go aquatic, it most likely never will. I would set it up in a very shallow setup with plants and water, and no completely dry land, and after a while, start doing gradual increases in the water level(slowly) so it gets used to the water.

 

[Derz94]

Yea the pet store I bought it at also labeled them as Japanese fbn, but as soon as I saw them I knew they were wrong.

As for changing to a bare bottom tank, will my rooted live aquatic plants be okay without a substrate for the roots to grab hold of?

 

[AuSu]

Elodea, if recognize right (in the middle), will do ok floating. What are the other plants? Here's a good thread of planted tank somewhere but now I can't find it...the idea is you could make bare bottom and plants together. Maybe Chinadog or Seth or someone can find it and add here?
I've added java fern and anubias in some piece of wood where they will attach slowly so they don't need bottom material really. Also ceratophyllum and java moss, hydrocotule and pistia (this will soon cover the water and newts could climb on it...It's nice and helps with the water stability but on the other hand you'll have to take it away all the time) will do great floating. And about cleaning the glasses, I use brush and no chemicals. Just be sure there's nothing in the brush (like sand) that could scratch the glass.

 

[AuSu]

Now I found it! It's on a Plants for Enclosures and Vivariums -section, the first Sticky there. "How to have a densely planted bare bottom tank" or something like that. Take a look

 

[Derz94]

Re: New to newts, any advice welcome!

I have a potted pothos on the land, whose leaves can not be fully submerged, I also have so anubias on the bottom. I think maybe two in there. And then some other various plants in there that the pet shop did not know the name of lol...small little aquatic plants with tiny purple/pink flowers.

Thank you! I will check that thread out and switch out my tank.

Will post pics to update you guys soon!

 

[Autumncrossing]

Welcome! Sorry to hear about your newt troubles. I am also from central Florida! If you're looking for more plants in the future I always get mine at Pet Bazaar on 436. It's a little hole in the wall shop but the staff are very knowledgeable they've helped me pick out some good plants.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Derz94]

I love pet bazaar!!! Ya know I've been there hundreds of times and NEVER noticed they had live plants!! :wacko: haha I go there for all of my reptile needs!! They are great. I will definitely check that out I would love to put some Java moss so I will see if they have some there!