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One of my alpines isnt eating much.

Aesyir

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Hello I have 2 alpine newts the male has been eating well but the female one eats once in awhile and today i tired to feed her and she ate the earthworm then spit it back up a minute later do you think its because they are red wigglers (they release a smelly substance when i cut them)? She shows intrest in them when i put them in she puts her head on them but most of the time backs off. I tried frozen bloodworms but only the male eats them. She has eaten only 2 times in the past 9 days. I know she isn't constipated because she took a huge poop recently and my tank is bare bottom and has nothing in it she could have ingested. Im very worried any help is appreciated.
 

Chinadog

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If I were you I would try to find some nightcrawlers or live blackworms, red wrigglers aren't palatable to many species, she's probably spitting them out because of the taste.
 

Aesyir

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I will have to try get some nightcrawlers, I really hate to do this but im gonna have to wait since all the stores in my area are out of them at the moment. How long can a newt last without eating? I think temperature plays a part in this right my tank is kept at 16c. I also cannot find a place that has blackworms here in florida :(. I could go in my backyard and get some worms but I would rather not, I cannot tell the difference between earthworm species and im not in the mood to give them some wild pathogen..
 

Methos5K

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It's odd that nowhere around you sells blackworms. Are you calling local mom-and-pop tropical fish stores? Big box stores will never sell them; but every LFS in my area does. Otherwise I would agree that minced nightcrawlers are the best bet. Walmart. Sporting goods section. Some of them even carry the baby crawlers.
 

Aesyir

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I have not asked my mom and pop stores, I just emailed them now. If they do carry them is it easy to start a culture of them? I wouldnt mind setting up like a little 1 gallon to house some
 

Methos5K

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Blackworms reproduce way too slowly for them to culture. Best to keep them in a tupperware container in the fridge and rinse them daily. They can last for weeks if cared for. Better yet, go to https://aquaticfoods.com/BlackwormKeepersM.html and order the blackworm keeper.

I use a feeding dish at the bottom of the tank; and a turkey baster to place the worms in it.
 

michael

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If their is a local kilifish keepers club try connecting with them. Killifish keepers use lots of blackworms.
 

Aesyir

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Good news! I was heading out today to go look for some nightcrawlers out of my area and it was feeding time so i was like screw it and tried once more to feed the worms i have and she ate :D. I'm still going out to get the nightcrawlers just nice to see she has appetite! I also saw something interesting, my male was showing mating behavior at least I think. he was fanning the end of his tail towards the female and i find this odd because they are less then a year old.
 
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