Paddletail new setup

[Black leaves]

I am thinking to put some plastic like grass into my tank to leave some place for them to hang sometime, but... paddletail is not terrestrial at all and I am wondering if what I done will be usless for them, but they like to escape so often. I know is a hobby for them to escape but do they also like to be onland too as they like to spend time in my toilet when they escape, that is what puzzle me. Did I need to put some grass or leafs so they can hangout like frogs on the leafs cause I put 1 large bark and one side is up in the air and other side in the water. They never go on the bark to hang like my previous FB, they really like to spend time in water but they also like to escape to my toilet......... ... Do i need that grass for them???

 

[Bellabelloo]

Could you post a picture of your current set up so we can see please. If your newts keep escaping, you really should cover their tank with maybe a screen lid. How cool do you keep their tank?

Have you read this article for this species as it is very helpful :-
Caudata Culture Species Entry - Pachytriton - Paddletail

 

[AngieD]

Not sure if my post went through (due to internet trouble), so here it is maybe again:
My 2 absolutely love their plastic plants, they spend many hours sitting on or in them

 

[Azhael]

Like Julia says, if they are attempting to leave the water regularly, you have a problem. That´s a very clear sign of stress although it could be caused by a number of things.

 

[Black leaves]

thanks guys, Angie, i put floating plastic grass and i can see they love it, they like to hang out on that grass sometime and back to their hole, i can see they love it,really glad, sorry guys, i dont have any camera right now, so no pictures..... :rofl:

 

[kay]

Black leaves. I think you missed Julia and Rodrigo's point.... Paddle tail newts should not leave the water. They are one of the most fully aquatic species to have. If the plant is outside the water, and he is on it, then there is probably something wrong going on with the water quality. In your post you say "they" how many do you have, and how big is the tank?

 

[Black leaves]

yeah i got the point, they dont leave the water but just hanging on the grass where the water are much shallower, then the go back to the deep after couple of minutes they dont actually leave the water...

 

[kay]

My apologies then, i misunderstood- I thought the plant was out of the water and so were the newts.

 

[Black leaves]

its okay, they are all in the water just a bit shallower section and they like to go there too...

 

[Azhael]

The problem is that staying close to the surface is still a symtom of the underlying problem. They are obviously not comfortable in the water, something is wrong. It could be the temperature, it could be the water chemistry or perhaps even territorial problems.

 

[Black leaves]

ooo... so you suggest there are water parameter problems? emm... ist these guys stay on the deep water all the time? they may come to the surface or shallower water sometime don't they?

 

[Black leaves]

So... these are my tank, i left i bare because much easier for them to find food and to be clean..

 

[Bellabelloo]

How many paddletail do you have in this tank? and are those Pleco in there too?

 

[Black leaves]

yeah, 3 paddle tail, just 1 pleco to clean the tank..

 

[Bellabelloo]

I personally think the tank is too small to support three, potentially aggressive newts. The pleco is an unsuitable tank mate too. Pleco may tolerate cool water temperatures for a while, but they are best suited to far warmer water. They are also known to accidentally suck on the newts skin causing nasty injuries, if your newt decides to dine on the pleco, the spines will damage your newt.

 

[Black leaves]

yeah, im well aware of that, but this are very small pleco,if it getting bigger, i will change it to my fish tank in the future, i try to give as many hiding place for 3 of my newts as possible so they dont make contact and have their own territory, so far, nothing wrong even in feeding frenzy..

 

[JessKB]

plecos are nasty fish. They produce a ton of waste, plus they don't really "clean" a tank as well as you could yourself. They also get really big depending on what species you have. Not to mention as Bellabelloo already said, the pleco is a tropical fish. I would get rid of it, it's going to cause more of a headache than its worth. How long have you had your tank? Is it cycled? If it's a new tank and hasn't been cycled, that fish is going to pollute the water like crazy.

 

[Black leaves]

ooo.. i never thought of that, these pleco i have it bout 3 weeks, this tank about 1 year so as the newts... maybe a ghost shrimp are much better cleaner but they will be a food for these newts..

 

[Azhael]

I fully agree with Julia, that tank is way too small for three pachytriton, let alone three pachytriton and a pleco!! 3 adult pachytriton may need a minimum aproximate volume of 80 litres or more. Just because nothing has happened yet, it doesn´t mean it won´t, plus something is definitely happening as the newts are clearly not comfortable and trying to get away.
The pleco is not a suitable tankmate in any way, i´d really recommend getting rid of it as soon as possible.

 

[Black leaves]

oo.. thanks for your advice, i don't know what type of pleco you guys have in there, but as i remember, my previous pleco dosent dirty the water soo much, mabe these pleco acting different in your condition with producing many waste, in my tank, i can keep the water crystal clear bout 2 weeks with this pleco..