Righting reflex

[joan]

I have now 2 living T. verrucosus morphs. I thought the one died because it had drown, but watching this newest morph, I've noticed that it takes HUGE overexaggerated steps, and sometimes falls over on its side. It then has trouble getting back up. When I found the dead one, it was belly up, but under water. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[jennifer]

It's not the first time of heard of newts "staggering", but I don't have any coherent explanation, other than some disease that causes this. If the water area is set up with easy access and shallow water, then it's entirely possible that the newt didn't actually drown, but had some disorientation problem. How are the remaining 2 doing today?