Suicidal Newts???

[jonathan]

Hey guys...

OK, I have four fire-bellied newts. One of them acts pretty normal, but three of them have me concerned. Let me explain the housing: I have a 29 gallon aquarium with guppie feeders (small), a few rocks (nothing sharp), and gravel at the bottom. Two turtle docks provide a good amount of land, and on one of these, I have a coconut hut for hiding. The three newts in question will all go in there, and sit there and dry out. Tonight, I caught them in there in a big newt-pile, all wrapped up, and I honestly thought they were dead...when I touched them, they barely moved, but I pushed them into the water, and all three untangled and became very active. It's like they love the water, and seem healthy in it, until they somehow get out and into that hut, and then decide they don't want to go on.

Any suggestions? I'm worried that if I miss them one day, I'll end up with three dead newts.

 

[jennifer]

Actually, the bahavior sounds fairly normal for Cynops orientalis. I would say you have two choices. Make them a more comfortable land area that stays moist and feed them on land. Or else reduce the land area (or take away the hut) so that they are more inclined to stay in the water.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml

 

[jonathan]

Thanks for the advice. I will have to acclimate them to the water better. For now, that hut is gone!

 

[andrew]

Why is this considered normal? I just got two C. orientalis (cute little guys) and when I placed them in the tank I put them on the shore so they could decide whether or not to go in the water. They both decided against the water and went straight into a cave. Is it that they are young and prefer the land?

Also why the need to force them into the water? Is it bad for them to be out of the water?
Thanks

 

[jennifer]

C. orientalis, beyond the age of a year or so, are quite adaptable to land versus water. There are a number of circumstances that cause them to prefer land. Young ones will tend to prefer land more (but are adaptable), and under stress or illness they will usually head for land. Once their skin becomes dry, they will avoid water all the more.
The main reason for encouraging them to be aquatic is that (1) most people simply prefer aquatic setups to terrariums, and (2) they are easier to feed and usually grow faster if they live in the water.

 

[andrew]

I see, thanks. I didnt know that. Why would they avoid water if their skin is all dry? Does it bother them or hurt them to be in the water at this point? Seems counter productive.

 

[jennifer]

I think (pure speculation here) that when their skin dries out, it changes somewhat to adapt them to living on land. It probably becomes more resistant to water loss in preparation for terrestrial living. So it's not immediately easy for them to jump back in the water.