Unusual behaviour in a female Cynops Orientalis.

[Lasher]

I currently have a pair of CO in a 20 gal long paludarium, a male and a female. They've been there for a month or so quite happily.

I noticed last week that I was hovering alot more dead bloodworms out the tank after feeding days than before, also that the male seemed to be alot less visible and active than he had been. I only noticed tuesday evening that the male has a fresh wound on his side. I went hunting round the tank trying to figure out how he did it and came up blank.
I've been observing them quite closely these last few days. The male is hiding in the back corner, just under the water line beneath a piece of slate. Once or twice he's been hiding on the land areas(they were kept in completley aquatic tanks at the pet store, hadnt previously left the water). He hasnt eaten, at all, and looks very skinny.

I've just been sat watching the tank for a couple of hours(some cloud mountain minnows in there are all displaying, they've taken on some great colours, I think due to pinching the newts bloodworms). Three times while I was watching the male started to venture out of his corner, the female swam straight over from wherever she was in the tank and litteraly pushed him back into the corner. I can only assume that she's bitten him(during feeding, perhaps).

I kept quite a few CO before, always in pairs or larger groups and I've never observed behaviour like this before, particularly in a female.

I've seperated the two for feeding, the male is in a small container on me desk now so I can watch him while I'm online, its been 20 minutes and he's still not touched the bloodworm. Unfortunatley I dont have anywhere else to put him(for the time being - I never object to an excuse to build another tank), so he's going to have to be put back in a little later.

Can anyone shed any light on whats going on and why? Any advice on what to do with the male would also be appreciated(I'll give the wound a few more days and bathe in salt water if it looks bad, I dont have the facility to fridge him at the moment, and I prefer not to attempt force feeding unless absolutley unavoidable).

 

[audrey]

I have had Cynops orientalis that get aggressive during feedings and even had to separate smaller ones from larger ones so that they get enough food. Feeding them in separate corners of the tank is a good idea. -I have seen them bite arms and tails but I have not seem any impact actually made during these exchanges.
I noticed that you said you use slate in your setup. Slate can be very sharp on the edges and cause injuries to your newts' skin when they are trying to find small hiding places to get into, you may want to check that out as another option.
As for your sick newt, I would definately quarranteen it until it gets better. You can find a lot of info on treatment options in the caudata culture section.
There are also sections there on species mixing, usually it is not suggestioned to keep fish in with your newts.

 

[Lasher]

I had CO whom 'fight' over food before, but not that seem to constantly be aggresive to each other when theres no food around. Although I've had newts which fight before I've never had an aggresive/dominant female, only males who'll fight one another occasionaly(Vesta, queen of the book shelf!).
Any sharp edge and blunted and splinters are filed away I am almost completley certain it cant have injured itself on the decor.

I'll set up a new 10 gal tank for him this weekend, time allowing, but it will be at least a week before its ready(pre cycling, and I'd be reluctant to do that with him in it).

Dont get me started on species mixing, I've been keeping community Paludariums succesfully for 8 years

 

[Lasher]

I've seperatd him to a 10l tupaware container, no filtration, no lighting(its on the windowsill) for now following a salt water bath - can anyone else give any advice? The new tank isnt going to be ready for a few days at least, un-cycled, I wouldnt like to keep him there for any length of time.