I have a 20 gallon long tank that I decided to make a fire-bellied newt tank. There is a land portion in about a third of the tank separated from the rest, which is water. A piece of driftwood provides access to water. I bought one newt about a month ago, and another about 2 weeks ago. I also keep 4 tiger barbs in the water. The problem is that both newts died. The one bought 2 weeks ago died 1 week ago (lived for one week). The one I bought first died 2 days ago. My ammonia and nitrite levels are both 0, but my pH is rather high (about 8.5). I was just wondering if a high pH could be harmful to the newts. If not, what could have killed them? The fish are active and healthy looking with rich color and eat well. Why did my newts die?
Mysterious Newt Deaths
- Thread starter anibramm
- Start date
if they were wild caught imports (and they probably were), it was most likely a parasite infestation compounded by stress from being shipped, possibly the tank-mates, handling and being moved around too much.
when they get stressed, the parasites in their bodies go crazy as their immune system is weakened.
did you see them eat? if not or very little, it was most likely stress.
what temp where they at? fbn's like it cool >70 degrees. heat kills.
here's a care sheet http://redtailboa.net/forums/amphibian/32966-fire-bellied-newt-care-sheet.html
when they get stressed, the parasites in their bodies go crazy as their immune system is weakened.
did you see them eat? if not or very little, it was most likely stress.
what temp where they at? fbn's like it cool >70 degrees. heat kills.
here's a care sheet http://redtailboa.net/forums/amphibian/32966-fire-bellied-newt-care-sheet.html
They were kept at room temperature (about 67-68 degrees at my house.) They did seem to eat very little at first, but I tried different foods, and they seemed to eat frozen bloodworms (they disappeared from the land part, so the fish didn't eat them.) However, they did tend to avoid the water. The first newt avoided it even before I placed the fish in there.
Thanks guys!Keep all reptile and amphibians alone according to each species. Anyway, the tiger barbs may not have been the main reason the newts were avoiding water originally. Newly captive newts have the tendency to do that and avoid food, as did mine previously.
i bought a firebelly newt, a month later he died. i nver could get him to eat and the little guy never went in the water.
yeah, i agree fish should not be mixed with them. however, when i was at a pet store, they had firebelly toads, warty newts, and some fisheys all in the same tank and the seemed very healthy and good.