Fire-bellied newt behaving oddly 05/20/09
Hi WWM,
<Hello,>
I am the owner of two Chinese fire-bellied newts and they've been healthy/happy for the 4 years I've had them (got them from a pet shop, not sure of their age). I fed them 2 days ago and feed them raw meat (they won't eat anything else) ~1-2x a week.
<Not mammal or bird meat, I hope? These are very bad for cold blooded animals: the lipids in mammals and birds that are liquid at our body temperature can solidify at the lower body temperature of newts, reptiles and so on not adapted to eating such fare. Over the long term, these solid
lipids -- fats -- clog up things like blood vessels. Not good!>
I looked at them today and one looked all sunken into the rocks like he was dead. Worried, I opened the tank and put him into my hand where he
remained very still. His eyes were half-open (I didn't know they could do that), his chest was flat on my hand and he looked dazed and confused.
<Doesn't sound good; really, veterinarian help is what you need here. We're fish people rather than newt people!>
Suddenly, he began to writhe in my hand and his back legs clamped against his tail. I put him back into his tank where this continued for 20 seconds
or so...more writhing and tail lashing (the other guy ran away from him!) Then, it stopped. He pushed up back to his normal stance and walked around
a bit like nothing happened. He's now walking around only semi-ok with his little elbows sometimes flexing backwards and his chin on the ground so he can't move. What's going on?
<Not old age, anyway: these things live well over 10 years! So start by reviewing basic conditions: things like water quality (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite) and temperature (cool, around 16-18 C ideal). Simply feeding the same (inappropriate, if bird or mammal meat) food can lead to obvious long term problems that manifest themselves in just the vague sort of way you're describing; indeed, that's where I'd put my money. A vet may be able to provide a vitamin shot, and certainly offering a proper, varied diet will help the other one do well and may turn the sickly one around too. Ideal foods including live earthworms, live mosquito larvae and live bloodworms; frozen equivalents should be taken, but forget about freeze-dried or pellet foods, not particularly useful.>
Can newts have seizures?
<No.>
Thanks for any and all help!
Allison
<Cheers, Neale.>

Fire Belly Newt 3/27/2009
Hello.
<Hi.>
I put a lilac branch for the newts to climb on and now I have noticed a clear slime growing on the branch.
<Is this within a few days? If so, most probably fungal decay. Harmless in itself, but will be consuming oxygen and dumping ammonia onto your filtration system. Generally, it isn't a good idea to add fresh wood to an aquarium.>
I did some research and all I can find is a web page
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm
that has what looks like that type of slime. Listed on the page under Slime Mold In A Fish Aquarium. Named plasmodium.
<Perhaps, but there is absolutely no way you can identify this either way, unless you're a mycologist. All fungi look very similar, once you realise the mushroom part is simply the fruiting body and the fungus itself is the mass of white threads.>
I was looking at one of the newts mouths and noticed what looks like a cut under the bottom lip. I am not sure how to treat this.
<Use an amphibian-safe anti-fungus medication.>
Can I use a anti fungus fish medication?
<If the package states clearly "Safe for use on Amphibians". If not, don't use it. Amphibians differ from fish in many ways, not least of all breathing through their skins, so some chemicals harmless to fish can cause major problems for amphibians. Your local amphibian/reptile specialist pet store should be able to help; failing that, call a vet.>
I took out the branch and I think I will change the water to be safe. Also, can I use salt treatments?
<Not with amphibians, no.>
After reading up on this slime on the web, I am worried about the newts.
<The two things are not really related. The fungi that cause fungal infections on fish and amphibians are ubiquitous to aquaria, being part of the normal nitrogen cycle. How do you think fish faeces and uneaten food is broken into the ammonia the bacteria use? Correct, it's fungi that do that! So the saprotrophic fungi are there already.>
Can you please help? Thanks.
<Cheers, Neale.>

Help, my pet axolotl wont eat. 12/07/08
<Oh? Well, without a little more information, there's not much more I can say than "too bad". So help yourself but reviewing the environmental needs of these animals. Chances are, you're failing on one or more of them, and
consequently your Axolotl is sick. Axolotls need clean, relatively cool water. The tank should certainly contain at least 30 gallons of water and be equipped with some type of filter, rated at not less than 6 times the volume of the tank in turnover per hour. In other words, if the tank contains 30 gallons of water, the filter should be rated at 6 x 30 = 180
gallons per hour. The tank and filter need to be so big because these are potentially large and messy animals. Keeping them in smaller tanks when young is possible but really a bit stupid, because if healthy they grow quickly and will either pollute the small tank (getting sick) or outgrow it so rapidly you've wasted a bunch of money on a small tank and filter of no further use. Next up, the water should be not too warm. Room temperature is usually fine; anything around 15-20 C will do. Make sure the tank isn't much warmer than this, and in particular take care not to put the tank in direct sunlight or near a room heater, warm air vent or whatever.
Conversely, if the room gets very cold in winter, adding a fish tank heater set to its minimum setting (typically 18 C) should keep the water warm enough. It's a good idea to place a heater guard (a plastic mesh) around the outside of the heater to prevent burns; some heaters come with these anyway, otherwise buy one. Just as with any fish, water quality is critical. Amphibians generally are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, and if the water isn't filtered and regularly replaced (50% weekly) they develop a variety of infections and diseases that are difficult and expensive to treat. So check (at minimum) the nitrite concentration if you have a filter, and if you've not yet installed a filter, check the ammonia instead. Nitrite tells you how well (or not) a filter is working, while ammonia tells you how poisonous the water is thanks to the waste the Axolotl has produced. When feeding Axolotls, take care to offer a variety of things, but sparingly. Don't overfeed, and don't use pellet foods day in, day out. Pellets are fine a couple times a week, but vary the diet with chopped seafood, earthworms, bloodworms, and so on. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: help... Axolotl fdg.   12/9/08
my pet axolotl (Wooper) has stopped eating, I fed him beef and sinking pellets. He used to happily munch down both, now he barely even eats his beef. Though he is metamorphosing, he is losing his gills and the webbing on his tail. I wonder if the metamorphosis could be affecting his eating.
<Hmm... didn't I answer this question a day or two ago? Do look here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwdailyfaqs.htm
Look at the question "help, my pet axolotl wont eat" and you'll see some comments.
In any case, Axolotls do not metamorphose under normal, home aquarium conditions. If he is losing his gills and webbing, it is MUCH more likely you are seeing Finrot. As the bacteria destroy the skin, the gills and fin membranes erode. This is almost always caused by either [a] poor water quality; or [b] aggression between individuals, with poor water quality making things worse. Review water quality ensuring that you have ZERO ammonia/nitrite levels and a steady pH; check your filtration is adequate; ensure water temperature isn't too high; and if anything doesn't seem
right, then act accordingly. Cheers, Neale.>

Red-belly Newt (RMF, any thoughts?)  9/8/08 Hi My name is Bryan. <Hello Bryan,> I have a fire belly newt that has a rather large wound on it. it started out as a sore actually i had 2 newts that each had a small red sore on it's skin. so i quarantined both of them in separate containers with dirt and some water i also applied a triple antibiotic to there sores well after two weeks one of the newts got better so i put him in the tank with the 2 others that are healthy. <Which antibiotic? Not all are safe with amphibians. It's also absolutely critical to establish the source of the wound. While I agree that the infection is likely a secondary bacterial infection that should respond to antibiotics, amphibians are notoriously sensitive to poor water conditions (ammonia, nitrite) and if these are in the water, it's not going to recover.> (He seems to be doing fine now) but the other one seemed to have gotten worse. At this moment he's been away from the others for about 3 weeks now and he hasn't eaten though i have tried to feed him. his sore however has seemed to have gotten huge. so huge that his entire tail is falling off, i can see his spinal cord, and his back legs seemed to have stopped working and now his tail is becoming fuzzy. i haven't taken him to the vet as i don't have the money. <I hate to say this, but I'm not convinced this guy will recover. Amphibians do indeed have amazing powers of regeneration, but this looks just too far gone. I'd like to be proven wrong. At his point you really don't have much option but to maintain each Newt in its won clean container, with no substrate or anything likely to collect germs or detritus. Filter using zeolite to remove the ammonia directly; an air-powered box filter will be fine for this. Replace/recharge the zeolite weekly. Do not feed the Newt! I'd be using Maracyn (Erythromycin) in the water, and changing 75% the water weekly, re-dosing with Maracyn as required. Even with all this said, because multiple Newts have become sick, I'm really concerned that there's something environmental wrong with your system. Do check pH stability, nitrite and ammonia. I'd also be tempted to pick up the phone and call a vet.> i also have stopped applying the triple antibiotic, and started applying a small amount of diluted hydrogen peroxide. <Yowser!> is there anything else i can do short of pray. he seems to be a resilient little bugger, but I'm afraid that his next step is death :( <Would tend to concur with your gloomy prognosis, in which case euthanasia may be kinder. Bear in mind the methods useful for killing small fish are not necessarily appropriate for amphibians, so again, consultation with a vet or other expert would be relevant here.> Help Please <A bit out of my depth here, so have asked Bob Fenner to comment/pass on to someone who might know better. Cheers, Neale.> i also attached a photo of his wound <Ugh.>

Re: Red-belly Newt (RMF, any thoughts?) 9/8/08 Well thanks for trying. unfortunately he died today. I found him in his container, not moving and his wound seemed to have been decaying :(. The other newts are fine. By the way it's not the water because he was in his separate container, and the other one that was sick i bought him that way, (and no he didn't transfer anything to the others. They're as fat and happy as can be lol) I also clean their water weekly and make sure everything is in tip top shape. Well again thanks for your help Oh and here are a couple pics of my other fire bellies. (chuck he's the chubby one in the solo pic, buster and, Stewie the one who died his name was Dave. We'll miss ya buddy) <I'm sorry (but not surprised) the poor chap died. Please do review the needs of these animals and act accordingly. I'm slightly concerned that you say you "clean their water weekly" -- usually when people say this, they mean they don't have a filter in the system, and simply change the water every week. This won't do! You do need a proper filter. I'm also a bit concerned about the substrate; it appears to be bright red gravel of some type. Other than looking a bit odd, the problem is that it is jagged and hard. With amphibians, you want the softest thing you can find, because their skins are extremely delicate and easily damaged. So Number 1 on my list of things to change would be the substrate, swapping the red gravel stuff for smooth, silica sand (not sharp silica sand and not coral sand). Silica sand can be purchased very cheaply at garden centres, here in England for the equivalent of 5 dollars for 50 pounds of the stuff. As a broad rule, bright coloured gravels appeal more to the aquarist than the animals -- in the wild animals rarely live in vividly coloured habitats, and the overwhelmingly bright conditions can stress them. You don't mention pH or nitrite levels, rather this vague "tip top shape" statement. Again, when people use phrases like that it's because they don't have (or use) test kits. Again, not good. At the very least get a nitrite test kit and use it to make sure the water is safely maintained at a zero nitrite level; anything above zero is dangerous, and between the sharp gravel and possibly (likely, if unfiltered) water quality THAT is why your Newt got sick and why the others are exhibiting symptoms as well. I'm grumpy and unsympathetic in this respect: I don't give a hoot about witty names for animals and whether or not someone says they love their pets. What I do care about is that their animals are properly cared for, and when animals get sick, especially in as dramatic a way as this specimen did, it means something is very wrong. So, I say again, review the living conditions, ensuring the water is filtered and the substrate is soft before doing anything else. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Red-belly Newt (RMF, any thoughts?) 9/9/08 Well thanks again I'll definitely change their gravel actually i do have a filter in the tank. <Good to hear.> my nitrate levels are at 0 and the Ph level is at 7 i do check them. <Nitrate is immaterial, it's nitrite (with an I) or even ammonia I'm concerned about. It's perfectly possible to have zero nitrate but high levels of ammonia -- because the biological filtration process isn't happening! So please do consider this factor and use a nitrite or ammonia test kit. It is incredibly easy to kill amphibians by not ensuring the water is clean and the environment appropriate. Filtration, removing uneaten food, keeping the tank cool (under 20 C/68 F), zero ammonia, zero nitrite; that's what you're aiming for.> and as for the fat one in the pic I've had him 6-7 months now with no problems. <OK.> Again the others are doing well they aren't exhibiting any symptoms I've been monitoring them daily since the one got sick <Fair enough. But that Newt didn't burst apart for no reason; your job is to run through the possibilities, reviewing environmental conditions, and act accordingly. The lifespan of these newts is around 20 years if properly looked after. By that standard, 6 months is just the beginning.> Thanks again. Bye. <Cheers, Neale.>

I found a salamander and I don't know what kind it is?   8/7/08
Hi I am currently in Manitoulin island (Sand field) yesterday I found an orange salamander and I'm not really sure what kind it is this is a picture off of the internet exact copy of the one I found could you please tell me what kind of lizard it is
<Not a lizard... salamanders are amphibians...>
what it eats,
<likely earthworms, insects, other small invertebrates.>
and what kind of habitat it lives in and all that stuff because I was thinking of keeping it if it is ok to
<Absolutely not! Do not keep this animal as a pet. Apart from the fact it may well be illegal to do so, wild-caught Salamanders are very difficult to care for in captivity. Populations of many species are endangered in the wild because of pollution, so removing specimens as pets simply makes a bad situation worse.>
because I tried to research it all I got was an image that said that it was from the U.S.A in Tennessee? Sincerely, Lauren, age 12
<Lauren, while I think it's great you're interested in unusual animals, you must remember that wild animals (mostly) don't adapt well to captivity. Keeping something like a Salamander is also very expensive. You will need a large enclosure with a hood, peat and sphagnum moss for the substrate, a heater, a thermometer, a device for measuring humidity, and rocks and wood for the animal to explore. You will need to provide live food for the thing for the rest of its life. Salamanders can live for as long as 20 years in many cases, so this is a big undertaking. Many species have toxic secretions in their skins, so you have to handle them extremely carefully (that's why their bright colours -- Nature's way of saying "don't touch!"). If they get sick, as many will if not kept 100% perfectly, then you have to deal with vet bills because you can't treat them at home without medications. So we're talking well over a hundred dollars just to get set a home up for one Salamander, let alone what it'll cost week in, week out to feed and potentially cover healthcare issues. In other words, before anything else, go buy a book on pet amphibians. Libraries and bookstores have plenty. Read it cover to cover. Once you're in a position to spend the time and money required, please do feel free to get back in touch and we can recommend some good, hardy species worth keeping. Amphibians can be rewarding pets, though few ever become "tame". Bottom line, enjoy this animal in the wild, take some photos with your camera, and then release it somewhere dark and damp so it can get on with its natural life. Cheers, Neale.>

Compatibility -newts 05/20/08
Hi,
<Hello,>
My name is Mike. I currently own a paddle tail newt and have for several years. I hear they are very aggressive towards their species and other amphibians, that is why I have housed it alone.
<Quite right.>
For quite along time though I have been interested in buying a fish or a couple fish to go in the 10 gallon tank with him.
<Nope. Amphibians are invariably best kept away from fish. Enjoy your Newt for what he is, an animal that must be kept on his own where he will be happy and healthy.>
The other day at a pet store I saw the cutest fish. They were freshwater green spotted puffer fish, not very large.
<Two things here. Firstly, "freshwater Green Spotted Puffers" are nothing of the sort; they need brackish water aquaria to do well. Secondly, small puffers are merely baby puffers, and this species gets to a very stocky 12-15 cm long.>
The temperature for them and my newt were very similar. I did not buy any because I wanted to find out more about compatibility.
<Very good.>
As you guys probably know there is not much info on paddle tails so I came to this website. Would there be issues with this combination?
<Many, many issues. Different water conditions for a start, but also the Puffer would simply bite the Newt to pieces.>
I also saw those small but long black fish with red tails that are considered "sharks".
<Epalzeorhynchos bicolor, also known as Labeo bicolor. This is another fairly big (12-15 cm) fish that needs a lot of room to swim about in. Easily a tank four or five times the size of the one your Newt is in. It is also potentially very aggressive. A nice fish for the large, robust community tank, but otherwise best avoided.>
How about them with the newt?
<Nope.>
Thanks,
Mike
<Glad to be of help, Neale.>

Newts hand fell off and possible ich? 5/12/08
Hi,
<Hello>
We have a tank with an Eastern spotted newt, snails, a mussel, a tadpole & plants. I got them all from a biological supply company. I've had the tank set up like this for more than a month. We don't have the filter on all the time because I've read so much that low flow is good for newts.
<Yes, but so is good water quality.>
I have a new filter & I turn it on once a day for 30-60 minutes. The tadpole seems healthy but when I turn on the filter he can get sucked over to the intake.
<I would use a piece of sponge over the filter intake to slow the inflow, but allows you to run the filter 24-7, which is really what is needed. Amphibians are very sensitive to poor water quality.>
I do water changes 1x week. I don't have the heater on. We feed the newt worms from our yard every other day.
<Probably needs more variety to its diet.>
The newt's front left hand fell off - I don't know why. I'm hoping that it will grow back.
<Most likely due to water quality.>
There are now white spots on the rock, stick & aquarium wall. Is it ich?
<No>
Is that bad for the tadpole? You said ich meds can be harmful to newts.
<Copper is very deadly to inverts and amphibians, and will not help what you have here.>
A more natural ich treatment said to turn up the heat but I don't want to do this because newts like it cool. How can I tell if the mussel is healthy or even alive?
<I'm guessing you have a freshwater clam. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/golden_clams/golden_clams.htm>
Any help on any of the problems/ questions would be much appreciated. I have a new computer and I'm having troubles with the picture editing - I'm sorry they're big.
<Looks like the white spots are bacterial or fungal growths, most likely will clear up with improved water quality. Is definitely not Ich which is not visible to the naked eye nor able to infect anything besides fish. Please see here for more http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/salamnewtFAQs.htm >
<Chris>

Fire Belly Newts, shedding, biting   4/6/08
Hello I have 2 fire belly newts one is Japanese and one is Chinese. I've had Floyd for about 9 years and ChaCha for about 7 years. Recently I
noticed that Floyd (Chinese Fire Belly Newt) has been shedding a whole lot and he had what looked like to me a bite mark on his back.
<Could well be fighting... doesn't happen much, I admit.>
They used to hang out together a lot but now seem to stay on opposite ends of the tank.
<I see.>
I'm not sure if ChaCha is hurting Floyd or if it maybe something else but it seems to be getting worse. Do I need to separate them or get rid of one of them? I love them both so much and just want to know what is best.
Thanks for any help you can give.
<Time to separate them I'm afraid. Or at least use some sort of divider for the time being. There are "tank dividers" available in fish shops, but plastic egg crate or similar cut to size works just as well. Do also treat with an amphibian-safe antibacterial or antibiotic to prevent secondary infections. Cheers, Neale.>

Newt Shedding and Behavior Changes, Cynops pyrrhogaster care/fdg.   2/10/08
Hello! I recently purchased a fire-bellied newt and am currently concerned about some aspects of his behavior. I've had him for about a week and he hasn't eaten at all.
<Mmm, should by now... what do you know re this animal's recent past? Was it wild-collected? It may be in a "resting state" if so metabolically>
He also just shed his skin last night.
<Do this>
He wasn't kept in the best environment in the pet store that I rescued him from, and the staff there were far less than knowledgeable. The water in the tank was so dirty it was green and all of the other newts at this store had been eaten because they were kept in a crawfish tank.
<What a nightmare!>
My little guy looked so pitiful that I had to get him out of there immediately. Upon making this decision and informing the pet store employees of it, I started trying to set up a tank for him. Having no real knowledge of newt-care myself, I tried to ask questions and got answers that I later found out were completely bogus. I began to do my own research as soon as I got him home. Right now he is in a small tank with a gravel substrate, one plastic plant, and a small boat that he is
rather fond of.
<... and a place to get out of the water?>
Knowing that the uneaten food can cause problems for him, I keep an eye on his tank and cleaned it thoroughly just last night. That's when I noticed the film covering him and helped him to shed his skin. I was hoping that would explain why he hadn't been eating, but his behavior hasn't changed.
<Perhaps residual stress... simply being challenged from the shops lack of care>
I've been feeding him Jurassic Diet Newt and Aquatic Frog Food; could it be that he just doesn't like it?
<Yes... or doesn't recognize it as food...>
What would be the best food for him?
<Please read here re: http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/amphibians/fire-belly-newt.php>
Thanks for your time and help... I may not have anticipated newt-ownership, but now that I have my little Mac, I want him to be happy, comfortable, and healthy.
-Annie Shattuck

Newts... sys.   12/24/07
Hi. I just had a question about newts. What size cage should a paddletail newt be kept in?
<Pachytriton spp. newts are fairly large and very long-lived (if kept properly). Under good conditions you can expect an adult size of around 15 cm/6" and a lifespan of well over 10 years. Their natural habitat is very specific: cold, fast-flowing streams with excellent water quality and lots of oxygen. As such you'd do well to provide them with a reasonably spacious aquarium with a decent filter. I'd recommend a tank that allows at least 40 litres/10 US gallons for one or two adults, and a bit more if you keep extra specimens. A "long" rather than "tall" 80 litre/20 US gallon tank would be perfect. Use an electric rather than air-powered canister filter to create the good water quality and strong water current these newts prefer. Heating isn't usually required, but do avoid keeping the tank anywhere excessively warm; these newts want water around the 15-18C/59-64F mark. Because they extract a lot of oxygen from the water, in small tanks that get too warm these newts can easily suffocate. Hope this helps, Neale.>

Newts, sys., www.Caudata.org – 12/6/07
I just had a question about newts. What size tank should a paddle tail newts be kept in? Thanks!
<An excellent husbandry/culture site, info. here: http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Pachytriton/Pachytriton.shtml
Bob Fenner>

Primitive fish? ID... Axolotl likely    11/27/2007
Hi there,
I was a sushi restaurant tonight and they have a tank (~50 gallons) with an eel-looking fish in it, but it has two feet (with little bitty toes) up front in place of fins, no fins in the back (one long caudal fin/back fin?) and it has external lungs (I think?) they look little flowers instead of ears. It has a flattened head with two nostrils on the underside also. No one at the restaurant knew what it was. One girl said it is a water salamander. I have done searches since I got home, and no luck yet. She said it also buries itself/wedges itself bc it seems to float otherwise? I saw it just sitting on the bottom. It was in a tank with some other fish (arowanas-I think, and some angelfish -looking things). Just wondering if you could help me out. I know it is not a mudskipper, and the pictures you guys have of ropefish and some bichirs and lungfish look a little bit like it, but no external lungs??
<Greetings. The feathery structures you are calling "lungs" would be external gills. Certain amphibians have gills throughout their life, the most famous of which is the Axolotl. Oddly enough, *baby* Bichirs do in fact have external gills, but they lose them once they are more a couple of cm long. It's almost certain this animal was an Axolotl. The varieties kept by hobbyists are usually either grey or pink. Axolotls have broad mouths and short stubby arms and legs. Typical size for an adult is around 20-30 cm. Axolotls are essentially salamander tadpoles that never metamorphose into adult terrestrial salamanders, and just stay being tadpoles, getting bigger and bigger but otherwise not losing their juvenile characteristics. This process -- neoteny -- is surprisingly common in the animal kingdom, and there's good reason to believe that humans are in fact neotenic apes, since in many ways we have the physical attributes of juvenile apes (lack of body hair, big head, flat face, constant learning ability etc.). I hope this helps. Cheers, Neale.> <<Great, Neale... RMF>>

Fire belly Newts acting weird -11/18/07
For a long time, I've had two fire bellies (Japanese). They have a knack for stopping everything they are doing and they will just sit for a really long time, until I just shake the aquarium to make sure they are alive. I am worried it might be from a sickness or something and I wanted to verify that nothing was wrong.
<For the love of all that is holy why are you shaking the vivarium? Newts, like virtually all other amphibians, mostly do nothing for about 23.5 hours out of every 24. They have a low metabolism and when not actively foraging for food or engaging in breeding/social behaviour, they sit still. It's what they do. If you want an active pet, get a dog and take long walks across the rolling hills. Shaking the vivarium is only going to make the newts more stressed and less likely to move about when they see you. By sitting still they hope that horrible animal that hurts them and disrupts their world (i.e., you) won't notice them and will GO AWAY!!! So please, sit down, read a book about amphibians, and respect their biology. Once they've learned you're a source of food and not a threat, they're more likely to move about when you're in the same room watching them. Cheers, Neale.>

Newts... as pets  – 10/9/07
Hi , My Name is Amy , and I am thinking about buying a newt , and I have a question about them. Can Marbled Salamanders or Newts be kept as a pet. Thanks Amy
<Greetings Amy! Any animal can be kept as a pet, provided you can give it living conditions and a diet similar to what it needs in the wild. In the case of Ambystoma opacum, the Marbled Salamander, this means a fairly cool vivarium with lots of moss and coconut fibre for burrowing into. They belong to a group known as "mole salamanders" which should give you a good clue as to what they do most of time -- stay underground! They are shy, rather reclusive, and spend long periods of time doing nothing at all. They dip into shallow water to moisten themselves, and only enter ponds for breeding purpose. They like a vivarium that is like a forest -- lots of mosses and ferns for them to climb about it! So plan on something with a good lighting system so these plants will grow. A species for advanced amphibian keepers, really. Cheers, Neale>

Newt Compatibility - 10/07/2007
Hi , My name is Amy. I am thinking about buying a newt , and I have a few questions. What would be the best type of newt to start with? What other amphibians can be kept with a newt? Can I also keep frogs with them? Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Amy
<Hello Amy. Newts can make good pets, but it's a good idea to research them thoroughly beforehand. For the most part they are secretive animals, and unlike salamanders don't ever seem to become tame. By contrast with newts, several salamanders will become tame if looked after properly and can be easily hand fed; Axolotls and Tiger salamanders for example. Two newts that will do particularly well in captivity and can be recommended for beginners are the Paddle-tailed newt (Pachytriton labiatus) and the Red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). Paddle-tailed newts are almost entirely aquatic, and need a clean, very well filtered, room-temperature aquarium with tangles of plants (real or plastic) to clamber about on. They look very primitive, rather like some sort of Devonian-era tetrapod. Males will fight each other, but it is possible to house a single male with one or more females. Maximum size is around 18 cm. Red-spotted newts require similar conditions, though they are a little more terrestrial and will climb about on a wet, mossy ledge or similar structure. They are a bit smaller at up to 15 cm, and generally ignore one another and will work fine in a group provided they are not overcrowded. Mixing different species of amphibians is generally not a good idea for a variety of reasons including aggression, competition for food, and the risk of parasites being transferred between species. Much better to concentrate on a single species, keep a group of them, and then experience the fun of breeding them. Cheers, Neale.>

Tiger Salamander, hlth.  – 9/29/07
<Hello "?". Andrea with you tonight. The Shift Key for that pesky letter "i" is directly under Caps Lock on the left.>
I am having problems with my Tiger Salamanders and Water Dogs.
<Bummer. They are always so cute. Lets see if we can help.>
They are getting white spots all over there bodies and are dying. I tried to separate the sick ones from the ones without spots. The next day some of the ones I separate now have the white spots. I don't use tap water I have a water well. It seems to be coming in from in from the wild ones collected from only one pond. Is there any type of medicine I can use to cure this? It seems it is only a day or two after they get the spots that they die. Please help here is my email address xxxx@yahoo.com. Thanks for the help.
<Wow, sounds like ich, HOWEVER, amphibians cannot get Ich and Ich meds CAN harm many amphibs. It is hard to tell from what you are telling us, but if you could send a picture, that would help a great deal. Are the spots small or large? Are they fuzzy looking, flat, open, raised? Any more detail you can give would help a great deal.
In the meantime, here is a great link on amphibian disease on WWM. Read it, and the linked files at the top. You just might find an answer on what it is, and how to treat it. Until then, I'd stop taking pets out of that pond.>
<You're welcome?>
<Andrea>
re: Tiger Salamander – 9/29/07
Andrea
<No problem. Can you please do me a favor and edit this with capitalization and such so we can use it on our site? We post these on our site, and can't edit them all. Thanks so much, and no more ich medicine. A picture will really help. Also, read those links!
Andrea>
thanks for answering me. the spots are small and white and start as only a couple and within 24 hours the hole body is covered and there is no slime feeling on the dead animal.
and it seem to spread very quickly. i took all the animals out of the tank and bleached it out and it did not make any difference. i took a couple of the sick animals out and tried some ick medicine with no luck. i will try and get a picture for you. i deal with alot of different reptiles and have never seen this before if i find some thing out that takes care of this problem i will let you know and we are not taking anymore animals out of this pond. thanks again for your response

Axolotl hlth., no useful info. – 03/18/07
Hi
  I have an axolotl  he has been vomiting all day no its more like dry reaching because nothing comes out All my water levels are fine
<Data, not subjective evaluations>
I have large rocks on the bottom but I'm thinking maybe he has swallowed one what are the changes that he has.
<Possibly>
He also goes up for air and then tries to vomit again I have owned axolotls before and I've never seen this. Any advice would be appreciated
Therésè
<You've presented no useful information... on system, maintenance, water quality, foods/feeding... Can't read minds (that well)... Bob Fenner>

Re: axolotl  3/19/07
My ph is siting at 7.4 My ammonia levels are at 0 nitrate is at 0.05
<Good>
He is feed every 2 days aqua master axolotl food about 5 pellets we had feeder fish in the tank
<A very poor idea. Not suitable prey, and carry disease...>
but he took no interest in them so they were removed my tank is 600mm by 300 by 400 just over half full  I'm using a crystal clear aquarium 380 filter  with 3 stage filtration at 100 litres an hour his water is changed at 1/3 every 10 days I'm using A.C.E ammonia chlorine eliminator
<I would stop using this product (used to contain Formalin... toxic), and just let new water set about for a few days ahead of use>
and aqua plus water conditioner all my rocks are the size of a 50c piece or bigger there are no plants in he tank he has one round barrel to hide in I don't use a light and I have no water temperature gauge hope that is enough information for you
Therésè
<Other than doing away with the "treatment" above, I would try more "lively" foods... Worms of appropriate size, and insect larvae... e.g. Blackworms (Ambystoma means "cup mouth"; they scoop up their food), earthworms, mealworms... Bob Fenner>

Axolotl - damaged limbs   1/6/07
Hello Crew at WWM. I have a sad but true story, and am hoping that you may have some advice to help. We have an adult female Axolotl which was attacked by an Australian Bass that was temporarily placed in her tank.
<A mistake>
Her hind feet are now gone, as are most of her front legs and a large part of her tail. She now remains in one spot in the tank, but on the very odd occasion will try and move (with difficulty), and her frilly gills still 'wave' every now and again. She hasn't eaten for 5 days now.
I wasn't sure of the likelihood of her regenerating the limbs and tail given the extent of the damage and her age?
<Mmm, one can only do their best, be patient, and hope>
The damaged limbs and tail turned white and eventually the white part 'disintegrated' over the space of two days. Is this what usually happens to damaged limbs in water or could it have been some sort of bacteria?
<Yes>
I have done a water change and am monitoring the water to keep it as clean as possible to give her a better chance of recovery.  I have heard that salt baths can assist with some Axolotl infections, though wasn't sure if it would do much good given the extent of her injuries in this case?
<I would be careful re the amount of salt administered here... Perhaps a level teaspoon per ten actual gallons of system water>
My main concern is that she is not interested in her food. She is hand fed, usually frozen blood worms, and she normally loves her food. Since she was attacked, I have literally been holding food right up to her mouth, but she turns her head away. Is there something else I could feed her or place in the water at this time to help her eat?
<Perhaps some live (other) insect larvae and/or freshwater worms (tubificids)... an occasional earthworm/nightcrawler of small size... I would administer a vitamin/food stimulant product (these are packaged/sold for aquarium use... either marine or freshwater, doesn't matter here... And I might consider adding a source of useful iodine/ide... to possibly aid repair, conversion...>
If you have any other suggestions that would help in regards to her comfort or the healing process I'd be grateful. Thank you.
<Life to you my friend. Bob Fenner>

Axolotl trouble - 4/20/6
This is the first time I have ever tried to contact any of your crew, but I really am in need of some advice.  Firstly I have a 4ft x 1ft x 2ft coldwater tank, how many gallons is it?
<<It is a nominal 60-gallon, but holds a few gallons less than that.>>
Secondly all my fish who cohabit with my two seven year old axolotls are fine except for one, which recently has presented what looks like a few scales missing on one side, but more worryingly doesn't seem to be able to open his mouth, what on earth could this problem be?
<<Could be a myriad of things.  Do you mean the axolotl is experiencing this? Do the standard tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, to be sure these aren’t the culprit.  Make sure water quality is high, temp is in the low 60’s.>>
And how should I go about helping him?
<<Read here: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/4301/axolotlhealth.htm and browse through the topics on the left hand side menu.  You should find what you are looking for.>>
Thank you very much for your trouble.
<<No trouble at all, I’m glad to help. Lisa.>>
Emily-Jane, Lancashire.

"She turned me into a" newt or other water "lizard", ID    4/14/06
Hello all,
Your saltwater site has helped me through lots of tough spots. Thanks very much. Now I have jumped into freshwater "critters" with both feet. Oops.  My
work associate gave me a "Leopard Water Gecko" for my son. There is no such animal. She gave me very specific instructions in care which I will follow to the letter.  But I thought I would see if there was anything I was missing.  Now I'm  stumped as to what type of critter I have.  Please help. He does not seem to have gills but he lives under shallow water. He can  and does come out of water. The water temp is around 70 and he seems fine with that.  He resembles a firebelly newt in basic head and body shape.  Even his tail is shaped like a water animal.  His belly is yellow and his top is brown (similar to the color of a river bottom) and he has black spots all over him. I have not gotten a pic yet.
<Would help...>
I was hoping I could get a possible ID on description.
Thanks very much,
Beth
<Perhaps a yellow-bellied salamander... a commonly kept species. Please see here: http://www.caudata.org
Bob Fenner>

Pimples on Fire Belly Newt   1/11/06
I bought a Fire Belly Newt the other day.  About 2 days later, he had two little white bumps on his back that almost look like pimples. I asked the store workers what they thought it was; they had no idea. Do you have any idea what it could be or if there is anything I can do to stop it?
< Newts come from areas with very clean water. Dirty water often causes bacterial infections to their sensitive skin. Clean the filter, vacuum the gravel and do a 50% water change. If things get worse then I might try a weak methylene blue solution as for treating a fungus.-Chuck>

Amphibians in aquarium? and freshwater plenums, anemone questions
I was skimming over your site again; this time the fresh water section and i saw the amphibian part.
<Yikes... yes, another "section" started... to fit a few incoming FAQs... that needs/deserves serious/non-serious "skull sweat"... input, imagery...>
There's only a little about aquatic frogs so i was wondering if you could help me with something else. Could you put Axolotls in an aquarium with fish?
<Hmm, yes... have seen these neotenic salamanders placed, kept with peaceful fishes in private, public aquariums>
I've got 2 in a 20g upright with no heater or anything for filtration, there are 3 Cory cats in there too they're doing great but i was wondering if i could set up my 180 as a freshwater-tropical and put them in?
<Not so much tropical... Though my fave hobby sites for Ambystoma: http://www.fortunecity.com/Roswell/chupacabras/4/calixto.htm
states they can/will live at 75F... I would use this as an "upper limit" temperature wise.>
Is there an average temp that the fish and axolotls will tolerate together? I know cannibalism could be a problem with smaller tetras
but I'm willing to take that risk. Also; have you ever heard of using a plenum in a fresh water system?
<Yes, have even done this... for decades...>
How well would/does it work? are there drawbacks? 
<Same sort of arrangement as marine... an hypoxic water area on the bottom (good to have a drain arrangement for here...), a grade or two of media above separated by a screen (I put soil mix in under the screen with coarser gravel...). Downsides: some chance of anaerobiosis...>
My saltwater plenum works great but there is quite a bit of Cyanobacteria lately (the tank's a year old), is that an issue in a fresh water tank?
<A possibility... but with regular "good" maintenance, use of live plants... a calculated risk...>
my last question is in regards to my anemone. I bought it as a "corn" anemone. It's Bright green with orange tips and it's bubbled (just
like a bulb anemone) but i haven't seen any bulbs anemones with this coloration. It's scientific name started with R., so it definitely wasn't
labeled as e. quadricolor. 
<Mmm, maybe a "Radianthus" species, or one that is labeled as such... Please take a look through our general coverage of Anemones: http://wetwebmedia.com/anemones.htm
... You may see this species, and find that Clowns will pair up with ones that they don't do naturally in captivity...>
My maroon lives in it too. And one more -sorry-.
What's normal growth rate for anemones? This one's almost doubled its size in 2 months (i feed silver sides too) it's also got funny division around the tentacles; some are splitting up to 4 times on each one. Is that normal.
<Normal under highly favorable conditions... or it may be this specimen was/is "just expanding"... get squeezed down for shipping...>
Sorry for the length. Your advice is appreciated as always.
Dustin
<Thank you for writing. Bob Fenner>

Water Dog Information Sought
Have you heard of a freshwater fish named a water dog and can you tell me where i can get information on this fish
<Not a fish... but an axolotl... an amphibian... something between the fishes and reptiles... Like a salamander. Here is a nice site that describes them, their captive husbandry: http://www.icomm.ca/dragon/salmndr.htm
<Bob Fenner>
Connie

Ambystoma... Water Dogs
I recently purchased what the pet dealer told me was a mud dog, it is an aquatic animal of some sorts, it has gills, a tadpole like tail, legs, and dragon looking things that come off of the side of it's head. If you know what I am referring to please let me know what they eat the guy that sold it to me had no idea what it ate ?
<gee whiz, my friend... it is critical that we as responsible aquarists don't purchase any such animals on impulse without knowing anything about how to keep them alive. Not the least of which is how to feed them. I am very grateful that you have inquired for this information after all, but please do consider for the future that we must research out captive charge's needs before buying them for fear of taking responsibility for an inappropriate animal (with needs that will not or cannot be met by you). That said...in the wild they are said to eat worms, tadpoles, insect larva, crustaceans and fish. Some in captivity have even been fed thawed pink mice (lab food). Do look up the genus Ambystoma. Best regards, Anthony>

Newt... not political
Dear Sirs, I have a 10 gal. freshwater aquarium with 4 guppy, a Buenos Aires tetra and a African toed frog; would it be possible to add a newt to the collection?  
<not likely my friend. Many reasons here. Tetras can nip their flesh... there's not enough "land" to climb out on, and the clawed frog will get large enough to eat it one day>
I'm thinking of making a sort of cage out of hardware cloth on the top so that i can have the tank full of water and still have a newt. Of course I'll also have a floating island for the newt to go on, would this work? thanks! Elizabeth
<it would be best to have a separate dedicated tank for the newts. I suspect they will not fare well or die prematurely in a fish and frog display. Kindly, Anthony>

Axolotl with a belly full of?
Good morning!  I have a long question that might not have a very happy answer.  I recently purchased an axolotl at a local pet store, he seems to be in good condition and he acts normally. (He's really nearly the neatest thing I've had in my freshwater tank)  but he's got a large mass in his stomach, it's black.  I'm well aware that anything they can fit into their mouths, they will, but are they able to pass anything they can fit in?  The place that I bought him from admitted they didn't know a whole lot about him, just the basics, "They're freshwater....and I guess they'll eat just about anything"  And that was it.  I bought him and spent the evening doing research (I know I know!  that's the wrong order, but he was so cool!)  So in my reading I found out that they shouldn't be kept in gravel bottom tank because they have a tendency to swallow gravel, and therein lies my problem.  The tank at the LFS has a gravel bottom, as does my own tank, I quickly moved the gravel to only one side of the tank (the side that I don't put the food on) but I think he swallowed a fair amount of gravel regardless.  This particular axolotl is 4-5 inches long, he's been eating normally and I haven't really noticed anything weird except for that his belly looks like its full of something black.  I haven't seen any evidence that he's passed anything since I brought him home (god knows he's been eating though - two dozen white cloud and more brine pellets than I can imagine.) I'm not sure if I should just wait it out or what I should think.  Forgive me for my lack of preparation!  You're advice would do me wonders.  Thank you for your time.
                                  Rachael
<Not much to do at this point with this neotenic salamander. I would just keep up its maintenance and hope for the best. Bob Fenner>

Teratogens and Salamanders
Hello Mr. (Dr?) Fenner -
<Just Bob please>
I came across your article "Treating Tap/Source-water for Marine Aquarium Use" while trying to track down chloramine test kits.  I found your article very interesting.  I work with tiger salamander larvae - which are obviously freshwater! - <Yes... Ambystoma tigrinum?> but many of the things you mention are applicable to amphibian larvae as well.  I was wondering if we could chat on the phone so I could get your advise/opinions on some of the aquarium chemicals I have use/ plan to use.
I realize you don't want to be seen as promoting one brand or another but I'd like to avoid any pitfalls you or your colleagues have encountered.
<Better to just hash out on the Net.>
I can be reached at the number below; alternatively I would be happy to pick up the $ if you send me a number and time to call.  Thanks in advance for your time.
Danna Schock
<Do you have specific questions, concerns? For the sake of sharing with others who might use this information, let's try keying this out. Bob Fenner>

Housing Newts with Other Species
In addition to adding a shrimp to our ten gallon, we intend to get another ten gallon aquarium and move the frog (Pickles) in with two fire newts, for which my oldest boy is saving his pennies, is this going to work ?
<Oh, wow, I have absolutely no idea....  I'll pass this along to Gage for his input; hopefully he'll be able to help you on that one better than I can.>
Thank You
<Batter up!  HI, Gage here I may have missed what type of frog you have, but I am not sure mixing anything with newts is a great idea.  I have never kept them myself, but there are some good reasons to keep them in a species only tank.  I found the article below while searching on google, check it out, hope it helps you in your decision.  Best Regards, Gage
http://www.livingunderworld.org/amphibianArticles/article0007.htm >

He Put the "Otl" in Axolotl..
My axolotl's gills are badly damaged! What can I do?!?.
<The best thing to do with any sort of amphibian/salamander/axolotl when they have body damage is to simply make sure that the animal has freshwater in which to live in.  They usually heal themselves quite quickly when given a bacteria free environment with nice freshwater.>
Can the water's PH balance cause this? Can he repair himself?
<The pH shouldn't have effected the animal in that way, unless the water levels are extremely acidic.  If his gills are damaged by tears then hi might have an aggressive tankmate that's hurting him.  Or perhaps he has some skin/gill parasites that are making him rub on things damaging his own gills.  There are some great sources online to learn more about axolotls.  here is one with some brief info. http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/4301/axolotlhealth.htm
Hope that helps.-Magnus>

Axolotl
Hi guys,
Your site really helps heaps! Anyway, I got an axolotl a while ago and named him Chips. Chips is gold, and eats those frozen blood worm blocks, anyway, at the fish store they told me to hand feed him, otherwise he wouldn't eat much, so I went home and stuck my hand in the water with the food. He then tried to hide in the corner and his tail touched my hand, He then freaked out and started swimming round the tank like mad, he then hit his head on the glass and sat on the bottom of the tank for ten minutes hardly breathing. He recovered and I've decided not to hand feed him again until I find out how.
<good plan, they will need to become comfortable with their surroundings first, then recognize you as the one who brings the food.  Even after that, getting your hands in the tank is a slow process.>
I now try to push the block down into the water so it will sit on the bottom, in the hope that he would find it and eat it. But as you should know, The blocks start to disintegrate and the worms fly everywhere. He then spends ages trying to push his head between the river pebbles, in an effort to grab whatever he can.
<Use finer gravel, and searching for them is part of the fun. Try different foods, formula one is good and meaty and sinks, beef heart, live Night crawlers, etc.>
I'm worried that he's not eating what he should, and that I'm missing out on being an axolotl owner, how do I "train" him to trust me?
<In the words of Otis Redding "Try a little tenderness".  It may be a while before he adjusts to hand feeding, just focus on the husbandry aspects at first, then once he gets used to you can move in for the hand feeding.  I found this site, you may find it of some use.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/4301/axolotlfood.htm
Best Regards, Gage>
Thanks, It would really be appreciated
Chip's Owner

Clownfish, cant find help anywhere
I've been researching the web for over an hour and cant seem to find what wrong with my pair of freshwater clownfish.
<I have never heard of a fish with the common name "Freshwater Clownfish".  Do you know what the Latin name or other common names are for this fish.   I really can not help because I'm at a loss of what fish you are referring to.
  They can only swim up, not side to side anymore.  This behavior has been going on for weeks, but never so bad.
<That is also something unusual in any fish...>
They had ick about a week ago and doesn't seem to be there anymore, I treated it.  In addition, there may or may not have the white cotton around mouth.
<The white cotton around the mouth is a Fungal infection that you can treat with medicines.  But, if it has cleared up already then most likely the medicine you treated with helped fight the infection.>
I cant tell what's normal.  Please help. Also, my newt wont eat, has no arms. but has been alive for weeks, should I perform euthanasia.
<Did your newt have it's arms bitten off? did the newt lose it's arms? a bacterial/fungal infection? Is it sharing the tank with the fish?  If so, Newts really shouldn't be with fish (aside from feeder guppies), they should have their all their own.  If you have the newt separated, and are providing it with constant supply of freshwater then there is a chance that your newt will regrow it's arms.  To learn more on newts go to this site: http://www.centralpets.com/care/pets/reptiles/salamanders/2541/1/1/petcare.php  It should offer you information on how to care for your little guy.>
thanks so much Diana Boyer
<good luck, and let me know what type of fish is a "Freshwater Clownfish".  The only thing I can think of is a Marine Clownfish that was forced to acclimate to lower salinity.   -Magnus>

No idea what's wrong with my clownfish
First of all, i really appreciate your response i am really new to this whole thing and so far it seems pretty hard.
<No prob, that is what we are here for.  Once you get the hang of it, it won't be hard at all.>
I've had the tank for about a month now.  its a 30 gallon tank. ammonia was high one time, so we put AmmoLock in it, and just did again today.
<With all new tanks there is a point were the ammonia builds up.  It's the start of the nitrogen cycle.  You need to give tank time to build up the beneficial bacteria to help break down waste and other harmful things.>
  to treat the ick, we used Ickguard. i don't think the newt has ever eaten.  he is in the same tank.  
<You should set up a tank specifically for these animals.  They need specific environment to thrive.  Here is another reference for you to read and learn more about these amazing critters.  
http://www.livingunderworld.org/caudata/database/salamandridae/cynops/
Our newts have tanks specifically designed for them, and are very happy and healthy.>
we have tried 3 different foods, but he is still alive despite having no arms, he swims fine too.
<They loose their arms in nature from disease or predators, and have the ability to regrow them given the proper conditions.>
but doesn't look very happy.  
<I wouldn't be happy if I had no arms and hadn't eaten in a while either. heh )
the newt chills on a raft at the top of the tank, he is a Chinese fire-belly newt, it is obvious to me that he has lost a lot of weight since when we got him over 3 weeks ago.
<The best course of action is to set up a tank for him.  It does not need to be large.  We have a 3.5 gallon hex tank with rock work and water at the bottom so our can swim and climb out when he wants to.  We have had ours for many years.>
  i have seen one of the fishes in the tank snip at the newt, but i also read about the possibility of him having a disease.
<if a fish should nip at the newt it can break the skin and allow bacteria to get into the wound and thus give the newt bacterial infections that can lead to bacterial rot of limbs or death.>
in the beginning, he had a newt friend that somehow disappeared, so i was afraid he got depressed, but am weary about putting another newt in there and getting that one sick.
<"somehow disappeared" isn't good.  it could possibly have been eaten.  I would NOT but another newt in this tank!  You have already lost one, and this one is not eating and has lost it's arms.  That should tell you that the conditions are not right and you shouldn't have one in this tank, let alone add more to the mix.  Read everything you can on the care of newts and set up a tank specifically designed to care for these animals.  Once this newt becomes healthy and eats, then and only then should you even think about getting more.>
since last night, i lost one of my clownfish.  the mouths of the clownfish (clown loach), seem to always be open.
<If fish have their mouths always open it could be a sign that there isn't enough oxygen in the water.  or that the ammonia levels are high enough that it's damaging their gills.  I would start by adding an airstone and airpump to the tank to help raise the oxygen levels.>
we have only done one partial water change this month, and it was for the ick treatment.  also, the heater kept coming unplugged, so the water temp has been up and down, i did not raise the temp. of the tank when putting the ick treatment in. i will definitely purchase a water testing kit this weekend.
<having a test kit will really help you realize what is happening with the tank.  and know where the cycle level is at.>
and ill email you with the results. i know something is wrong, because i lost my two catfish last week too. thanks a lot. diana Boyer
<I suggest you also look at getting some books on freshwater tanks.  Read and research as much as you can, this will help you understand what is happening in your tank.  You can't rush into setting up a ecosystem like this.  Good luck. -Magnus>

Goldfish, newts and mosquito larvae control
I was wondering if goldfish and newts can be housed together, because I have a mosquito larvae problem? And I read that goldfish can eat the larvae.  
< Sure. Fish do eat aquatic insect larva. Both goldfish and newts have similar water requirements too.-Chuck>

A question about a newt
Hello,
I am worried about a white spots and white areas spreading among the  Chinese newt's neck, spine, and tail. I think it is a fungal infection although  I am not sure, it is smooth to the touch. The newt hasn't been eating as much as it has been in the past. I think its the water conditions and I changed the water and the white areas haven't decreased but increased in width among the spine and tail. Any advice on how to solve this? I am having difficulty in finding web sites regarding newts.
< If the spots are spreading and appear more like patches then I think you have a bacterial infection. Many times these infections are caused by  dirty water and high in nitrates. Without a culture this would be guessing. My best advice is to make sure the water is clean and the filter has been serviced. An antibiotic I would try is Nitrofuranace or Erythromycin. Good luck.-Chuck>
thanks.

Belly o' Fire, Toe of Newt!
Is it ok to keep [a] fire belly newt in my tropical fish tank with my fish and frogs? Thanks.
< Fire-belly newts are mostly aquatic but do benefit from an area to get out of water for a short time. It could be some floating plants or a turtle raft. As long as the fish don't physically eat the newt or pick on him he should be fine. The main problem will be getting food down to him where he can eat it. Try earthworms or mealworms. Commercial aquatic turtle food is good too if he will eat it.-Chuck> 

Bloated Newt 3.28.05
Chinese Fire Belly Newt is extremely bloated. Any suggestions or ideas on possible causes?
<I'd be willing to bet the bloating is related to the newts diet or something else that it has ingested. I would try varying the diet (I am not sure on what all a fire belly newt will eat) any roughage would be a plus, worms, avoid dry pelleted foods for a while. There is also the possibility that it ingested something foreign like a piece of gravel or other substrate which caused a gut impaction. Gage>

Newt Problems
One of my newts bit off three legs of a smaller one.  Now it looks as  if the legs are "shedding" or like they have a fungus.  I keep cleaning out  the tank to make sure the water is clean but am not sure what to do for the poor thing.  It has now been a week since this happened and I am afraid the poor  thin will die.  I have since removed the other newt. Can someone help me to  help this little creature or is he destined to die?   Theresa
< The legs will grow back if they do not fungus. I would get a Dr. Turtle block by Zoomed and place it in the water. Take a  wet cotton ball and wipe down the fungus off the legs.-Chuck>

Frozen blood worms for my newt???
hi!!!! ok I have just recently gotten a newt.( I think an Oregon newt) I read that they eat live worms and beta fish. the place I bought my newt however,  said that I can feed them frozen blood worms. is that alright? what else do you suggest???
thank you very much?
also one more little question... do you know anything about house geckos??? if you do when is it alright for me to start feeding my baby gecko crickets? right now I am feeding it flightless fruit flies...
>> Your newt can be fed with frozen blood worm, he may also it other frozen foods such as brine shrimp and Mysis.
Your gecko should be ready to start eating small crickets soon. Try it with half sized or quarter sized crickets, the only way to find out is try it!
good luck, Oliver