Firebelly Newt not eating... please help!

Ladybast · 08-19-04, 09:38 PM

I've had my Firebelly (his name is Iov) for about 5 years, he was always a good eater, taking 1 cube of frozen bloodworms every other day. A few weeks ago he stopped eating. I have tried live Blackworms, and he's not the least bit interested. He was always a chubby little thing and very healthy. His temp. was always kept at 78, and then I read that was too high. Last week I dropped it down to 75. I just tested the Ph, which is 6.6, and am adjusting it now.
Do they hibernate? Please help, I love this little guy.
A few months ago he lost one finger, I think it was from climbing the screen cover. I used bacitracin and peroxide on it until it healed, he was fine for awhile after that, and now he has this problem.

Ladybast · 08-19-04, 10:14 PM

He has also been shedding more than normal.

thunder · 08-20-04, 12:11 PM

i dont use any chemicals to treat amphian wounds, especially peroxide. it is possible that he is a bit toxed. change his water and keep offering him food. he will probably recover. the extra shedding in amphians is a way to try and rid themselves of toxins.

Ladybast · 08-20-04, 12:26 PM

Wow. I looked online and several sites listed peroxide as ok to use. I do water changes all the time. How long can he go without eating? He seems active enough.

Samba · 08-20-04, 12:47 PM

Poor newt! I hope he recovers but the not eating part can turn severe if he doesn't start taking in food within a month or so. I think some newts do hibernate, but I'm really not an expert with them, so I couldn't tell you how to get him to brumate. Has he hibernated in the last few years you've had him? I had a salamander for almost 12 years, and every winter she'd quit eating for a few months. My red-eared slider also stops taking in food during this time as well. The finger injury can also be a cause for the lack of appetite..

Give him time, and if I were you I'd call a reptile vet an ask their advice... Hope this helps! =)

thunder · 08-20-04, 12:51 PM

they can go a few weeks without eating, dont get worried until he begins to lose weight. the toxin thing is not the only possibility, its just what strikes to mind immediately, as it is an issue i have dealt with. i had 2 newts who were living together become toxed, and one survived while the other did not. its possible that your newt is just suddenly deciding he wants to eat something else, you may try a few other food items to tempt him, such as small insects, or comercially produced newt food. however, blood or tubifix worms are a perfectly good staple. if you say that he is active, i would not yet be concerned. another thought: what kind of substrate do you use? if sand, he could be impacted, and if it is gravel, he could have swallowed a piece. if it is either of these things, i would suggest changing it.

Ladybast · 08-20-04, 02:16 PM

I'm using large and small gravel. He's never hibernated before, could he start now after so many years? He got over the finger injury fine, and was eating for quite a while. Should I get ammonia and nitrate test kits?

thunder · 08-20-04, 11:09 PM

i dont think a finger injury could make him stop eating, as they do not have much feeling in their digits. i would just keep trying to feed him, possibly trying a variety of foods to see what tempts him. as samba said, its not time to be worried yet. however, i would suggest removing all of the gravel that is small enough for him to swallow, as fire bellys are notorious for swallowing gravel. that may not be your problem now, but better safe than sorry.

Ladybast · 08-20-04, 11:24 PM

Thank you. What do you suggest for substrate? If he did swallow gravel, what should I do about it?