I've had these newts for 3 months now, they don't seem to eat (which kind of amuses me, I don't know how they manage to live) within that span of time, I've bought them atleast 3 different brands of food, put them in a warm environment, yet I'm really not sure how to take care of them? Is there anything I should be doing besides cleaning the tank and feeding them?! how do I feed them? Do I just leave the food close by?
Firstly, newts live their lives mostly underwater so I assume your tank is set up such that at least half the tank is under water and the rest of the tank is dry land like dirt with moss and rocks or wood?
Depending on their size, newts will mostly eat tubafex worms which you can buy in the pet store and place in the water of the tank. The worms look like a mass of hair in a ball with their bodies waving all over and the newts can come over and chew pieces of them out if the main lump. If your newts are larger, I recommend wax worms or small crickets which you can also buy in the pet store. Wax worms would be best as they are easy for the newt to catch compared to crickets. Just drop one in front of the newt on the land portion of the tank and it should grab it right there if it is hungry.
I had one salamander who I had to force-feed the first time by prying his mouth open and sticking a wax worm inside. He promptly ate the whole thing and after that loved them and always ate on his own-never giving me problems again.
FYI, a few tips:
1. Fire-bellied toads go well with fire-belly newts as they are both amphibians and both have the same toxins.
2. Be sure to wash your hands after touching them because their bodies do secrete minor toxins to ward possible preditors away.
Well, since you don't state how you are keeping them or what you are feeding them, it is difficult to tell you what you are doing wrong. But, here's a hint- newts eat live food, not "brands". Feed them small earthworms, insects, and occasionally tiny fish.
Your best bet is to read some books on basic newt care, which will provide you with more information than you'll get here.
References :
Firstly, newts live their lives mostly underwater so I assume your tank is set up such that at least half the tank is under water and the rest of the tank is dry land like dirt with moss and rocks or wood?
Depending on their size, newts will mostly eat tubafex worms which you can buy in the pet store and place in the water of the tank. The worms look like a mass of hair in a ball with their bodies waving all over and the newts can come over and chew pieces of them out if the main lump. If your newts are larger, I recommend wax worms or small crickets which you can also buy in the pet store. Wax worms would be best as they are easy for the newt to catch compared to crickets. Just drop one in front of the newt on the land portion of the tank and it should grab it right there if it is hungry.
I had one salamander who I had to force-feed the first time by prying his mouth open and sticking a wax worm inside. He promptly ate the whole thing and after that loved them and always ate on his own-never giving me problems again.
FYI, a few tips:
1. Fire-bellied toads go well with fire-belly newts as they are both amphibians and both have the same toxins.
2. Be sure to wash your hands after touching them because their bodies do secrete minor toxins to ward possible preditors away.
References :