Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a smooth skin Japanese Firebelly Newt that is approximately six years old. He is also a whopping seven inches long and very robust! He eats anything that swims in his tank with him, which has restricted his tank-mates to baby golfish only. And I must say that they only last about a month until he needs new tank-mates. Just recently (about a month), he hasn't been able to use his hind legs at all for either walking or swimming. I'm not sure if I should be overly concerned or if this is just because of his size and age combined. I don't think that he is sick because just the other day he ate another tank-mate and some prawns. Does anybody have some words or wisdom???

JFBN can live about 20+ years. Was he full grown when you purchased him?

Also, what are you feeding him and how often? I strongly recommend against using goldfish as they are very commonly a vector for disease or parasites.

I would personally recommend frozen fish foods and live diced earthworms as the diet for a newt such as yours. Feed every three days for a healthy and active animal.

Without seeing the animal my first guess would be possibly diet, the next would be if it was the disease called bloat where he swells up all over. Has that happend?

Try to take a photo if you can.

>>I have a smooth skin Japanese Firebelly Newt that is approximately six years old. He is also a whopping seven inches long and very robust! He eats anything that swims in his tank with him, which has restricted his tank-mates to baby golfish only. And I must say that they only last about a month until he needs new tank-mates. Just recently (about a month), he hasn't been able to use his hind legs at all for either walking or swimming. I'm not sure if I should be overly concerned or if this is just because of his size and age combined. I don't think that he is sick because just the other day he ate another tank-mate and some prawns. Does anybody have some words or wisdom???

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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

First, Thank you for your help Rob.

The newt was a baby when I first got him. How large is full grown anyway??

His diet consisted of bloodworm cubes and any appendages of the other fish and newts in the tank with him. As he's gotten older and larger he's been eating the baby goldfish. Approximately 100 in the last two years. He has just recently been switched over to prawns as recommended by the local pet shop that specializes in snakes and reptiles.

I am working on getting pictures for you to see, but I am new at the digital camera bit.

Thanks,
Joe

Hi Joe,

No problem. I recommend against the goldfish and prawns, and sticking with the bloodworm cubes (frozen) and diced earthworms. You can also use other frozen foods if you wish for variety, such as krill, brine shrimp, etc.

Full grown should be around the size it is now.

I'm curious about feeding frequency though? How often do you feed? Every three days is more then enough.

I still think it could be either bloat (has your newt swollen up over its whole body?) or improper diet that could be causing this problem with his back legs.

>>First, Thank you for your help Rob.
>>
>>The newt was a baby when I first got him. How large is full grown anyway??
>>
>>His diet consisted of bloodworm cubes and any appendages of the other fish and newts in the tank with him. As he's gotten older and larger he's been eating the baby goldfish. Approximately 100 in the last two years. He has just recently been switched over to prawns as recommended by the local pet shop that specializes in snakes and reptiles.
>>
>>I am working on getting pictures for you to see, but I am new at the digital camera bit.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Joe
-----
Hope my opinions help,
Rob

Rob, Thanks again for your replys. I stopped all goldfish and purchased frozen blood worms, but when I tried to feed him he lost all sence of his equilibrium and banged all over the tank. After about 1-2min on his back and all curled up he got calmed down. If this is that bloating Disease how long does it last? What do i need to due for him? and , while he is like this is the feeding times different?

I'm still trying to send a picture. Thank you
Joe

Not a problem Joe.

I have no idea why he would react that way to your attempted feeding. Did you do anything that could have spooked him?

Bloat disease is typically fatal in salamanders. For ideas on what to do when an animal has bloat you can read the website http://www.caudata.org/cc/. I believe they have an article or on their FAQ about bloat that will tell you ideas for how to treat it. I do not believe feedings would need any changing.

If you would like more people's input check out http://www.caudata.org. It is an online forum dedicated to just newts and salamanders.

>>Rob, Thanks again for your replys. I stopped all goldfish and purchased frozen blood worms, but when I tried to feed him he lost all sence of his equilibrium and banged all over the tank. After about 1-2min on his back and all curled up he got calmed down. If this is that bloating Disease how long does it last? What do i need to due for him? and , while he is like this is the feeding times different?
>>
>>I'm still trying to send a picture. Thank you
>>Joe

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Hope my opinions help,
Rob