Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi my Firebellied newts still aren't eating even though they're in their own tank. I live in the Phoenix AZ area and I'm having a bit of a hrad time finding blackworms I may do mail order but maybe if I can get a old of a non-chain pet shop I may have luck. P.S. as far as I know there aren't any local bait shops as we have no close bodies of water to fish in. thanks in advance

I suspect that you are underestimating the availability of fishing and bait shops. See:
http://phonebook.superpages.com/yellowpages/C-Fishing Bait & Tackle/S-AZ/T-Grand Canyon/
I live near Santa Fe, NM (dry, dry, dry) and our local Walmart hunting department stocks nightcrawlers year-round. I'd be surprised if yours didn't.

Here is a place for a photo and mail order of live blackworms:
http://www.aquaticfoods.com/
The smallest amount of blackworms costs about $18 after they add in all the shipping charges.

Have you tried frozen (thawed) bloodworms? Hand-feeding? Good luck, I hope they eat soon.

thank for the links, I will try WalMart but I'm feeling doubtful. I noticed there's a reference to the Grand Canyon in the link. Just an FYI the Grand Canyon is about a three hour drive. I'm sure there are lots of fish shops by it but I can't afford to drive out there and back all the time. So if Walmart does not have any I will be looking into mailorder. I leave the frozen bloodworms in a dish for them even overnight anything to try to get them to eat, noting seems to be any less. I first tried leaving some in the water but they didn't eat and I wound up changing out the water it got real messy. I bought mealworms which are the only live thing the chain pet stores have. The mini ones aren't much bigger than the frozen bloodworms I tried yesterday with the feeding tongs but the newts just turned and moved away. I checked the water for ammonia and it tested clean the only thing is it might be a little warm for them at 70 but I read some people keep their newts at 70. thanks

I got that link by searching with "Phoenix Arizona bait shop". At least 2 of the stores in the list are *IN* Phoenix. Maybe not next-door, but probably closer than the Grand Canyon!

Try feeding them the thawed bloodworms with a tweezers. No guarantee of success, but worth a try. Chopped earthworms are more likely to work. Good luck!

>>thank for the links, I will try WalMart but I'm feeling doubtful. I noticed there's a reference to the Grand Canyon in the link. Just an FYI the Grand Canyon is about a three hour drive. I'm sure there are lots of fish shops by it but I can't afford to drive out there and back all the time. So if Walmart does not have any I will be looking into mailorder. I leave the frozen bloodworms in a dish for them even overnight anything to try to get them to eat, noting seems to be any less. I first tried leaving some in the water but they didn't eat and I wound up changing out the water it got real messy. I bought mealworms which are the only live thing the chain pet stores have. The mini ones aren't much bigger than the frozen bloodworms I tried yesterday with the feeding tongs but the newts just turned and moved away. I checked the water for ammonia and it tested clean the only thing is it might be a little warm for them at 70 but I read some people keep their newts at 70. thanks

I'm going to try and be persistent with the bloodworms and the mini mealworms. I'll give it a few days if not and they're still alive I will try to give them away at worst take them back. I have no problem feeding live things but I cannot cut the live worms. I tried cutting one of the large mealworms for my toads and that was not good. Thank you so much for all your help and patience.