Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son found a red-spotted newt last week and it hasn't eaten since. I bought baby crickets and newt pellets but it won't eat them. I have tried the freeze dried bloodworms from my fish and it won't eat them either. What else is there? How long can he go without eating?

if it hasn't eaten yet then it's best to let it go. it'd be a shame to lose a perfectly healthy wild specimen b/c it wouldn't eat in captivity.

We found it at a soccer tournament 2 hours away and from what I have found on the internet is that they are not in this area. Do you think he will still survive without other red-spotted newts around?

If it cannot be returned to the exact locality where it was collected do not release it.

Here is a care sheet with a lot of good information in it.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Notophthalmus/N_viridescens.shtml

Ed

Thank you. I bought the newt some baby guppies. He doesn't seem interested so I will get bloodworms tomorrow. Hopefully someday he will eat. I really should have put my foot down on not letting my son bring it home. He is my reptile child.

Try live bloodworms, fruit flies, and pin head crickets. Also depending on whether its an eft or an adult you'll have to give it adequate anvirons. The adults are aquatic whereas the efts are completely terrestrial.