Hello, I'm new to the forum as well as a new fire bellied newt owner. I've had "him" for about a month and I'm not sure how well things are going. I call him my magical newt because one weekend he simply disappeared and I couldn't find him any where for the life of me! I searched every nook and cranny for him, in and outside of the tank but alais no newt. I was convinced he had escaped and had been eaten by my housemate's dog then about a week later he reappeared!

I fed him and since then he's been hiding out in the filter. I turned the filter off so I could clean the water and he crawled in. I haven't turned it back on but he hasn't come out at all. I'm afraid that he's not eating, I think he's still alive but I haven't seen him in over a week. There are not smells, or weird colored water to indicate he's dead. His tank mates aren't complaining so, again, I think he's alive. Is his hiding out behavior normal? I've scanned the world wide internet several times and no websites seems to have the answers I'm looking for. Is this normal behavior? How can I get him to come out? Should I be worried? Is he just anti-social?? Help me better understand my newt please!