I have a sick Tiger salamander! HELP!

My little baby is sick, and i dont know what to do.. I'm not even sure whats wrong with him and need some help.

He is about a 5 1/2 year old tiger salamander. He has always been very healthy, and is a little on the hefty side, in fact. He was eating fine up until a couple days ago. Now he doesnt really put much effort into eating when i feed him, and he wont take the food. I also noticed that he wont use his tail or back legs. He pulls himself around by his front legs. I have never noticed him doing this before and he keeps his eyes shut most of the time. He has just been in his tank doing what salamanders do...nothing out of the ordinary so i dont know what could have caused it... does anyone have any suggestions???

I thought maybe he was shedding his skin like they do periodically, because he will quit eating while he does this... but ... I have never noticed him neglecting his hind quarters like that before!


Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Hi,

If he's off his hind end then it is likely he has something affecting his central nervous system (brain/spinal cord). There are various possibilities here (trauma, abscess, tumour amongst others) and I would strongly recommend taking him to a vet, who will be able to carry out diagnostic tests to try to define the cause, or at the very least give you appropriate trial treatments against possible causes.

Good luck, I hope you can get him sorted.