Illness/Sickness: Paddle tail newt help!

tiki · May 9, 2009

I recently got a paddle tail newt, and I noticed a small white spot on his leg. After a few days of it mostly hiding as it got accustomed to its new environment, I took it out to mess with the tank. Its foot was completely gone, and the leg is now a weird white color with stuff hanging off it (back right leg). I looked around online and found a lot of conflicting information about fridging and salt baths, but I was wondering if anyone here had to deal with this and has any information they've used and trust? I have him quarantined and am changing the water every day, 100%, keeping it as cool as possible, but I don't know...
One specific question: how deep should the water be when they're quarantined or fridged?
Any help is appreciated!!

Jennewt · May 9, 2009

Limb rot is common among newly-imported newts. In case you haven't found this yet:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/illness.shtml
I'd recommend keeping the animal cool and clean, which you are already doing. Beyond that there are various things that can be tried. One is to get a vet to amputate the dead part of the limb, then treat with antibiotics until the wound heals. It would probably grow back if the animal is healthy enough overall. There are various over-the-counter fish antibiotics you could try (see article).

tiki · May 9, 2009

Thanks! That's really helpful. But I have a follow up question: Is it good or bad if he starts sloughing off small amounts of skin, probably near the wound? First I thought it meant maybe the skin was growing back and fixing itself or something, then I thought it might mean the skin is dying and coming off because the infection/fungus is spreading, so I don't know. I can't seem to find much information about this online for some reason

tiki · May 10, 2009

Also, do you know if the bad part would fall off or heal over on its own, cause there are no exotic pet vets that I have heard of anywhere near here that could amputate, and I would never attempt anything like that on my own

Jennewt · May 10, 2009

Regarding the skin sloughing, I wouldn't worry as long as it's from around the leg, not all over. It's possible that it will heal on its own, but it's also possible that it will get a systemic infection and that's the end. If the animal is overall healthy (which is questionable, as it's just been through heck getting here from China), then you just need to stave off a systemic infection.

tiki · May 12, 2009

Thanks for all your help! Unfortunately, he died this morning... -sigh- poor guy..

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