Help! Amateur newt owner has sick C. Orientalis!

[LaurelJ]

Preface: I decided to get a newt after encountering a Jefferson's Salamander who like to show up in our camp pool every morning during the summer. I've owned several aquariums, freshwater and briny, and I do my research, so I figured I could handle an amphibian. After chomping at the proverbial bit for a month (waiting for the dang tank to cycle) I finally bought a firebelly. And there began the problems.

The Reality: The only food I found were newt pellets, which he no likey, and frozen bloodworm, which I would wiggle in front of the newt, waiting for him to yawn so I could drop one in. He only ate the worm if he couldn't wipe it from his face, so I did feed him before a week was out. I discovered that the only live, wiggling food available were nightcrawlers—way too big for the little guy, and he won't touch it if it isn't alive—and crickets. I made do with the crickets, and I'm only 70% sure that he ate the two I left for him and that they didn't escape. Then the substrate I had been using began to cloud the water. All my plants died, and the newt had nowhere to hide. I bought some more java fern and planted it, so he seemed more content and became less land-bound.

Now I'm panicking because his front toes are rotting away and I live in rural Missouri; the "exotic pet vet" on whom I had been counting deals with anything but amphibians, but he could do euthanasia. Only the toes are rotting, I don't want to put him to sleep, I'm a poor college student who can't afford for her newt to get really sick. I know, I know, the naivité is probably killing some of you pros, but we all gotta start somewhere. Right now I have him in a dirt quarantine in the refrigerator, I'm going change the water in the tank, and I don't trust the local pet store anymore (when I returned and asked for tank decor they told me I could keep my newt like I would a fish, no rocks or hideouts needed). I'm wondering if I should just take the poor guy to a vet and hand them the information I found in another forum on how to amputate, or give him a salt bath, or Bactine, or a combination of all the above…

I'm mentally tearing my hair out. I need some advice.

 

[Ed]

Hi Laurel,

Many people do indeed have this species staying totally aquatic and do not use the haul outs.

Seeing this sort of problem is not uncommon in recently imported C. orientalis due to damage and trauma in shipping.
Earthworms are a fine food if you are willing to chop them fine enough and offer them to the newt.

The first major question I have is what is the temperature at which you are keeping the newt?

(also have you checked out http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Cynops/C_orientalis.shtml ?)
\
Ed

 

[Jennewt]

I commend you for doing so many things RIGHT, in comparison to most first-time newt owners. Bravo!

For info on using the earthworms, see:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/worms2.shtml

Unfortunately, treatment for limb rot is hit-or-miss. Some animals recover, but it's hard to say what the best approach is. Putting the animal on soil and cold is a good move. I have heard of success using baths in broad-spectrum antibiotics sold for fish. Ed will hit me for suggesting this, but they can be used on newts at a higher concentration than recommended.

If you're still keeping the animal in the fridge, keep in mind that any bath solution should be the same (fridge) temp, so you don't add to the stress by rapid changes in temp.

 

[Ed]

I won't hit it you for it.. I promise..

The problem with that the cause may not be bacterial in nature... and as I usually state using the medications its hard to know what is a theraputic dose..

Ed

 

[LaurelJ]

The tank temp gets to about 70 degrees during the day, which I know is a little warm, but I'm not sure of the best way to cool it. If I put ice cubes in, should I take the water from the tank and then freeze it, or if I only add a cube at a time is tap water okay?

As far as treatments go, I've given my newt a salt-water bath (appropriately chilled, thanks for warning me!), and am still waiting to see if it has done any good. He hasn't lost any more of his front limbs, but the rot itself is still there. His left eye has become cloudy, which worries me even more.

I think he just doesn't like dead food. At least the crickets have been eating the newt pellets, but if those drown before he gets to them he won't eat those, either. I guess I'm wondering how to make nonliving food attractive to an animal who really isn't interested. Maybe he just doesn't like the forceps, but if I just drop food into his tank he won't eat it. Picky little bugger.

 

[MRIGUY]

My cynops were a it like yours in ths fact that they seemd to dislike non-living foods. In time, the small peices of chopped earthworm were just too much to pass up and they went for it. They are now at the point where I can put the chopped worm in the palm of my hand and they will climb in my hand and eat it. They are not overly intelligent but they are definately driven by their guts. Keep offering the chopped worm and it is only a matter of time till they take it. Keep in mind that the fridge temp will likely slow their metabolism so they will need/want food less frequently.

Keep us posted

 

[Ed]

You can spear or stick small food items onto a thin object like a long thin straw. Until the newt begins acclimate it can take awhile to start feeding from forceps. Or you can use very long forceps (I use 8 inch forceps for feeding caudates).

Ed