Help I think my newt is sick or hurt

[GuyFromTheNorth]

Help, I'm worried about my newt. We've had a pair of orange bellied california\oregon newts for about 5 years now. One of them has started acting very strangely lately. Right now it is swimming around in the water and has it's back legs almost clutched together like a person interlocking their fingers. It's been doing this for a few days now and I'm worried something is wrong or that maybe it's had a stroke or some kind of brain damage and now it's back legs don't work. Can you provide any insight? I can take pictures if needed.

 

[Jennewt]

If you put it on land, can it walk? You can test this by placing it in a plastic box lined with wet paper towels.

I've seen other reports of newts who seemed to lose the use of their back legs, but I have no idea what might cause this.

 

[MRIGUY]

To test the legs simply pick it up gently and see if it holds on to your hand. All of mine will clutch to a finger or hand when lifted from the water. Not very scientific but in my experience it is reliable and reproduceable. There are ways to test the neuro-respose but I do not believe I am familiar enough with it to be reliable so check with a qualified herp vet. Basically, if you pick the newt up and atempt to place it on it's side it should extend it's leg to protect itself. It is a basic propreception test but it can be very telling about the central nervous system. There are others as well but I'd have to research it before I feel comfortable speaking aout it.

 

[GuyFromTheNorth]

Well I put him on land and his legs seemed to seperate and do alright but he (I say he because I think it's a he, I could be wrong though) climbs right back into the water again and cups his legs. The only times I've ever seen it hook it's legs together like that is what it climbs ontop of the other newt and rides around on its back and hooks it's back leg around the other newts tail. But I've never seen its legs hooked like this when it's alone.

 

[tobias]

How old are the newts?
Maybe he (breeding males develop very smooth skin, a fin-like tail and swollen cloaca) is in breeding condition and it´s a temorarily amplexus-like-behavior - with or without a partner.

Some pics (also from the tank) may be helpful...

 

[GuyFromTheNorth]

How old are the newts?
Maybe he (breeding males develop very smooth skin, a fin-like tail and swollen cloaca) is in breeding condition and it´s a temorarily amplexus-like-behavior - with or without a partner.

Some pics (also from the tank) may be helpful...

I can't honestly say how old they are. We've had them for ~5 yrs now and they were a good size when we bought them.

I just snapped this pic right now:

and of course he's making me a liar and his legs aren't interlocked right now, the first time this hasn't been the case in the last few days I think. Sorry if it isn't that clear I'll grab a better one when he goes back to doing what he was.



EDIT: I went back in to check on them and found this:

I guess maybe he was just shedding or getting ready to and that's why he's been acting weird. That's a relief for sure, thanks again for the replies though guys.

 

[GuyFromTheNorth]

Bad news unfortunately. My new began acting well again as stated, but on and off. Once or twice he went back to "cupping his legs" together and wouldn't move them. Then he shed his skin twice in less than 2 weeks. He was eating but only now and then. He seemed fine, and today I got up and saw him hanging out on his leaf and figured nothing of it. I went back about an hour ago to check on the tank temp and noticed he had not moved and in fact had died. We had him for about 6 years now so it really sucks but I just don't know what happened.

He was bloated when I found him dead, had a pale colour to his skin (I noticed the paleness a few days ago too and thought he was just dehydrated so I wet him down on his island and turned the light off), and green splotches visible on his sides (maybe from dying). Parts of his skin were sluffing off (small peices like shedding), and his mouth was swollen up.

Is this some kind of sickness or did he die naturally from old age maybe and this was just from sitting in a tank all day? I have another newt in there and worry she may get sick next. They ate tubifex freeze dried cubes and always have without issue, the tank is kept clean and filters changed regularely. No chlorinated water is used and temps are moderated properly. We've had them for 6 or so years and I'm sure if we were doing something "wrong" it would have showed up a long time ago. He will be missed.

 

[MRIGUY]

Only a formal necropsy will determine cause of death and that is far beyond the reach of most hobbiests, and vets for that matter. Your set-up does not show any obvious major issues apart from the heater. Newts do not need heaters in their tanks unless there is danger of them getting to the 40's or below. Additionally, if a heater is used you need to enclose it in such a way that the newt cannot grab onto it and get burned.

From the pics he looks like a healthy specimen. His weight is very good, his skin color is appropriate and his eyes are clear. It does not apear that his feet or abdomen have been burned. I'd say whatever happened to him was likely beyond your control. I would play it safe though and increase the size and frequency of water changes for a week or two and keep an eye on the other dude.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Kaysie]

It really sucks to lose a seemingly healthy pet.

T. granulosa is my 'unicorn' species as well. As much as I adore them, they've always given me grief. I hope your other little guy lives a long and happy life.

 

[GuyFromTheNorth]

Thanks for the replies. I took a look in the tank today and think the second one has the same greenish brown splotches showing up on it and it hasn't left it's island all day. Maybe it's some kind of disease, strange since no outside stuff was put in there that wasn't in long ago. Even the tubifex is the same jar I've been feeding them for months now. Hopefully it doesn't progress on the second newt. We'll see though.