Prolapse?

[jim]

I have never seen anything like this before:

I started looking at my other P Waltl, and this is a completely different newt that looks like it is developing the same condition. It will not move from this same position except to go up for air.

I recently switched this tank to sand, and they have all been breeding steadily ever since. They have also been eating lots of eggs I have not had time to harvest. Other than that nothing has changed. Water quality, temps, everything is fine. Please help there are no exotic vets around here and I don't know what to do.

 

[jeff]

More than likely, the only thing you'll be able to do is to carefully push it back into place. This may require the assistance of another person; one to hold the newt still, and the other to push it back in. A Q-tip of comparable size may be your best tool to do this.

(Message edited by tmarmoratus on March 22, 2007)

 

[jennifer]

I have never had this happen, but Paris has recommended a wet Q-tip. It is best to act quickly before infection or necrosis sets in.

 

[jim]

When I got home from work both animals no longer had anything protruding externally. Their cloacas look slightly swollen but no more so than regular breeding condition. In the quarantine tank I put them in, there were several chunks of undigested earthworm and probably 30 or so grains of sand in the bottom of the tank. I have been feeding heavily every day to prevent as much egg consumtion as possible. I am trying to determine what caused this temporary but very frightening issue. The sand, the extra portions of earthworms, or the mass consumtion of eggs. On the bright side, I have at least 150 fertile eggs so far and still counting.

 

[jennifer]

I was wondering if maybe the stuff protruding might be poorly-digested food rather than intestine.