Illness/Sickness: Tiger Salamander has open sore

[mytimemic]

My Tiger Salamander has an open sore in her front armpit. It doesn't look infected. It is just a red open sore. I am careful that live crickets are never left in the tank with her so that she doesn't get bitten.

I suspect the issue may be her coconut bedding? I try to keep it moist but am wondering if she got some under her arm & it has rubbed a sore. I can't figure out how else she could have gotten it. Has anyone else had this happen? I have also seen comments about neosporin. Is it really safe to use?

 

[Jennewt]

Neosporin is safe, but only if it's the kind that does NOT contain pain-killer. I would recommend you keep the tiger on paper towel substrate, rather than bedding, until she has healed.

I don't know why this would happen. I have a similar mystery. I have had two different tiger sals develop eye infections/problems within the past year. I can't figure why two different animals would get approximately the same problem, unless there is something in their diet or environment that would cause it.

 

[Jan]

I would highly doubt that the coco-fiber substrate in and of itself is the cause of the sore. If you could describe your set-up, temperatures, how often substrate is changed, and what you are feeding, etc. - there might be some additional considerations.

As Jennewt suggests, place the animal in a 'hospital tank' using moistened paper towels as a substrate. Keep the towels moist but not wet and change every other day or when soiled. Give the animal some cave-like hides or use moistened crumpled paper towels as hides. Keep it in a cool, dark area...and keep it well ventilated.

Place a thin layer of Neosporin without any pain killer on the sore using a Q-tip, once or twice a day for a couple of weeks. If the sore looks 'gunky' for lack of a better word, use a Q-tip moistened with water to clean the area then gently dry before applying the Neo. If it progresses, seek the advice of a herp vet.

I have used coco-fiber for about 15 years with my tigers and have not experienced any skin issues. Coco-fiber does adhere to the skin but seems innocuous.

 

[Jan]

I have a similar mystery. I have had two different tiger sals develop eye infections/problems within the past year. I can't figure why two different animals would get approximately the same problem, unless there is something in their diet or environment that would cause it.

Environmental conditions and diet are logical first thoughts. Another consideration is the following that I had happen a few years ago with one of my tigers. An eye became swollen and for lack of a better word 'gunky'. We went to an exotic vet and the diagnosis was conjunctivitis...apparently secondary to a piece of substrate which had been introduced into the eye or a nip from a tank mate, in that there was also an ocular abrasion. After thinking about it long and hard, I suspect it was a piece of substrate introduced into the eye by his tankmate - the tankmate was very active and always crawling over this guy's head. I separated them and never had it happen again.

This situation was readily treated and resolved with twice a day flushing with sterile amphibian ringer's solution and twice daily application of sterile ophthalmic Neosporin for two weeks.

 

[mytimemic]

It is a round open sore that as of last night didn't look gunky or inflamed. Maybe a little smaller than the diameter of a pencil eraser. It looks more like a wound rather than a rubbed/skinned place. It definately does not look like an absess either. She doesn't act any differently & it certainly hasn't affected her appetite.

As for her environment - it is time to change out her bedding so it looks like I am remodeling her environment into a "hospital tank" & starting her on neosporin. The coconut is about 3 in deep. She has a "cave" made from 3 smooth rocks, another flat smooth rock & her swimming pool. She has created burrows under each of them. There is one live plant in with her as well. Her environment is a good sized tank with a screen lid so it is well ventilated & she is active. Filtered water is used for her pool & cleaning so she isn't exposed to chlorine from tap water. She will only eat crickets. I haven't found anything else that I can get her to accept.

We don't monitor the temperature in the tank. She is not a store bred/bought salamander. We found her a year ago & Tiger Salamanders are indigenous to South East Idaho. We can have some extreme temperatures here.

Something I remembered after placing my post last night was that we had my daughter "babysit" while we went on a weekend camping trip but that was 6 weeks ago. When we came back the entire dozen crickets I had purchased were gone & I found out that over the 2 days my daughter had been dumping them in rather than only giving her a couple a day. Could she have been bitten & it is taking this long to heal? I think the spot looks fresh.

Sorry this is so long - trying to provide enough info.

 

[mytimemic]

I have changed Rex's tank to a "hospital" setup. The sore is no longer red like it is fresh. It now looks the dark blackish brown color that sores turn before they are starting to develop as scab? Still not goopy like infection. She was not happy about the neosporin application. How can a salamander that has a permanent smiley face look like it is frowning?

She still doesn't give any indication that could be interpreted as not feeling good & still definitely no lack of appetite. She came out to beg when she realized I was in the kitchen.

I hope this isn't something serious/incurable. I will be heartbroken.

 

[Jan]

It sounds as if the ulcer/sore is progressing in the right direction.

Keep a close eye on the spot while the animal is the hospital tank set-up. In that the animal only eats crickets, you may want to think about dusting the prey (every 3rd or 4th feeding) with a high-quality calcium/vitamin supplement directly before offering to the sal.

Regarding not monitoring the temps of the tank, as long as the ambient temperature is in the low
70sF or less and the enclosure is not in direct sunlight, temperature is probably fine. You mentioned that you can have some pretty extreme temperatures in S.E. Idaho. In the wild, tigers moderate extreme temp shifts by seeking their own level. In heat waves, they can be found several feet underground where temps are cooler. In captivity, they do not have that opportunity.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[mytimemic]

Thank you for your input. It is appreciated. We give Rex a vitamin dusted cricket twice a week.

 

[sallie2010]

I want to thank everyone on this forum for experience and know-how. I have a Ambystoma maculatum that had open sores on the ventral cervical and ventral abdomino-pelvis. I combed Caudata for information and this forum helped a lot! I hospitalized it and fed it worms (doesn't care for crickets) and applied the "thin layer of Neosporin without any pain killer on the sores". It took about 3 weeks and the spots healed nicely. The animal is doing nicely...I returned it to the tank and it is thriving nicely. Thanks for all the know-how!