What antibiotics/conditioners can I use for my newts?

[steve]

Hi. I have 3 Japanese Firebelly newts that I just rescued from Petco. Two of them are missing front feet and one of these two is a bit lethargic but otherwise seems healthy (no spots, discoloration etc.). I have the healthiest one separated from the other two for now until I see improvements.

My question is pertaining to "speeding up" the healing process. Are there any good medications or procedures/diets available that will prove helpful? I have heard that copper and/or salt can prove remedial. Also, is frozen brine a good food source for these little guys? My African Dwarf frogs LOVE the brine shrimp but all I seem to read about is crickets and bloodworms.

 

[francesco]

I would avoid the salt business,it's very stressfull for the newts.Try adding methylene blue to the water

 

[john]

Firstly, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". If it's eating and hasn't got any fungus, adding anything to the water is a waste of time.

For external fungus or fungus-like bacteria you can't beat salt at low concentrations in my opinion. It's far less "toxic" than methylene blue and arguably a lot more effective against fungi. So I disagree with Francesco.

 

[francesco]

I didn't know it had fungi.In that case I've always solved the problem with "sera mycowert",an antimycotic.I didn't think methylene blue was so toxic having used it lots of times with my fish.

Anyway this is only my opinion and you're free to disagree.

 

[john]

He didn't say he it has anything. Fish are not amphibians and newts are not fish. For example, doses of malachite green recommended for fish are frequently fatal to amphibians.

 

[steve]

Thanks guys. I would also like to add that these newts will not be mixed with fish or any other species and (as of yet) show no sign of infection. The store in which I bought them was actually Petsmart. The newts were new arrivals and were unfortunately housed with the Firebelly toads so I don't think the injuries are very old.

Having read most of the Caudata material regarding newt infections and disease, I am basically looking for tried and true recommendations for speeding up the healing process of the damaged limbs while avoiding infection. Neither of the injured newts are showing much interest in eating so my hopes aren't too high but I'd rather not write them off just yet. One of them is also starting to shed it's skin. Would lowering the water temperature possibly assist in the healing process? The temp is curently between 72F & 76F which is a bit higher than recommended for this breed. I am also researching a small chiller (MicroChiller or Ice Probe) if anyone has any ideas in this area.

(Message edited by caffeinekid on May 24, 2003)

 

[francesco]

Yes you're right but amphibians (especially their larvae or tadpoles) are philogeneticaly the closest class to fish.For example,I succeded by using mycowert on some gigliolii larvae against fungi.

 

[john]

The fact is they are a completely different class of animals. You can't assume something will be fine for amphibians just because it's fine for fish. You could well be right about any fish medication, but you'll be playing russian roulette in some cases.

The makers of Myxazin (which basically is methylene blue) told me that they wouldn't advise full fish dosage levels for aquatic amphibians and recommended I try a cautious half-dosage.

 

[francesco]

Do you mean neotenic by saying aquatic?I've tryed m blue at much higher dosage levels than the ones recommended for fish with my carnifex and not even one died.

Chris Mattison on the book "keeping and breeding amphibians" says "methylene blue and malachite green can....be used at the reccomended rate for larvae and twice the recommended rate for adults of aquatic species"

Anyway I'm not saying ALL of them will be fine but MOST.

 

[aaron]

Steve, the first thing I would do is lower that water temp. Try to get it under 70 F. Easy ways to cool the tank would include moving it downstairs, of even setting it on the basement floor. Keep an eye on them and try different foods until you find out what they like. They are incredible healers and should make a full recovery. Once they are in good health, I don't see a problem with 72-76 degrees, but try not to keep them that warm all of the time.

Let us know if any fungus or anything else develops.

~Aaron