Fire belly newt white growth

[Lschou1]

Hi, we are new newt owners. My daughter has a young fire belly newt which has developed a cottony white growth on one of its legs. The leg is now gone! Before it spreads, we were reading on this site about removing the newt and giving him a salt bath. Can someone give us more specific instructions on how to do this. Specifically, how much salt to water ratio? we can't find that answer......

thank you.

 

[Azhael]

Caudata Culture Articles - Salt Solutions in Treating Salamanders

Treating with salt baths alone is not very likely to succeed. The newt has developed that infection because its inmune system is gone...This is a consequence of the terrible conditions it has endured during importation and at the shop. It is key to provide as optimal conditions as possible so that the animal can de-stress and its inmune system gets a chance to combat the infection. You'll need perfect water conditions for this, cold temps and an environment free from vibrations, strong lights, etc.
You may also want to consider Neosporin (the ******l kind without painkillers!).
Good luck, even if the chances of the poor animal are not at all good :S

 

[Chinadog]

Here's how I treated skin sores with neosporin and salt baths.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...lp/94263-c-pyrrhogaster-illness-sickness.html

It might not be as successful with a stressed wild caught newt, but it's worth a try.

 

[Lschou1]

Thank you for your quick reply. We did originally purchase 2 newts from a pet store that seemed to be knowledgeable...but had my suspicions about the quality and care of their animals once I brought the 2 newts home. One of them seemed sick from the beginning and died within a couple of days. The other that we still have was pretty strong and active and eating well...but then within a couple weeks developed that white spot.

I will try the Neosporin on its limb. How do I do this? Should I remove him from his tank and keep him in a smaller moist container until his sore heals? Do I just apply a small amount with a q-tip?

if we decide to try the salt bath how much salt to water? Do I just moisten the temporary environment? Or does he have to be mostly immersed?

I know his outlook isn't good but thought we should give it a shot....

 

[Chinadog]

I would move him to a small tank or tub with a damp paper towel substrate and a small hide. Change the towels daily and offer tempting food like chopped nightcrawlers or live blackworms. In this kind of terrestrial environment his skin should be drier so the neosporin will be easier to apply.

I used this tutorial for the salt baths.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...axolotl/72698-salt-bath-picture-tutorial.html