Fire salamander with worms

[michael]

I have an adult male Salamandra salamandra that is getting skinny. When I quarantined him worms showed up in his fresh water. They look like nematodes. I think I'll treat him with panacur. I'm thinking of dusting it on his back. What do you think?

 

[edward]

Hi Mike,
WIth Panacure you will have a much better success using it as an oral suspension.
Before you treat him, are you feeding him earthworms? If so, the worms have a high nematode population that can cause false positives as to the type and severity of the infection.
Also at least in herbivorous herps (which removes caudata here but still may be of value), some nematodes are commensuals and help with the digestion of fiberous food items.
I have seen weight loss in Salamandra kept on acidic substrates (personal observations)as the stress apparently prevented them from feeding as well as they normally would.
Ed

 

[michael]

Hi Ed,
He is getting earthworms and crickets. I'd like to take him to a good amphibian vet but their are none close by. Maybe I'll just isolate him and baby him for awhile.

 

[edward]

Hi Mike,
Try offering a different food item than the earthworms for about two weeks and collect a fecal on paper towels and check the nematode level (if you still have your microscope). If there is still a heavy nematode load then I would discuss treatment with a vet...
Waxworms or even (gasp) pinks can be used as an occasional item to put on weight. I would recommend dusting the pink to help deal with the vitamin A ratio.
isolation and a little babying never hurts
Hope it does better soon,
Ed