Fuzzy white tail tip

[jerry]

Last week, one of my newts died (I have 6 in a 30-gallon tank). By the time I noticed, the corpse was covered with white fungus.

Now one of the other newts (a Notophthalmus) has a fuzzy white "blob" on the tip of its tail. I have removed this newt from the tank and put it in a Tupperware container on a bed of damp paper towels and Java moss. My idea is that the fungus will die out of the water.

Is this approach reasonable? If it doesn't work, is there a topical treatment I could apply to the newt's tail? The infection is small. Of course, I could cut off the tip of the newt's tail, but I don't want to do that! Thanks!

 

[chris]

I had the smae thing happen to my first newt and it died as well. I saved him, or I was hoping too, form the lfs that had the newts in a tank with crayfish!! The newt i tried to save had half a tail and a missing paw!! but after a week that same white fungus appeared and he died.

Not much help to your question. But I think the meds will work better if you medicate the water and have him sitting in the water. I would never be ableto cut it off either!

 

[jennifer]

If you are going to keep him out of the water, I've heard that you can dab the wound with a Qtip with hydrogen peroxide. Never did this myself, though.

 

[samuel]

The fungi won't die out of water cuz it would get it's moisture (and nutrients) from the newts. I think the peroxide method should work (but i've not tried it myself too). Hope this helps.

 

[jerry]

Well, for the record, I had the newt out of the water and the fungus disappeared within 24 hours with no medication. Of course, it might have cleared up even if I'd kept the newt in the water. It was a very mild infection (the affected area was probably less than 1 millimeter). Anyway, anyone with a similar problem might try the terrestrial treatment for a day or so before doing anything more radical. Can't hurt!

 

[samuel]

That's new. Wow, u do learn something new everyday.