Hurt salamander

[Gabrielis]

Just as I was walking home, I found a salamander near my dorway. When I took a closer look at it, i found that one of her rear legs looked as if it had been crunched, and so did her tail. Probably someone stepped on her,

Since I had an empty aquarium, I decided to try and rescue her. From the looks, I believe it is a fire salamander, so I went to my garden, and picked some leaves to cover the bottom of the aquarium, since I read it was an appropriate substrate for this specie. Then, I went outside and picked the salamander, and placed her in the aqua. I moistered the whole place, as the skin of the salamander seemed dry.

What else should I do? I just whent to check on her, and she has burrowed herself in the leaves.

Should I try to feed her? Is there any thing I can do to help with the healing?

I'll post pictures as soon as I find my camera.

 

[FRANCOIS]

Try to offer her an nice earthworm... she is probably hungry.

 

[Gabrielis]

Should I just throw the worm in the terrarium, or should I put it in a plate?

 

[FRANCOIS]

Place it in front of her mouth, if she is hungry she will go for it... if not just leave it in the tank.

 

[Kaysie]

As for the wound, keep an eye on it. Salamanders are masters of healing, and I've seen some recover from serious injuries to the point where you would have never known they were ill.

 

[Linus]

dechlorinate the water you're giving her =x

 

[Gabrielis]

Thanks for the help, I hope she'll be able to recover. As for the whater, I get mine from a well, so I don't have clorine problems.

 

[FRANCOIS]

Did she eat? Can you post some pics?

 

[Gabrielis]

Yesterday I only found a slug, and since I read in the care sheet that it would be ok for them to eat them, i placed it in the aqua, but she didn't seemeed to interested in eating it, and the slug proceded to run away ( I've never seen a slug moving so fast) from the salamander. Later that night I found the salamander in another place, and it was in the direction in wich the slug had fleed, so she might just have been shy. On the other hand, while looking for worms I foud another salamander, hiding beneath a flower pot.

So today i went back to the garden, and found two medium worms. I placed them near the sal. mouth, but she didn't react. Maybe she isn't hungy?

I don't know where my camera is, so I'll only be able to post photos later...

 

[Azhael]

Poor little thing...you did the right thing in rescuing it.
There is one little problem...technically the animal is illegal to posses, wether it is only being held for recovery or not, is not really relevant to the law. I would suggest taking the animal to a recuperation center or any other pertinent organization. That way you won´t be trespassing the law and they´ll be able to give it a better chance of recovery.

 

[Gabrielis]

The law question does bother me, specially, since i don't really have experience, and so I can't say "I'll be doing a better job than the people at the recovery center", I do know a biologist who lives nearby and works for the government. I'll try to get in touch with her and see what advice she has to offer.

Thanks for the allert, anyway.

About the progress regarding the threatment, all I can say is that she isn't as shy as she was when i first caught her, but that's probably because she's gotten used to the new environment.

 

[Gabrielis]

She's died. I've been checking on her, and erlier I said she was less shy, but that was because instead of being burrowed, she was facing the front glass of the aquarium, whith her head risen. I foud it weird that she would stay still for such a long time , but I didn't want to disturb her, so I did't do anything.

A while ago I finaly found a camera, and took a picture of her. There was a leave on top of her whound, so I carefully removed it. She did't respond. Before, when I fed her, she reacted to my proximity, and I could clearly see her breathing, but at that time, she didn't react at all.

Her stomach is not centered with her spine, and it is all to the oposite side of the stepped leg, so, she probably suffered internal injuries when she was stepped on, I can't post photos right now, since the camera isn't mine, and I don't have the right cable, but I will tomorrow.

I'm really sorry she died, but at least I did what I could.

 

[Kaysie]

You did a good job. I'm sorry it turned out poorly.

 

[FRANCOIS]

You did a good job. I'm sorry it turned out poorly.

Absolutely.
Look at the bright side, next time you will be more prepared. Also, consider yourself very lucky to live in what seems to be a rich habitat for Salamandra : if they are in your yard, enjoy them as much as you can, take pictures and make it an even better habitat for them.... leave some logs on the ground etc so they have some safe nice hiding places.