Injured Fire Belly (Cynops Pyrrhogastor) HELP!! QUICK

[megan]

I was traveling to college with my newts at foot (in a 5 gallon tank w/ glass lid) when the driver came to a sudden stop and the lid fell into the tank. I immediately removed the lid and anxiously looked for injuries/fatalities among the two newts but it was too dark. Upon arriving to my dorm room and setting their aquarium up, I discovered that one had a gash on its head. The newt surprisingly seemed to carry on, swimming and crawling in spite. However, I checked on them this morning and the injured one is bleeding. It (and reasonably so) will not eat or move for that matter. I have kept him moist throughout the day by spray bottle. The other newt also has decided to fast and remain very close to the inhured one. They have been in the same position nearly all day. Is there anything that I can do to ward off infection/ advance the healing process? What about neosporin to water proof the wound? would this do more harm than good? Gaius needs help!

 

[vicky]

Check this out: http://www.caudata.org/caudatecentral/articles/sores.html

The newt that I had had an infected wound, and I tried to treat him with a dirt tank quarantine. Therefore, I know you can safely use neosporin, and also hydrogen peroxide once a day as well. The neosporin is a pain to get on-- but make sure you're gentle because that's got to hurt. My newt didn't love the hydrogen peroxide too much, but it really cleaned up the wound. Just make sure after you dab on a small amount of hydrogen peroxide that you rinse with water.

You might want to seperate them for the time being as well, to make sure if an infection has already started that it doesn't spread. Also, when you transport them from place to place it would probably be better to keep them in a small container in your lap, so that you can keep a good grip on them. I don't know what type of newts you have, but if they're not fully aquatic you might want to get a reptile tank with one of those hoods that slides into a built in groove. That way your newt will never be hurt by a lid falling in, at least.

Hope this helps.