Limb injury photo

[Mark]

I've been raising some of this year's alpestris in with the adults. This newly morphed newt clearly tried playing with the big boys and lost a limb in the process. I thought he was a goner but it's amazing how resilient newts are. What was a fungus ridden leg has healed up nicely.

Would I be right in thinking that the bone needs to go before any re-growth takes place?

 

[Lasher]

I've seen re growth where the bone isnt removed before(infact there was a similar injury posted on the forums not long ago where the owner didnt clip it).
Although I've never kept alpestris personaly I would remove it just above the skin, I've had a L. Vulgaris die before due to infection in a similar looking wound on the fore-limb, I believe as it was actively using the limb and pressure on the bone was disturbing the 'scar' tissue. You could actualy see the skin covering the wound flexing and the flesh beneath as it rested on it. Since them I've always clipped exposed bone down to just a few mm above the blastema.
Calebs article on CC shows a front limb injury in Alpestris and says it dropped off on its own after about a week - maybe give it a little time and clip it off if it doesnt happen on it own?

 

[Mark]

I'm not sure clipping is even an option. The newt is only 2cm in length so that bone is hardly visible to the naked eye. I don't think I'd tackle such an operation on such a tiny, delicate animal.

Hopefully it'll drop off on it's own accord and I get the opportunity for a nice limb regeneration photo sequence..

 

[Otterwoman]

Same here. I don't have the photo anymore, but I had a firebelly with the bone sticking out exactly almost the same, I didn't touch it, and it healed up so well I don't even know which newt it is anymore.

 

[Yahilles]

I have some experience with limb regeneration in Cynops orientalis, male have lost leg but it grown just like in article on Caudata Culture, without bone sticking out.

 

[Mark]

Quick update: The newt in this thread grew a wonderful new limb. Then I noticed it’s tail had lost it’s tip. And just when that was starting to heal one of the females chewed two more of it’s legs off!

I’ve separated it out but I’m rather suspicious that none of the other juveniles have ever been attacked. The aggression comes from the adult females and I suspect this juvenile is a female too. I wonder if the aggression is targeted in some way.

Here it is, on the mend - again. They really are the hardiest of creatures.

 

[Kaysie]

Poor thing's lopsided.

 

[benw]

Hi Mark

One of my Apuanus young had exactly the same happen earlier this year, maybe not quite so bad, but both limbs on one side, and they grew back really quite well, as you say, they are really quite resillient and tough.

Good luck with him, although i think you dont need it!!!

Ben