When all's said and done, which it is now by the sound of it, it doesn't matter how it started. A scrape from being bitten would have healed in a week or so in a healthy animal. Imported newts are usually so stressed from capture and shipping that their immune systems have all but stopped working. This means a small scratch that would normally be shrugged of is a death sentence once it becomes infected.
These wild caught Asian newts seem cute and tempting in the petstore, but they are so delicate and stressed at that stage that many of them are as good as dead, even with expert care.
I'm not saying firebellies don't make good pets, they make great pets, but only if you start with healthy animals. Captive bred ones are often available on here, but you might have to be patient and place a wanted add in the trade section.
