Illness/Sickness: Red spotted Eastern Newt dying

[Hawaiian0077]

Hello everyone,

I do apologize for not posting in the introduction area first but I will, But I am in dire need of some information. I have been searching the web and this site for a couple days now with little to no luck. I have 3 Red spotted Eastern newts and in the past 2 weeks, one of them has turned black, become blind, has its left foot gone, his back right left leg has a white bump and has curled up. It is skinny and not eating. Since we have seen the beginning of this develope, we have tested the waters (all normal) and added maracyn to the water cause thats what the pet store suggested, which they also suggested that it will be fine not being quaranteened (Which i think was a big mistake). Now one of my healthier newts is getting the black skin on its tail. We feed them black worms. Anyone, please, any information and advice would be greatly appreciated and I will get pics up as soon as I can.

Thank you all in advance

 

[kwksand]

I've not heard of this combination of ailments before, but it sounds like a systemic infection, so I recommend you contact a vet (either in person or on this forum) to get a better idea of what is going on. Limb rot and some of the other ailments you described can be associated with excessively high temperatures, either in the tank or during shipment. It is unlikely that these animals experience anything over 74 degrees F in the wild, and they become stressed near this limit.

I would immediately quarantine each of your newts. Keep the temperature cool and well aerated and monitor water quality. As an alternative, I've saved eastern newts (which had different signs of illness) by keeping them in a cool terrestrial setup until they fully recovered.

There are other treatment options described here. Keep us posted.

 

[oregon newt]

Well, first I would put in some fresh activated carbon and do water change to remove the maracyn, which may have done more harm than good in terms of your cycle and harming the newt's delicate skin. Definitely quarantine the sick ones. I found that other people have had this pproblem too. Look at this article at Caudata Culture http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/illness2.shtml and scroll down to " Treatment accounts From The Forum". If you could, go to the vet to get a proper diagnosis. Red spotted newts that are sold at the pet store are usually wild caught. These wild caught animals usually come with loads of diseases due to the stress of being removed from the wild and the poor conditions that they face after they have been taken. So, NEVER BUY FORM THE PET STORE! At the "For Sale Section" here, there are tons of captive breeders.

 

[Hawaiian0077]

Will,

Do you know of any vets? I live in Maryland too!

KWKsand, what temperature is good? i think my tank is warm. What do I do to get the temerature down?

 

[Jennewt]

There are many things you can do to get the temperature down. If you have an electrically-driven filter, turning it off is one of the best. See:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cooling.shtml
Your questions are coming straight out of the FAQ page, so while you are there, read the FAQs.

As Will pointed out, the real problem here is that you bought pet shop newts. They are often in such bad shape by the time they are sold that they don't have much of a chance. Red spotted newts are particularly delicate. The combination of symptoms you describe sound like pet shop syndrome to me.

 

[kwksand]

I'd shoot for 68 degrees for the tank, but right now they should be kept cooler to slow the apparent infection. A vet may tell you to stick them in the fridge for a couple weeks.

 

[oregon newt]

I don't know personally of any vets, but you could try the ones here http://matts-turtles.org/local_vets.html. You could also try these vets:

Fallston Veterinary Clinic
2615 Belair Rd
Fallston, Maryland 21047
United States
410-877-1727

and


Four County Animal Hospital
26528 A Ridge Rd.
Damascus, Maryland 20872
United States
301-253-6144

Where in Maryland are you? I'm in Bowie.

 

[kwksand]

Hawaiian0077, any update for us?

 

[Hawaiian0077]

Nothing yet, he is still the same. Should I put him in the fridge? If so, how do I do it? I have been looking on here and on culture but no explanation on what to put him in, any water, or food. any ideas?

Im by UMBC Will.


Oh and i have had these since February of last year and only now this has started. But the tank was really warm. Warmer than 74 degrees. So I have been trying to cool it down.