Illness/Sickness: Sick sally and newt! URGENT! PLEASE!

[icecoolsupersta]

I have had salamanders for about 3 yrs now; the oldest was 3 yrs with me, another 2yrs with me, and the last two I have had for little more than a year. BUT in just a little more than a week, out of 4 marbled salamanders that I had, 3 have died. 2 died just yesterday. I noticed about 2 weeks ago that the oldest one was walking around the tank more than usual and didn't want to eat but he's sometimes picky so I didn't bother, next feeding day, he was dead. Cause of death unknown. I try feeding the others but the remaining 3 didn't want to eat so then I was a little skeptical but again no signs of bad health so I figured they would eat next time. Next feeding, still no eating and then I realized 2/3 were acting strange, not walking right, sticky instead of slimy and one was even losing its skin on its underside. I quarantined them immediately and overnight one died and during the day the other. I have one sally still left but I'm afraid he may be infected with whatever killed the rest. I have read some about saline baths and refrigeration but i don't know how long to refrigerate or if thats my best option. PLEASE HELP!
I have also had a newt that I got back in Nov.2011, chinese fire belly, I have never seen him eat anything. He's really skinny now and all my other fire bellies eat but he won't and I've tried just about every food variety i could even though the other eat. I'm near giving up but I don't want to. ADVICE!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Could you post a picture of the remaining sick newts? Also could you describe their housing and what you actually feed them. Has anything changed , such as food source or environment?

 

[x Lindsay x]

So sorry to hear that. I have just got 3 marbled sallies and I worry to death over them and I can imagine how frustrated and worried you must be feeling.

I have heard the refrigeration method can work for sick amphibs.

Caudata Culture Articles - Illness Part 1 this page from caudata has a table of treatments and included is the refrigeration method

Keep us posted let us know how your getting on. Have a good look around the forum and some other forums to find out how long you are meant to put them in the fridge for if you don't get a reply here.

Might be a good idea to test the water and substrate in you're housing them with for pH levels and ammonia etc. if you hsvent already. And also if you havent already you could replace everything in the housing. New substrate and disinfect with amphibian friendly disinfectant to kill and harmful bacteria/pathogens which may be causing it.

 

[Kaysie]

This happened to my Jefferson's salamanders. I had 3. One got sick: emaciated, tacky skin. Then a second, with the same symptoms, plus sloughing, bleeding skin. Both died within about a week of showing symptoms. The third has never shown signs of illness. I suspect it may have been ranavirus.