Small Black spots (parasites?) - Has anyone used PraziPro?

A

alexandra

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I am very sorry to report that my T.gran Izzie past away a couple of months ago. He had a bacterial and parasitic infection and was on antibiotics for ten days. After ten days of medicating he seemed to be doing better for a couple of days but then started to get bloated again. The vet suggested to give him several more days of antibiotics and I think it was too much for his body. I was heartbroken and stopped posting for a while. I still had one T.gran which I got as a companion for Izzie. Now she was by herself in a big tank so I ended up getting two more T.grans.
I just got back from a two week vacation during which time a friend of mine took care of the tank. When I returned I saw that one of my newts had several black spots along his dorsal side and now they are starting to appear on his extremities. My local aquarium store suggested PraziPro for treatment. They suggested that the spots are caused by a parasite. Does anyone have experience with this medication? Any input is very much appreciated.
 
Thanks for your quick reply. Here are a couple of pictures.
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(Message edited by jennewt on January 07, 2006)
 
I just fed him life black worms and he is eating. I set up a small 5 gallon quarantine tank with a small filter, with 1/4 of water from the old tank and 3/4 fresh spring water. I just noticed that one of the other newts has a little dot on the dorsal side. I am not sure if this might be the same problem that is developing. I am not sure whether to move the two newts to the small tank or medicated the large tank? I have read all sorts of problems with medicating water and would like to avoid contaminating the large tank. Any thoughts?
 
I just transferred Peter to a quarantine tank and took one more picture which shows some spots on his ventral side. He also seems to have a lumpy area right around his 'chin' area.
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I should first say that I'm no medical expert, and I've never kept Taricha. However, the issue of "black spots on Taricha" has come up on this forum several times. In at least some of those cases, it has turned out to be nothing, just a discoloration before shedding. You could try searching the forum archives.

Regarding the lump on the throat, does it look like a distinct nodule, or just a larger area? Has it been there a while? Does the newt eat normally?

Also, what are the active ingredient(s) in that medication? If it's not listed, you may be able to find by googling. I wouldn't necessarily trust a pet shop recommendation for medicating an amphib.

(Message edited by jennewt on January 07, 2006)
 
The active ingredients are oxybispropanol and 5% praziquantel.
I just read through the archive in the help section and did find a couple of posts on dark spots on T. grans. In these cases it was suggested that the spots often turn out to be a discoloration before shedding. I also read about the mud quarantine, which seems to be a much gentler way to treat infections. I will wait for the next shed and if that does not clear up the spots I will set up a mud quarantine before using any medication.
 
The mud quarintine sounds like a good idea, I always only use " medicine" in a last atempt. To me, ( I also keep t. grans) it is skin coloration, 1 of mine actualy has spots and it is just his colorations.. I think that it is nothing but to be on the safe side, keep a good eye on him..

~John
 
From the pictures I see nothing that jumps out as a parasite. Often we see changes in behavior or patterns and identify them as disease. Sometimes it is. I'd try to get an accurate diagnosis. Praziquantel is used as a treatment for parasites in amphibians. In "Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry" they recommend it as a bath, orally, or by injection. They also warn it can be toxic with to much exposure. Praziquantel does not work well against encysted parasites. If the black dots are parasites we might guess they are encysted. Of course if their are encysted parasites they had to get their somehow and their are probably worms in the digestive tract.

I'd take a wait and see approach. If I still suspected parasites I'd get a fecal sample to identify what parasite it is and devise a plan of attack. I'd eliminate snails from the set up. Snails can be intermediate hosts of some parasites. I'd try to err on the conservative side of dose and treatment of animals. Sometimes the parasite is eliminated just before the host is killed.
I hope this is some help to you. I really don't have enough information to say one way or another if the animal is infested. My first guess is that it isn't. Guesses can be helpfull but they are not diagnoses.
 
Thank you for everyone's helpful comments and suggestions.
I will keep a close watch on Peter and wait for now. I will send an update if there are any changes.
 
I am very glad and relieved to report that Peter shed this morning and the black spots seem to have disappeared with the shed. Thanks again for everyone's comments and suggestions. I am glad I waited it out.
 
Glad to hear it Alexandra. There's nothing worse than seeing a pet apparently suffering and not knowing why or what to do.
 
yeah my lil taricha is in the same spot. he's fat and healthy but it also appears as if the spots are spreading and have been there about a week. i hope he looses them during his next shed as well.
 
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