Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi i was wondering if any one could give me some info?
I had 2 Fire Sals a few years ago for about 4 years. I went away for a weekend and left them with a friend. When I returned he rang to say they were dying. When I got to them they were both dead. All that remained was there skins, it looked like something had ate there insides. when I went to bury them I noticed thousands of (what looked to be) little white mites. could this have been the cause and if it could were would they have come from? Any ideas on answers would be appreciated? Thanks.

i'm not a vet or anything, but those little white bugs might have been springtails, they usually come into moist tanks with rotting plant or animal matter, sorry for your loss. i also left a frog with somebody and when i came back and it was dead.

When amphibians die, they "dry-up" and nothing but the skin and bone is left.
The mites are just little creatures that live in the soil, and may have been attracted to the decomposing bodies.

Hi Josh,

Do you have any ideas of why they should have died so quickly in two days then when I left them they were fine but when I come back they were as you said totally decomposed.

It could have been anything. Salamanders are very fragile creatures and even stress can kill them.
I am very sorry about your loss.