Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Three days ago, I purchased a Fire-Bellied newt. It wasn't until I got him home that I saw he only had three legs, and that his injury was recent enough that his stump was still bleeding slightly. I have since put him in a one gallon tank with a small heat lamp, and the typical half land half water setup. However, he is (perhaps understandably) refusing to eat, to move, or to go into the water. I have tried feeding him bloodworms, thawed brine shrimp (since I thought he might not be able to catch live ones), and those little pellets they sell at pet stores, but even when I put them on his nose he just brushes them off and resumes his semi-comatose position. I have yet to see him open his mouth. I've also been sprinkling him with warm water, because otherwise he just sits, motionless, until he starts looking dry and crispy. I'm really worried about him, and was hoping that *anyone* would have a suggestion on what I could to to help him out (other than, "Return him and sue the store," which is what my roomie is pushing).

All I can give you is my own experience. I had a newt w/ an injured leg, which eventually fell off & grew back. I kept her in her own, fully aquatic tank, w/ one place to get out of the water (no dirt, so none got in the wound). I used Tetracycline tabs from the fish section of the pet store in the water. I kept the wound clean by very gently applying hydrogen peroxide w/ a Q-tip. This obviously hurt her, so I blew on it as soon as I applied it, which seemed to settle her down quicker. A slime ball formed around the wound, then the whole section of leg from the wound on down fell off, I applied neosporin to the wound a few times (Careful not to use the kind w/ pain reliever in it, Lidocaine can be deadly to newts). She didn't eat much during this time. Everything from initial wound to fully regrown leg took less than a month.
Best of luck to you & your new baby!
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1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

Thank you! I ran out today to get some hydrogen peroxide, but hadn't thought of using Neosporin. But, he's hung on this long, so hopefully he'll take to the meds!

Whoa, stop immediately with the warm water and heat lamp! These animals are stressed by heat, and will heal better in the coolest conditions you can provide. I agree with the treatment advice from buffysmom. Read thoroughly:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/faq/faq.shtml

>>Three days ago, I purchased a Fire-Bellied newt. It wasn't until I got him home that I saw he only had three legs, and that his injury was recent enough that his stump was still bleeding slightly. I have since put him in a one gallon tank with a small heat lamp, and the typical half land half water setup. However, he is (perhaps understandably) refusing to eat, to move, or to go into the water. I have tried feeding him bloodworms, thawed brine shrimp (since I thought he might not be able to catch live ones), and those little pellets they sell at pet stores, but even when I put them on his nose he just brushes them off and resumes his semi-comatose position. I have yet to see him open his mouth. I've also been sprinkling him with warm water, because otherwise he just sits, motionless, until he starts looking dry and crispy. I'm really worried about him, and was hoping that *anyone* would have a suggestion on what I could to to help him out (other than, "Return him and sue the store," which is what my roomie is pushing).

Eep! Really? I'll take it out right away. Thanks!