Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a new pump for my aquarium and I underestimated how strong it was. While I was asleep last night, it sucked up my fire bellied newt and he was trapped in the tube, with his tail caught in the fan. I rescued him from it this morning, but there's something wrong. His hind legs and tail seem to be limp. Not to mention, part of his tail has turned white.

What do I do? He's still alive, but I think he might be paralyzed...

I just checked on him. He seems to be doing a little better. He can move his hind legs and is chilling on top of his rock at the moment. His tail is a bit crooked and half white still, though.

If he's not already isolated from other newts/animals, then do that now. Keep him in shallow water (just above his head) w/ easy access to land/floating things. Especially if you fear he is partly paralyzed, make sure he can get out of the water easily. Get some Tetracycline tablets from the fish section of the pet store & apply them to the water as directed on the package. Clean any obvious injuries daily with hydrogen peroxide. Apply neosporin (WITHOUT Lidocaine [pain reliever] as it is piosonous to newts) to the obvious injurured area daily. Keep the water very clean (I isolate in a small 2.5 or 5 gallon tank, where I can do a complete water change every few days). Feed daily & remove old food daily.
Best of luck to you! I know how worried I get about my little guys, so my heart goes out to you.
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1.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.5 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena