Worried about fire-bellies

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31 Mar 2008 02:25

Do you know what I can do about it ? Is there a thing you can buy in the pet shop in the fish section, or would you have to go to a vet to get it ? I was reading a thing on the internet that said to ask advice before treating a problem with amphibians with fishtank stuff, because some are ok to use and will solve the problem, but some will poison the beasties. Like in an axolotl tank, it's safe to use methylene blue, but malachite green will most likely kill them. What do you think, could I buy an anti-fungal treatment in a pet shop ?

29 Mar 2008 22:31

glad thats sorted it may have been a imple stress issue or something similar, but yes i'd sort that fungal out quick they can sweep through amphibians very quickly

29 Mar 2008 13:30

Last night, Floaty newt turned into Partially-floaty newt, because his back end was low in the water but his head wasn't, so he was almost vertical but still floating, and this morning he has become another Sinky newt, and they both more or less dwell on the bottom now. They swim up sometimes but seem to have trouble getting to the top so I lowered the water level and am gonna see how that works for them. So I think for now the floating problem is solved, but the crystal/fungus/whatever is still on Original Sinky Newt's tail. I need to go to the pet shop for some more mice anyway so I'll see what they have, but I'm dubious now because the pet shop don't seem to have a clue and I don't want to ask them to recommend something that might end up being the wrong thing and killing them !
That pet shop is normally a good one as well, I've asked for loads of advice on animals before, bought loads of animals and equipment from them, but this man works on the fish section ! You'd think he would know his creatures. I don't expect that from the 16-year-old Saturday workers they've got, but I do from someone with his age and (you would expect) experience. I know they have an expert there who I could ask, but he rambles on for about 4 hours when all you need is a simple answer to a simple question. He helped us loads with the axolotls.

28 Mar 2008 23:56

not to sure what to suggest, the newt could have a gas build up thats not viewable as it doesn't take much to affect bouyancy. either way if the shop told you a newt had a swim bladder the want shutting down. You can get anti fungal treatment but i'm not sure if you can get it on the market for amphibians. Anyway its late i'lll do a bit more investigating tomorrow

28 Mar 2008 21:17

And like you guessed I am reluctant to take them back, firstly because they're my pets and I love them already, and also because I think if I do, the pet shop will just refund me, take the animals back (that's if they will), and sell them to somebody else who'll have the same problem.

28 Mar 2008 21:15

Thanks for answering, somebody told me that, and the fish shop told me it could be a swim bladder problem ! Seems they don't know what they're talking about ! Someone on another website mentioned the gas bubble illness thing, but he doesn't appear to have any bubbles or lumps on his skin, it's as smooth as a newt's skin is ever gonna get I suppose. I don't know if they could've eaten any plant because they didn't have one in the shop, and this tank doesn't have one either.
I think it probably is a fungal thing on the other's tail. I thought about taking both to the vet and seeing what they say, but the vets round here don't even know what degus are or how to treat a snake, so I'm doubtful they'll know anything about amphibians. I might have to try it though if we can't figure it out.
I was thinking they weren't eating the pellets because they'd been used to eating bloodworm in the shop. They did say that they might take fish flakes but they'd not tried before, atm they're on catfish pellets because that's what the axolotls eat and they're similar but obviously floaty newt can't get these because they sink. I've made them a floating island now that he can sit on if he wants and I put food in there but they're not interested. Whether this is because they haven't settled yet or they just don't like it I don't know.

28 Mar 2008 20:58

ok i spoke to a mate of mine who works with them and he says that the floating is a problem called bloat. This can be two things. One a digestive gas problem wherby the newt may have ingested plant matter by accident.
Or more than likely a condition wheby gas bubbles form under the skin. he doesn't know of a cure for this.
the second sounds like a fungal infection again without knowing for sure,....
His advice was take them back but like said i know its not easy, try buyiing some floating food, newts will eat more than just bloodworm.

28 Mar 2008 20:50

Well it isn't a swim blader problem as they don't have them :)
Now i haven't kept newts so i can't say for def but i have studied they're biology, but first things first, they don't sound in great shape at all i would contemplate returning them, altho i know its hard giving up on sick animals. Also try not to touch them with bare hands amphibian skin is very delicate and is extremly reactive even the warmth in fingers and the chemicals n our sweat, not to say you can't hold them just keep it to a minimum. A very weird problem is the diving thing i will make a few calls and see if i can find anyone who knows anything