New axie sick

Hi I posted on the wrong area last time. We bought a golden albino about 1 week ago it ate most of the little feeder fish(1 left). It doesn't want to eat now( 3 days) seems to have fungus...cottony white spots, lost a gill. I've put it in 2 salt baths so far.. but table salt..and I think the 1st was too weak. Has a 'bubbler', no filter, no substrata - tank still has goldfish in it so I moved it to a big plastic container...haven't seen any poo yet.Is that oK? How can I improve it's chances of surviving?

How strong was your salt bath?

It shud be 2-3teaspoons of salt per 2litres or 2pints of water and no more than 10-15minutes. Saltbath 2-3 times per day.

if it is fungus, it does take time, won't disappear overnight.

How big is your axie? And is its stomach bloated looking?

I would remove the feeder fish - sometimes fish can pass things onto your axie as well as nibble on your axies gills.

Have you tried feeding it anything else, a staple of earthworms, or raw meat slivers (fat cut off), axie pellets?

Also, did you cycle your tank?

What are your water parameters of tank, for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? And what is your tank temp?

If you don't have water test kits for your tank, take a sample of water to your petshop and get them to test it. Note the readings/figures down for each and post them here - someone will be able to help you.

salt bath sounds like I got the right ratio, but only bathed 2x daily.I didn't want to stress by contact too much.
Ok glad to know fungus shouldn't disappear right away.
Star (Axie) is 15cm. Looking skinny now. No bloating, not floating.
Removing feeder fish... Gr8 there was one missing! Maybe it was eaten!First food in 4 days!
It wouldn't eat the beef heart food, spat it out,backed away, left it in the water next time for over 5 min. so I removed it.Star ignored subsequent offers.
Ummm, cycle tank...no, but I'll give it a go. Just bought new sponge wool in the hopes that will help remove any nasties when replace the old one. Yet to re-set up the tank...without goldfish this time.

Tank temp ca. 7degrees C.
Done no testing for Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Will take water from both old tank and new box to pet store tomorrow..(I think they know less than me though!) Taken Axie out of tank to get it away from possible infected water, put it in a big 3L plastic box with bubbler(no filter). Change 1/2 h20 each day whilst salt-bathing Star.
Bought Aquamaster Armour coat (in next fresh water change) and Multicure (not in water yet) i read somewhere not to put anything that contains Malachite green into tank... the Multicure has it so I have been hesitant to use it.
I'm getting quite a collection of containers standing water..lol.
I don't even know if Star is a male or female. Will try to get my tech-savvy hubby to photo and post pic for easy diagnosis/ID. You all have such lovely pics
Thanks for the help.
I think tank is 32 L. 2nd hand, friend's fish died and her daughter didn't want it anymore.
More info tomorrow.
Hopefully not so longwinded

Noooowe the fungus doesnt disapper starigt away. There should be a bit o a difference tho. And as long as it hasn't spread further since the baths it's working.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

Star (Axie) is 15cm. Looking skinny now. No bloating, not floating.
Removing feeder fish... Gr8 there was one missing! Maybe it was eaten!First food in 4 days! <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

How often do you usually feed her/him when it was eating? Once ours reached 15cm we started feeding them every 2 days.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

wouldn't eat the beef heart food, spat it out,backed away<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Have you tried anything else, ie earthworms ( I know some people use frozen bloodworm partially defrosted, or live crickets)?
<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

Tank temp ca. 7degrees C<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Other thought is with the temp being that low, it may not eat as much. Our fridge sits between 5-7 degree cel. and when any of our axies are put in, if ill, they won't eat the colder temp slows metabolism down.



<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

Just bought new sponge wool in the hopes that will help remove any nasties when replace the old one. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

is the sponge wool for a filter? just that I thought you didn't have a filter running in tank. Usually you can place old filter media or decos from an established tank into your one to help a new tank cycle. If cleaning a filter, just wash it in tankwater (not tap water - as this will kill any good bacteria on it). UM and do you have any hidey holes/caves/pipes/claypots or other for your axie to hide away/get away from in the tank?

I realise you only got the axie a week ago so did you set the tank up the same time a week ago, or earlier than that?

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

and Multicure (not in water yet) i read somewhere not to put anything that contains Malachite green into tank... the Multicure has it so I have been hesitant to use it.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Don't add the multicure! It's good you were hesitant and checked b4 adding Just that if your tank has only been running about a week, sorry my assumption till I know otherwise, then your tank may be in the early stages of cycling.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

I'm getting quite a collection of containers standing water..lol.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

LOL, yip know what ya mean!

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

I don't even know if Star is a male or female. Will try to get my tech-savvy hubby to photo and post pic for easy diagnosis/ID. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Unless your axie is very small for its age, it may be a juvenile and might be several months before you can tell its gender. Husband thought I was getting a bit perverted checking out our young axies.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

I think tank is 32 L. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Sorry, but can't get my head round the litre thing, what are the measurements of your tank? Just wondering if that is big enuf for your axie.

(Message edited by kapo on August 30, 2006)

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fi on a Manser on Tuesday 29 August 2006 - 13:11 (#POST104722):</font>

Done no testing for Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Will take water from both old tank and new box to pet store tomorrow..(I think they know less than me though!) Taken Axie out of tank to get it away from possible infected water, put it in a big 3L plastic box with bubbler(no filter). Change 1/2 h20 each day whilst salt-bathing Star. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

More important that you test the tankwater at this stage. Tell them it is for ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and check the ph too, but the first 3 are most important as they generally tell you where you are in cycling process, which if it has been only running the week, won't be that far along. Don't forget to ask them to write the parameters/figures down (don't accept it's ok = too many tend to say this, ours did, and you remain oblivious to the fact that the problem could be because you have a new tank setup which is just cycling)

Do 100% water changes on 3l container as it is quite small, and ammonia from its waste (urine as well) will build up quite fast. When you do the 2nd saltbath do the 100% waterchange then, then easy enuf to slip Star back in the clean water.



(Message edited by kapo on August 30, 2006)

You are a fountain of wisdom, Kapo!
We just got ammonia and ph testing kits. Our tap water reads yellow(ammonia low 00.00ppm/free.) h2o with 'Armourcoat' reads 2nd lowest level about 0.25ppm, palest green. Original the tank h20 was dark green (poor Star!)5L box (hospital box) was medium green after 2nd h20 change.
Mother-in-law fed Star a slater(butchie-boy) when I left her childminding (obviously Axolotl minding too!) Saturday, apparently Star gobbled it straightaway.
Tank sizes are 28cm.long x 30cm.wide x 30cm.deep.
No hidey holes, but Star hung out behind the 'water cycler' our spongeless filter. I think it's a bit too fast flowing for an axolotl, so s/he was getting stressed. Which together with the High Ammonia reading would make for a very vulnerable Axie indeed.
The tank had 4 Goldfish and 4 (little)feeder fish for 2 weeks before we bought Star.
Goldfish are out, thanks Ed! The feeder fish are eaten/dead, so it will just be pooor Star @ 7degrees C.
Before isolation, Star could eat a feeder fish whenever s/he caught it. Also offered beef heart strips every 2nd day, at about the same time of day - evening and early morning. I was trying to determine when Axolotl was most keen on eating.
I'll look at the section on tanks for ideas of positioning for natural warmth/sunlight/plants. probably 7C is too cold for a usual temp. Shame I didn't do that BEFORE I got the axolotl!
Well I was convinced I would lose this axie, before I got a chance to really know what was wrong - but the salt baths seem to have helped,Thanks Ed and Toots!} Your advice also Kapo, has been invaluableThis has been a huge learning curve...not something I expected from a pet that is popular in Aussie Kindergartens!

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fiona Manser on Monday 04 September 2006 - 06:53 (#POST105211):</font>

This has been a huge learning curve...not something I expected from a pet that is popular in Aussie Kindergartens!<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Yes it was a big learning curve for us too, and I am so glad I found this and the www.axolotl.org site! Axies are popular here in some schools/kindies or the odd library, tho the teachers at some of the schools let the pupils rub the axies head, like its a dog (I did tell one of them that they should try not to handle/esp. rub as little as possible but she seemed to think it was ok as the axie stayed still and the kids love doing it).

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Fiona Manser on Monday 04 September 2006 - 06:53 (#POST105211):</font>

Tank sizes are 28cm.long x 30cm.wide x 30cm.deep. <!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

Gosh that seems a little small and might do at the moment, but you would be better off having a 60cm long esp. if it grows to 30cm it wouldn't have much room to move (when they do move!); or if you intended getting another axie companion at least 80cm-90cm long. This will also allow for any hidey holes and/or plants. One of ours occasionally hides under the filter or manages to lie on top of it. Also, having a smaller tank I think the ammonia is noticeably higher than if it was in a bigger tank.

Also, sounds like your tank is cycling. Did you get a reading of nitrite and nitrates? I understand you haven't got any tests from reading your thread, those readings are needed too, in order to work out when it is cycled.

You can keep Star in the smaller container, doing the 100% waterchanges even once the saltbaths stop and just leave your tank as is to cycle (ie, no waterchanges on tank, just test tank water every few days (or sample to the petshop) and post figures here for the ammonia/nitrite and nitrate. Cycling can take up to 6-8weeks). People here will be able to help you work it out.

I don't think that 7 degrees celcius is too cold as long as she is eating every few days; less than 5 is too cold. With the summer months just round the corner (or not far off), you will have the other end of the spectrum - trying to keep temp below 24 deg cel. so your axie doesn't get stressed.