Illness/Sickness: Red spots (looked like blood), twisted in S shape and serious swelling... HELP

[jeverton]

I am at a loss as to what to do any advice would b much appreciated! Red spots (looked like blood), body twisted in S shape, front legs spread back legs tucked into body, mouth open and serious swelling in front of his back right leg, tried to upload photos but something went wrong with security permission

[jessicaanne]

Wow. There sounds like so much going on I can't even picture it I had the security issue when I tried uploading a video a few hours ago Photo's would really help a lot though so do you have a photobucket account or any other photo sharing website that you could upload the photo's to and then link them here? It doesn't sound like he'd be too comfortable the way you described him..

[jeverton]

only way i could upload them.

[jessicaanne]

Awww he doesn't look to be in good shape at all. Well firstly, how long have you had him? Has he always been without gills? What are the water parameters (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nirate, pH, temperature)?

[jeverton]

5 years and the water is good! checked recently and according to a guy at my local aquarium store the other water parameters were really good i can give u the exact numbers if u like

[Caitie]

How recently? Parameters can change in a matter of hours if something changes in the tank
Some import questions: How long have his gills been like that? What is the filtration in his tank like? What is the substrate? Can you post a pic of the tank? What's his diet been like?
Also, have you got him in the fridge yet? That should slow down his metabolism to give us more time.
Sorry about the barrage, but hopefully the info can help us figure out the best course of action.

[jeverton]

No worries!! Um he never had big gills...when i got him the person said that he had recently been in a fight and the gills never really grew back but in the last month or so they have lost their colour and reduced in size!! yes he is in the fridge but this is where the swelling developed! he got the bend in his body a black spot near where lungs would be and kept rolling onto his back at the very start of the year and i put him in the fridge which reduce his metabolism (this never recovered). I then proceeded to completely overhaul the tank as i was told it might be due to him swallowing a pebble...so now it is sand with large pebbles about 5 centimetres in diameter (and bigger). A new filter was bought. After two months without any change I placed him back in his tank and then in the last couple of days these red spots appeared and he didnt move i thought he was dead (eventually he moved a little and so i placed him back in the fridge) then yesterday the swelling was visible! i will upload a picture of the tank tomorrow! but the way the tank is now is different to when he first became poorly so im not sure his illness can be attributed to the tank conditions

[Julia]

I suspect the red spots are a bacterial infection, and to be honest a vet should be able to prescribe medication. I really think a vet visit is the only option here.

[jeverton]

The Vets i called said they dont deal with axolotls! are there particular vets or have i been given bad information?

[jessicaanne]

Some normal vets will deal with them although they may not know anything about them and therefore could do more harm than good. You will need to find an exotic vet which are unfortunately pretty limited, especially in Victoria which is unfortunate for me. There was a thread that listed some exotic vets around Australia but I don't know where to find that, sorry!

[Caitie]

There are some options (Which I myself have only just been able to find!) for you:
The Animal Referal Hospital in Homebush and Baulkam Hills- Dr David Vella Exotic.
Sash at North Ryde: SASH | Emergency Vet | VetICU
The USYD vet school at Camden :University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydne (Camperdown,NSW).

There's also another vet up in Newcastle who has experience with axolotls, and they may be able to help if you're up north.

Head up!

[jeverton]

Thank you all!!

[Olivia]

how did he go? my axxies gills are rather small too!