Finger and toetips are gone

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Dominick

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There is something strange going on with both my axolotls... Almost all their toes are gone. It looks like they've been bitten of or something but I'm 100% sure they are not biting each other because a friend of mine with just one axolotl has the same problem.

Does anyone know what could be doing this and how to solve it?
62ad51c5595169c9db781996066be46d.jpg

fcd82b1f27f80f0eeaa1d492fdd4cdd2.jpg
 
My first thought was that you had a bare bottom tank, and that a bacterial buildup on the bottom was the problem. But it looks like you have sand. My second thought is, is the sand rough? What kind of sand is it?

In general, the first thing to when it looks like something is wrong with your axolotl is to check all of the water parameters - pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and temperature. (Hardness is nice to know too, but usually isn't an issue unless it is very low.) Have you checked there, and what were the readings?
 
I have worked for 20+ years trying to figure out problems with both plants and animals. Although I can not tell you what is happening I may be able to help you find out. Because your friend is having the same problem work together to answer these questions. 1. What do you both have in the tanks with your axolotls. If they are injuring themselves on a decoration or hide you both have one and it can be removed. Could be the same or be similar enough that both your axolotyls are getting injured. 2. are they siblings or closely related. It could have something to do with genetics. Hope you will be able to figure it out. I can not give any additional help and it is always good to test the water that has already been reccomended.
 
is it just me or the gills look short?
 
LSuzuki: I have playsand on the bottom of my tank, and I've had it for the last three years. The problem only started occurring for a month or two-three (however less serious). My parameters have never been an issue in the past, but I can't give you exact reading at the moment. So I'll make sure I have them asap!

Nancy: I have a plastic decoration in my tank, but my friend hasn't. The only thing we have in common is the same sand and water (because he lives close by). His 'lotl is the child of one of mine, however the wildtype in this picture has it aswel and he isn't related.

Aristole: the leucist has a few short gills but that's due to an non-social ex-tankmate I'm afraid. The other ones gills are normal sized.

Thanks for thinking with me, I hope we can find a solution!
 
Is there any decorations that could be abrasive in the tank Remove it. How often do you do water changes? Increase it to once a week and 30%. Nine out of ten times its going to be a water issue. If you don't see an improvement in a month or it gets worse remove the sand and go bare bottom. Keep an eye out for fungus and treat accordingly if it happens. It's going to be a process of elimination.
 
Ok, so, to summarize

Both you and a friend have the same problem. Both axolotls in your tank have the problem, but they aren't closely related, so probably not a genetic thing.

The problem in your tank started about 2-3 months ago.
Did it start at the same time for your friend?
Has there been any close contact between the two tanks (that could spread an infectious agent) in the past 6 monks?
Are you on the same water supply, and has anything changed in the water supply?

You've had the sand for 3 years, and it is play sand. So it is probably not the sand.

You are going to check the parameters and get back with us on the results.

I really hope we can figure out the cause to this. I've seen a very few posts like this, and I've greatly wondered about the cause.

Here is a notion, and I'm hoping the experts will chime in. Could the calcium in the water be too low? (This is only a notion, based on a wild guess well outside my field of study. :happy:) Does your area have soft water?
 
I have a reading of my water!
pH = 7,3
NH4 = 0 mg/l - < 0,5 mg/l
NH3 = 0 mg/l - 0,009 mg/l
Calcium = 18,9 mg/l (I have this from my watersupplier's website)
KH = 6°d
GH = >7°d
NO2 = 0 mg/l
NO3 = 0 - 10 mg/l
Click to expand...

So I don't see an immediate problem with the water, does any of you?

My friend and I both are on the same watersupply, but there hasn't changed a thing as far as I know. And he isn't sure how long the problem is going on. I THINK it has been going on a bit longer than in my tank. But then again, I'm not sure.

I'm going to do a big clean in my tank, and I'm going to stir the hell out of the sand. Maybe it helps!
 
What kind of filter do you use? And what does the filter intake look like? My axolotl had been losing toes on his back feet for a week or so and after scouring the tank the only conclusion I came with was the filter intake. He liked to perch on the intake, grab on to it and then shoot off. At some point he must have started doing it against and getting his toes caught on the intake, which is like a plastic grille. I covered the intake in filter floss about a week ago and I can see his toes growing in already. My filter is a Tetra brand.
 
I'm using a filter that is using this kind of modules:
JBL%20Cristal%20Profi%20i%20Filter%20Module%20and%20box.jpg


My friend is using a different one, but it has similar slits... I've never seen my axolotls grab the filter, but who knows what they do behind my back!
 
Please, people! Isn't there anyone out there who has an idea? My 'lotls are getting hurt and I have no clue why ... Please help me out.

I've read something about a bacterial build-up on a sand bottom that would eat away their flesh. Is this a possibility? Can someone give me a bit more information about this?
 
I am out of ideas on causes, but I hope someone else has some. This is very sad.

If it hadn't been that you have had the sand so long, I would think it was the sand. If you want to experiment, you could remove the sand and monitor the situation. Make sure you wipe the glass bottom every few days to remove bacterial slime.

Is there a vet in your area? It might be time to take it to a vet.

I did search the web, as I'm sure you did too, for other sources of info and didn't find anything of use. But I probably used the wrong search terms, since I'm not in medicine and son't know what to call the symptoms.
 
Is that water reading of water in the tank, or from the water source? Also, what temperature is your tank? What size is the tank, and what is your water change schedule? We can't find a solution unless we have all the necessary information. Ambystoma.org talks about toe loss due to bacterial buildup on plastic, but I'm unsure on sand.
 
LSuzuki
Unfortunately, there isn't a vet nearby that specialised in amphibians... So that's hardly a possibility (unfortunately).
I can try to remove all the sand, I'll probably do that this weekend!

rachel1
Only the Calcium (Ca2+) reading was from the water source, all the other reading were from the water in tank!
The size of the tank is: 80 cm x 30 cm x 40 cm.
My filter is a JBL CristalProfi i100 greenline, on the lowest setting.
I change 20-40% of my water every 2 weeks.
And the tanktemperature is somewhere between 20-21°C (68° - 70° fahrenheit).

Thanks for thinking with me ! :)
 
If you were really concerned about the sand why not try taking it out? (I understand this is much easier said than done!) or better yet to eliminate two possibilties take your axies out and put them in like a tupperware for a few weeks with daily water changes (while dosing your tank with a little ammonia so you don't kill your cycle) and see if he get's better? good luck!
 
I just had a euphoric moment. I've found another thread (Stubby toes) from a person who seemed to have the exact same problem!

This is the poster's conclusion:
Ariel said:
Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I would like to post the "conclusion." After I treated the presumably bacterial infection with daily tea baths for a week and a single application of diluted tea tree oil to the back toes, they stopped shrinking and the tips seemed to heal, but they stayed stubby and did not show further signs of regeneration for about a month.

2 weeks ago I moved and decided to get a new tank, this time I was specifically looking for a glass tank because of this comment:
"Although we successfully use plastic containers, they must be kept very clean. Plastic tends to support the growth of a bacterial scum along the bottom and sides of the container. We have found that if this scum is not cleaned off periodically, the axolotls will develop sores on their toes and feet that will not heal. Instead the skin retreats up the leg and the toes eventually die and are sloughed off. If this happens put the axolotl temporarily into a glass bowl. Add a few drops of mercurochrome (enough to tint the water a pale orange) to the water as a disinfectant, and change the water frequently. The axolotl will heal nicely, and the toes will probably regenerate."
found on Guide to Axolotl Husbandry.

I used a new filter but kept the sand, rocks, and marimo from GDs first tank, and he moved into the new 15 gallon glass tank a week ago. I did not treat with with mercurochrome or anything else, because it seemed the infection had long since died, but the toes were not regenerating. I noticed nearly an immediate change in appetite and activity in the new tank (both increased) and within one week the toes have regenerated their length and are very close to reaching their full length. In just one week they tripled in length.

I am not sure exactly what caused the toes to rot away, what was hindering their regeneration, or why they regenerated so quickly after 1 week of being in a new tank after a month of no signs of improvement, but as this article suggested after not healing I a plastic aquarium when GD was transferred into a glass aquarium he regenerated quickly. There are most likely other factors at play, however.
Click to expand...

So I'll start looking into the tea bath thing, because I have no experience with this. I also emailed the poster for extra advice, so I'll see what that gives.

There is a sparkle of hope!
 
I hope that is it and that you are en route to a solution. Thank you for posting this and keep posting progress!
 
I've bought indian almond leaves and I've added them two days ago to my tank! 4 leaves in my 100 L tank! (80x40x30)

I hope this will be benefecial for my axolotls and will kill anything that is present in my tank (parasites, bad bacteria, that kind of stuff)... :)
 
Any sign of healing?
 
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