rachaelreid78
New member
Hi everyone, I'm new on here, but have been following lots of your advice for a while now and it's been so helpful since getting my axolotls last year, thankyou. I'm a bit stuck now though and would really appreciate some help. We have two axolotls, both approx 2 years old, a male golden albino and a female wild type. It's the female Luke I'm worried about (they were named Luke and Leia before we realised what sex they were, ho hum). The male can be a bit aggressive and Luke has had a few nips in the past, but nothing serious. However it looks like she has a nasty wound on her front leg which looks like it's gone a bit fungal. It was swollen but that has gone down a bit, but she's not using her leg and has gone right off her food. Think the last time she ate was prob over a week ago now, a few bloodworm which I think she vomited a couple of days later (hard to be sure it was her but am pretty sure). She was coming to the surface a lot and floating about and generally not looking well so I've taken her out and put her in the fridge for the last three days. I've also been doing salt baths for ten mins twice a day and while a tiny fungus patch on her tail seems to have cleared up I'm not convinced the leg looks any better. (See photo taken this morning). It looks pretty raggy and down to the bone (hadn't realised it was as bad as this when it initially looked swollen, it's only visible now it's gone down a bit - am kicking myself for not acting sooner and getting her in the fridge). Every time I salt bath/change her water I'm offering a piece of earthworm which she loves but she's not interested (I know this can happen with fridging, but am worried she's going to starve!)
Sorry this has been a bit of an epic - I suppose to summarise, what I'm asking is:
1) does it definitely look like fungus from the photo?
2) should I stop salt baths now it's been three days?
3) how long should I keep her in the fridge? When should I be really worried about her not eating?
4) is there anything else/better I can do?
Incidentally, I had noticed her gills had been getting smaller over the last few months (connected?). Before that, in December she laid some eggs so I had assumed she was pretty healthy). Also had tested water this week when she started looking unwell and ammonia, nitrites were fine, nitrates a little high but have done water changes, temp is around 19.
Would be so grateful for any advice. (Sorry this post is so long!)
Sorry this has been a bit of an epic - I suppose to summarise, what I'm asking is:
1) does it definitely look like fungus from the photo?
2) should I stop salt baths now it's been three days?
3) how long should I keep her in the fridge? When should I be really worried about her not eating?
4) is there anything else/better I can do?
Incidentally, I had noticed her gills had been getting smaller over the last few months (connected?). Before that, in December she laid some eggs so I had assumed she was pretty healthy). Also had tested water this week when she started looking unwell and ammonia, nitrites were fine, nitrates a little high but have done water changes, temp is around 19.
Would be so grateful for any advice. (Sorry this post is so long!)