Illness/Sickness: Urgent Help

bellyache · Jul 10, 2015

URGENT HELP

I sold this axolotl to someone 2.5 years ago and he will now be 3 years old. The person contacted me saying it was floating and was pale and decided the best thing was to bring it back to me so I can see if I can help it. Anyway I asked for a pic and am quite shocked at the state of it. Please can someone advise what could be wrong with it?

They will be bring it to me tomorrow so will be able to help it, that is if I can figure out whats wrong with it.

Elise · Jul 11, 2015

Some additional photos whould help as It's difficult to suggest possible issues from a single image sometimes. Keeping him in clean water will probably sort out a lot of the issues with his appearnce. I'm curious what the discoloration could be at the top of his spine, and if there are issues with his slime coat.

Keep us updated.

HitmanSougo13 · Jul 11, 2015

Almost looks like there is an infection on the top of its head....and is it just me or is there some worm thing on the far right that is its food?

With such a large spot, normally I would advise you to take it to a vet, since you sold this one and I am no sure if the new owner wants to pay for a vet, the alternative (and far weaker solution) is pet store bought antibiotics.

bellyache · Jul 11, 2015

**UPDATE** 1pm Saturday

well he is now back in my care, in a way it does not seem as bad as the original pic above but he is still bad.

His tail is limp and no longer curved 90 degrees at its tip.

Body is showing its veins and on dorsal fin.

Front left foot been bitten off and regrown but not to its original way.

Both front legs extremely thin, seems like skin and bone and no muscle.

Face is thin

The yellow abcess that was on the pic must have been a trick of light as nothing showing on head.

His gills are extremely short but not something i am worring about.

He is moving his gills and gulping air so seems ok in that respect.

He is floating and limp tail touches bottom.

His stump is all mouldy, cannot figure out how this has happened as it was a sealed joint so no way it should have just suddently beocme infected after all this time unless something happed to it.

The first thing I have done is put him in a tub of fresh clean water then will decide depending on advice on how to procede.

Here are pics and a video I just taken what it looks like now:
https://goo.gl/uTcB5j

Here are pics she gave of what he looked like on 30th May 2015
https://goo.gl/2SkKrZ

bellyache · Jul 11, 2015

I have popped him in a tea bath

Skudo09 · Jul 11, 2015

He kind of looks a little bloated? I am wondering if there may be a bacterial infection going on? I would probably take him to a vet if possible.

xxianxx · Jul 12, 2015

As above plus it looks ammonia burnt. Axolotls with a bacterial infection often show bloating round the throat, can you take a side oic of the head and throat ?

bellyache · Jul 12, 2015

latest pics

https://goo.gl/uTcB5j

https://goo.gl/sRudm2

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z6svkhq2u0ycwp5/AABdrAOYkry6Ler0QPLpu2eZa?dl=0&s=so

here is what he looked like 3 years ago before i sold him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UyHrVcDJkc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU-oVi8mIno

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwOuq6IRSbA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT0hZI2wpkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1S9DV3GR24

Skudo09 · Jul 12, 2015

I think it would be worth taking him to a vet if possible. The bloating could be a sign of bacterial infection and may need antibiotic treatment.

bellyache · Jul 13, 2015

can any of these be used?

API Fishcare: Products

HitmanSougo13 · Jul 13, 2015

The wound is turning into an infection. You have to make a decision. Either take it to a vet which they will just give the axie stronger antibiotics (a few days to a week span) or if you choose a the economic option of store bought, weaker antibiotics (10 day span give or take) see this http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...xolotl/99459-axolotl-antibiotic-solution.html

I would not use a salt bath at this stage as his skin looks very thin and that salt baths burns them.

The water in the sick tub needs to be replaced every day with declorinated water. I also agree it is possible the axie has ammonia poisoning as well. Take care of him.

bellyache · Jul 13, 2015

unfortunately vet is not an option for me as this is a cost was not planning on as did not expect to get him back. only one vet in area does aquatics and they charge £90 for consultation plus any treatment onto of that

would melafix or primafix be options and what one should i get?

Skudo09 · Jul 13, 2015

Have a look at this page. Furan 2 is reccomended as a good anti-biotic treatment.

Axolotls - Health & Diseases

bellyache · Jul 13, 2015

Skudo09 said:
Have a look at this page. Furan 2 is reccomended as a good anti-biotic treatment.

Axolotls - Health & Diseases

that is banned in all of europe as it failed testing. So licence to sell it is a block ban in uk and europe.
I contacted API and they confirmed this to be case

HitmanSougo13 · Jul 13, 2015

Most of the antibiotics focus on different things, some are bad for axolotls. Of course most of them also appear to target problems common to fish instead of amphibians. The researchers in the university of California use API E.M. Erythromycin because it is a all well round antibiotic. A friend of mine worked there for a few years when he was studying there and recommended it. They have been using it for many years in the lab which they use to study axolotls

bellyache · Jul 14, 2015

He died at 2.10am on Wednesday 15th July 2015

bellyache · Jul 14, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/gordon.in.manchester.uk I know a lot of people could not do this but have just done a necropsy on him. When I cut into him the whole body gave way, it seemed to have been full of air, his stomach was completely empty and his lungs are covered in a yellow dotty stuff, although I am not exerienced in nectropsy or qualified as a vet it looks like his lungs were infected/virus etc... you can see the images for youself and make your own opinions at

https://www.facebook.com/gordon.in.manchester.uk https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z36aje2daluwawm/AADhFZZhwnfcOKObUS_LIrN2a?dl=0&s=so

if anyone knows a vet personally or have facilities to answer questions by email please forward the link above and ask what they think

HitmanSougo13 · Jul 15, 2015

I am sorry you couldn't do more for the little guy. By the time the previous owner passed him to you, it was pretty much at the critical stage with the floating and the infected limb. I am sure you did all in your power to make him feel comfortable. Healing them takes two weeks at least if caught early. You can't race the clock against those odds that were presented to you.

Skudo09 · Jul 15, 2015

I am sorry to hear he didn't make it. I agree he was probably too far gone by the time he was returned to your care. From the pictures, the organ with the yellow blotches looks like the liver rather than lungs. It doesn't look healthy at all. I dare say there was serious infection going on. I am not a vet though.

bellyache · Feb 23, 2016

it was sad to see it die as he was one of my babies.
it turned out the person had a heater in the tank and the liver was bad when necropsy. it turned out it had a bad infection and the contageous fish TB brought on by the heat and other factors i am not sure of as owner was extremely vague and refused to answer questions i had

Illness/Sickness: Urgent Help

New member

Attachments

Elise

Guest

Member

New member

New member

Attachments

Active member

Well-known member

New member

Active member

New member

Member

New member

Active member

New member

Member

New member

Attachments

New member

Member

Active member

New member