Myaxin advice: Columnaris

Heya all... well we're down to our last little soldier... He has columnaris. He's still in the fridge. I will be doing what Adelaide Aquariums recommend which is a salt bath and then myaxin at three times the recommended dosage (for one hour)... I was thinking though that because everyone recommends medication at half dose for axies should I just do the normal dose of myaxin or should I do it at 1.5 or should I just do the three times? What do we think kiddies? I don't want to kill him whilst trying to help him and the dude at the pet store didn't know about using it in treatment with axies, he loaned me their supply (apparently you can't get that anymore here either)... I don't want to start without some good knowledge first though. Who thinks what?

Cheers

Does the myaxin come with instructions for scaleless fish? If it does, I'd follow those, If not, I'd probably halve the 3 times dosage into 1.5 times (with scaleless fish you usually halve the dose, and I'd treat axies the same way.) Really don't know though! Keep an eye on your little guy throughout the bath, if he starts really freaking out, I would take him out. If he accepts it pretty calmly, then the dosage you choose is probably alright for him. Sorry I can't give a better answer, I really don't know!

That's cool, I was on the same boat myself and it's just nice to have someone else kind of back you up on it.

Off to do it now... cheers.

C

hi Celia,

i've been told the same as what Leah has mentioned. unless the meds say OK for scaleless fish, don't used full dose and use half dose.
very sad about your Thugsy, i really thought you had it beat at one stage.

keep us posted

peter

So did I ... I was so upset about it and I had tried not to get attached since Yella Fella's death because I was afraid this was going to happen. I have tried so hard. I wish I had realised what was going on when I was at the vet's originally, I probably would have had this beat months ago.

One more question. I have given him a half dose myxazin, salt bath for one hour as recommended, should I do this once a day until he's better? Twice a day? Once every few days? Their site says to follow up with a second treatment in two to three days time but that's after the bit about less severe cases and it doesn't say how often for severe? Anyone know or any intelligent guesses? My I.G. would be every day for an hour, would that be too much for the little guy? He's starting to spot blood like Thugsy did so I know we're at the bad stage here... your advice is always appreciated.

Celia

I'd probably either do the hour once a day for a week, or several times a day for a few days. It may be a lot for him to take, but if the half dose is too weak, at least increasing his exposure to it might help, since a lot of what we've decided here is based on guesswork. If he seems stressed, you can always stop. Or even have a low concentration of the meds in his water all the time. I really don't know Gah! It's frustrating me- I can't imagine how you must feel!!! Hopefully there's some improvement in the morning that'll help you decide how aggressive to be with the treatment!

Is he still eating? I noticed vintage responded on the other site with the name of some medication to put in his food. Is it available here? Could be worth a shot also.

AAAHH! Should have thought of it sooner but...
Email the Indiana University Axolotl Colony and ask them what they'd do! They're probably the closest thing to a specialist axie vet out there, maybe they can help! I've asked them questions before and always gotten lightning fast responses- email them!

Thank you I will. That's a good idea. I didn't realise you could.

I've been force feeding him still as I was saying before, he's the little one that didn't eat in so long. He did another poo today so it seems he's getting food at least. However, I asked the pet store about the oxytetracycline for the food and they had never heard of it, the guy there is actually pretty darn good with aquariums, he knows a fair bit and they keep axies there. He's the one that loaned me the myzaxin.

I will do once/twice a day, see how we go either way. I can see blood sores on him so I may have to be agressive with the treatment anyway and hope for the best could be one of those edge of the knife situations and hopefully it turns out good.

I will keep everyone up to date...

C

Question???? I seem to have to join some Yahoo chat group or something, is that right? How do I email them a question directly???????

Try: axolotl@indiana.edu
That's the email address I used to contact them. I didn't have to join any groups, I just got their email from the Indiana University website?

(Message edited by trip on February 23, 2005)

Dang it all. This morning he was on his back, he kept falling onto his back over the last few weeks (so weak I guess) and I'd help him up as soon as I saw it. Sometimes he'd be good and stay on his feet all day. Last night he must have ended up on his back and this morning he was locked into a little C shape, it's kind of like his back is broken into that shape, his front feet were moving but just ever SO slightly and he had red sores running down his spine and his tail was all red and bloody under the surface. I gave him a relatively aggressive bath to which he neither responded well or badly, he just didn't seem to change. It's like he's gone into some kind of stasis or something. I think he's dead though now. He hasn't moved from the C shape or the one spot all morning (6 hours or more)... is it time for the clove oil? Poor little fella. Well I tried very hard. I have learnt many many hard lessons and since I seem to have lost the battle here I am thinking it's time to concede defeat. I don't think I could possibly save him from here, he seems to be pretty much gone now.

His back had been bent out of shape for a little while but yeah it's just scrunched up or snapped or something, hopefully not trying to upright himself. Poor thing. I think it's a hopeless case for the poor little thing.

Thanks again for everyone's help here. I imagine that I will go ahead with the chiller project anyway and perhaps in a few months start all over again with a 16 degree tank. I'm a bit too gun shy to think about that properly yet though, I just wanted to save my little 'un (well all of them really but it was too late for the others now) ... he fought so valiantly. We originally titled him G.I.Joe/Jane but I've decided Ali, for being the toughest fighter in the world. Go little tiger go...

Fingers crossed he miraculously moves or someone knows some miracle back, fungus and columnaris fixer, otherwise I guess this is it for now...

Thank you all once again.

C

Just to confirm the little fella definitely didn't make it... poor guy. Three axies in the yard, poor babies, well the memorial garden will have to be beautiful now, to pay respect to three angels who made me so happy ....

I shall chat to you all in the not too distant future, and hopefully not here on the sick page, hopefully somewhere else on this site....

Cheers again all
C

I'm so sorry to hear he didn't make it, Celia. You did all you could, I hate how savage Columnaris is.

Oh, man... I'm so sorry Celia

Thank you... well on a good note, when I took the myzaxin back the aquarium guy at the pet store told me he wasn't stock axolotls over summer anymore after everything I had told them... so I guess at least that's one good thing. They don't have a chiller there so decided it was safest not to risk infection (especially since aquariums have lots of shared water)....

I am sure I will be in contact on another forum in a few months when I get the tank cranking again... first to the refrigerator.... I hope it works.

Thanks again everyone. I look forward to future contact where I post lots of nice photos of my fat, healthy axies... awwwwwwww.

Celia

Sorry for your loss Celia... I know how it feels to loose a axie....

Stick around and read the posts still and keep up to date..

Good luck with the next ones you get.