Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Fungal/Bacterial Infection?

BBJ

2010 Research Grant Donor
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
52
Reaction score
4
Hi
I am writing here since we are greatly in need of some help with our dear Axy.
Our Axolotl has aquired some sort of infection, which started at the tailtip, but by now it covers a good part of the tail and has also spread slightly to other parts of the body.
I have been reading around in here, and i personally suspect a fungal infection, seeing as the white areas appear "fluffy" when closely inspected.
He does not seem stressed, neither does he display unusual behavior, he feeds normally and otherwise everything appears normal appart from the white areas on his tail.
His diet consists of live earthworms and an occasional piece of shrimp or fish.
The water parameters in his tank are all as they should be and the temperature varies between 16-19 degrees on a day/night cycle. I have an air filter running in there to provide biological filtration and adding oxygen to the water. Along with that i clean up in the tank manually on a daily basis and i do a water change once a week.
After reading up on fungal infections i went on with a week of treatment which consisted of the Axolotl being fridged (~8 Degrees) while i put him in a salt bath every day for 10 minutes.
During this period he displayed no signs of stress and he fed normally as well.
While he was fridged i emptied his tank and cleaned it completely in order to get rid of any spores etc.
Much to our disappointment the treatment did not resolve much, i was convinced that the white coverings diminished slightly, but that may just have been my mind playing tricks on me.
Regardless the infection is still there and still growing.
We would really appreciate any help from you guys, so in advance thank you!
Here are some pictures which i hope are somewhat useful.




DSC00825.jpg
 

Kerry1968

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2008
Messages
888
Reaction score
46
Location
Bristol, England
I can't see any signs of fungus in those pictures. I see a few white specks on the back foot on the bottom photo and a white dot on one of the gill 'fronds' but these could be part of the pigmentation of your axie. Perhaps someone else can see more.
 

Bellabelloo

Julia
Staff member
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
5,260
Reaction score
114
Location
Hatfield, England
I agree with Kerry , I don't see any sign of fungus on the pictures. I suspect that the markings are natural pigmentation.
 

callina

New member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
622
Reaction score
32
Location
Oldenburg (North Sea)
I agree with Kerry an Bellabelloo. I can´t see any fungus, only normal pigmentation on a beautiful looking axy.:happy:
 

Kaysie

Site Contributor
Joined
Mar 10, 2003
Messages
14,465
Reaction score
110
Location
North Dakota
Looks normal to me.

Fungus appears fluffy, as in it is visibly 3-dimensional. It sticks out as a tuft of fuzz.
 

Darkmaverick

Site Contributor
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
2,032
Reaction score
82
Location
Sydney
Hi BBJ,

Your axie is healthy. If its of any reassurance, my wildtype axie looks exactly the same.

:p
 

BBJ

2010 Research Grant Donor
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
52
Reaction score
4
Hi guys

Thank you very much for the replies, quite a relief! :proud:
It just seemed very odd to me since a few weeks ago there was not a single white spot, and it continues to cover more and more of his body every day!
 

Munchausen

New member
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
67
Reaction score
0
My axolotl has a white coloration also, maybe we have the same issue. Do some wild type axolotls just have different shades of white and dark?

Kaysie, the axolotl in your picture has paleness on its neck, similar what mine has. Maybe mine isn't actually sick, he's just fair skinned?
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top