Axolotl very sick, fin rot need help!

S

steph09

New member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
York
Country
United Kingdom
I noticed on sunday that my 3 axies had cotton wool like substance growing on them. Went to an aquatics shop and got some fin rot solution as they said it should clear things up. Looked this morning and one had died :(
Came on the internet straight away to see if i could do something else to save the other 2. Put them in the fridge as id seen other people had done it.
Just checked on them and another has died :(
Is there any hope for my third? he's really sluggish and barely moves. I really want to save him. Ive been giving them salt baths twice a day since sunday.
Can anyone help please :(
 
steph09 said:
I noticed on sunday that my 3 axies had cotton wool like substance growing on them. Went to an aquatics shop and got some fin rot solution as they said it should clear things up. Looked this morning and one had died :(
Came on the internet straight away to see if i could do something else to save the other 2. Put them in the fridge as id seen other people had done it.
Just checked on them and another has died :(
Is there any hope for my third? he's really sluggish and barely moves. I really want to save him. Ive been giving them salt baths twice a day since sunday.
Can anyone help please :(
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry to hear about the troubles you have encountered and the losses you have already suffered.

There is really nothing else you can do for him at this point as you began taking the right steps with the salt baths and fridging. Keep him in fresh, dechlorinated water and we will all hope for the best.

Unfortunately, most pet shops will recommend medications more suited to fish, not amphibians - not your fault, it's their lack of knowledge. These medications usually prove harmful, if not fatal to our pets. Many fish medications contain copper or malachite green - both are toxic to axolotls. For future reference there is a discussion about safe and unsafe medications at the bottom of this page - Axolotl Health.
 
I am new to all this , and i am so sorry , i as well am horribly attached to my newt i need desperate advice my newt has a big white thing on his head and now about 4 little white spots on his back this all started when i bought him a larger tank please help he does not act sick he is eating will over the counter fish anti fungus drops work, or ick removal please help Annie
 
hope your axie is ok sorry for your loss so sad, as dragon lady said pet shops do seem to give bad advice on axies as most of them dont seem to know about them, been there aswell really hope he/her pulls though :(
 
Cheers everyone, Ive got my last one in declorinated water and in the fridge. When i thought my 2nd had died, he hadnt i saw him move so was desperately trying to help him. But shorty died a while later :( The aquatic shop was useless. Ive had so many problems with keeping the temps down in my tank and hope my albino makes it. Its just that it came on so sudden and wish i woud of noticed there was something up sooner but they was all eating and active.
 
Hi,

I am sorry for your losses, but now you´ve done the best you can do for your little fellow. I hope he will recover soon.
How big is your axie?

... and....welcome to the forum

Tina
 
Me 2 he seems a little better, but still not himself. He is about 4 inches. A albino leucustic or whatever they are called. Hes just known as bruce.
 
I am having the same trouble with one of my two axies. I have had him in the fridge for the last 3 weeks, soaking him 15 minutes a day in a solution of 8 tsp kosher salt / gallon of water, and then back into dechlorinated water and back into the fridge. It still looks like his face is decaying. Any other advise?
 

Attachments

  • face fungus.jpg
    face fungus.jpg
    92.3 KB · Views: 10,939
Last edited:
I'm sorry for your losses and mis-information from the pet shop. I hope your last axie survives, what are the temperatures and nitrite, ammonia and nitrate levels in your tank? You can buy water drop test kits at pet shops. It may have made him sick, it would be good to prevent any further sickness to your axie.

Remember that being new to axies doesn't mean you're a bad owner either, sometimes we have to learn the hard way. If you need any more information about the levels of the nitrite etc feel free to ask.

Best of luck
 
Just a quick message, bruce is much better today :) alot more active. It doesnt really to seem to have affected him as bad as the other two. Could it be that i got the other 2 from the same aqautic shop and they already had something wrong with them? His tentacle things are damaged but still a red colour. And he is happily swimming around :) awh im so happy he was my first ever axie as well. Going to get rid of his old tank, buy him a fresh new one, and hopefully get him some more playmates :)
 
Remember to quarantine any new animals you want to add for a minimum of 30days to minimise the risk of any further problems or infections! This is very important!

Hope your little guy gets better!
 
Yes i know to quarantine new axies. Jutsging to concentrate on getting my lil man better and settled first. Will he know that the other 2 have died and become lonely?
 
Hello,

Sorry to hear about your problems, but glad to hear he's getting better.

Just a general point I feel I have to make though, it might have been worth getting them to a vet (experienced with amphibians) if possible. Why go to a pet store for medical advice?

Just a general comment. I am aware getting veterinary help can be difficult for some people but I do find it disappointing when people don't even seem to consider that route! Certainly taking advice on husbandry and simple conditions from experienced keepers is very advisable, and they may be more useful than a vet in many circumstances. But in many conditions an experienced vet actually seeing the animal is in the best position to assess and treat it appropriately.

Sorry, rant over!

best wishes,

Bruce (not the axolotl : )).

steph09 said:
Just a quick message, bruce is much better today :) alot more active. It doesnt really to seem to have affected him as bad as the other two. Could it be that i got the other 2 from the same aqautic shop and they already had something wrong with them? His tentacle things are damaged but still a red colour. And he is happily swimming around :) awh im so happy he was my first ever axie as well. Going to get rid of his old tank, buy him a fresh new one, and hopefully get him some more playmates :)
Click to expand...
 
He may notice the others not being around but I doubt he'd get lonely (he's still got you! :happy:!) My axie has always been by himself and seems more than happy!
 
herpvet said:
Just a general point I feel I have to make though, it might have been worth getting them to a vet (experienced with amphibians) if possible. Why go to a pet store for medical advice?
Click to expand...

Hi,
I've not needed a vet yet ... fingers crossed! (Although sometimes I get issues with columnaris on axl's gills which usually clears itself up when I step up tank and water cleaning)...

From reading other peoples posts on here I understand that it can be quite difficult for people to find vets who can / will work with amphibians. Maybe this is a big wish but I wonder if it might be possible to establish some sort of a network of vets by country and region who do have experience with amphibians? That way people could look up a vet who is reasonably close without too much difficulty. It seems to me that caudata.org would be the ideal place to host such a network as well. (Or would that contravene caudata.org advertising policy :dizzy:) Just a thought :happy:
 
Bruce is much better and happy! :) bit wary about putting him back in his old tank, will fully sterile it but i dont know. dont want him getting ill again.
It was a sunday afternoon, no vets would have been open and i didnt know you can get vets for fish, or that they aren't right common. It took me ages to find a decent vet for my reptiles never mind an axie.
I thought the aqautic shop might be able to help, seing as thouh they are meant to specialise in fish and amphibians. I did get some treatment to declorinate the water and stuff.
 
morphyrichards said:
Hi,
I wonder if it might be possible to establish some sort of a network of vets by country and region who do have experience with amphibians? That way people could look up a vet who is reasonably close without too much difficulty. It seems to me that caudata.org would be the ideal place to host such a network as well. (Or would that contravene caudata.org advertising policy :dizzy:) Just a thought :happy:
Click to expand...

That's a very good idea!
 
If you 'sterilize' your tank, you will have to re-cycle. Also... please do not use soap!! Sun and water is good.

Also, I'm glad to hear Bruce is better!
 
A safe way to sterilize your tank is boiling water. You will then have to re-cycle your tank before you put your axie back in. but it will set your mind to rest about the tank being the problem.

So glad to hear that bruce is alot better. it's probably more likely that the othe two axies had something wrong with them from the pet shop, it's horrid that you've had to go through this. His gills will grow back in the right conditions. and if he's a lec then they are supposed to be a reddish colour.

Also read as much as you possibly can fit into your head on here The best source of Axolotl information on the internet "Clicky"

Sorry for your losses, I'm glad it hasn't put you off, always be sceptical about pet shop advice.
 
Hi just a quick message, bruce is much better! happy as larry and starting to eat again. I think it might of been the stuff the pet shop give me to cure it. Because i put bruce in some water with the fin rot stuff in it and within half an hour he was nearly dead! he was laying on his side. I panicked and put him in fresh dechlorinated water, within a couple of hours he had perked up again. The fin rot suff went straight in the bin!
I have just sterilesed his tank with some spray thats special for amphibians and warm water. Sand is in the bin and the plants and ornaments have gone through the dishwasher, without soap of corse. Going to get him a bigger better filter and some more bits and bobs tomorrow so he can be back in his tank soon. The tank is full of water with dechlorinater drops in it. Filters on. So bruce will be home shortly and with some new playmates if i can find some! There so hard to get hold of. :) :) :) :) very happpy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
     +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
     +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
     +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
     +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Back
    Top