Illness/Sickness: Incredibly sick axi... please help!!!

Hi everyone

So I've jetted off overseas and left my axi in the care of my family, before I left she seemed a bit impacted (and refused food) so I had them put her in the fridge. She has now gone downhill, they say she passed a white poo which resembled animal fat (since her last meal was worms I don't know why this would happen). They also say she now has a very swollen and red cloaca and is getting fungus on her gills. She is also very bloated though she now hasn't eaten in over 2 weeks.

I am extremely worried about my little baby, I've only had her just shy of a year and up until now she has always been perky and in great heath... I don't want to lose her!!!

Please help, I will try to answer any questions but keep in mind I am half way around the world and can't actually see my axi or do any measurements myself.

Come on guys!!! She's really sick and I need help!!!!!!!!!

Hi so sorry to hear that! I know what you're going through as I'm going through a rough patch with my one

What does she normally eat? Have they been feeding her something different or new? Maybe u should try fridging her again (they can be in the fridged for long time) you can also try and do some salt baths for the fungus and redness (there's a thread on that here) or tea baths and keep her fridged. Maybe it's worth going to the aquatic shop if you've got a good one for advice and maybe some medication :axolotl.org has a list of safe medication. Try and feed her something small like frozen bloodworms maybe.

Could she swollen a stone or a gravel?

Sorry if this is not very helpful but I'm quite a newbie with lots of reaserch and theory but only 4 months practice

Hope all goes well for both of you!

Hi Boo,
Are you anywhere near an axie friendly vet they could have a chat to or take her in for a visit? Im not sure what would cause the swelling and bloating. Obvioulsy salt baths would assist with the fungus, but may place more stress on the poor little thing..

EEVEE84 said:

Hi so sorry to hear that! I know what you're going through as I'm going through a rough patch with my one

What does she normally eat? Have they been feeding her something different or new? Maybe u should try fridging her again (they can be in the fridged for long time) you can also try and do some salt baths for the fungus and redness (there's a thread on that here) or tea baths and keep her fridged. Maybe it's worth going to the aquatic shop if you've got a good one for advice and maybe some medication :axolotl.org has a list of safe medication. Try and feed her something small like frozen bloodworms maybe.

Could she swollen a stone or a gravel?

Sorry if this is not very helpful but I'm quite a newbie with lots of reaserch and theory but only 4 months practice

Hope all goes well for both of you!

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Hi,

She normally eats worms or thin strips of beef, her diet hasn't changed since virtually the day I got her. As I said I'm in the USA and my axi is in Australia with my parents and sister. They are fridging her and giving salt baths as per this sites tutorial.

Unfortunatley there are no really good aquatic shops around where I live and no vets who have any experience with these critters.

I only keep a thin layer of sand in her tank... nothing she could swallow that would cause her trouble.

I'm really hoping to hear some good news today

Hi,
How's your girl going?
She'll go off her food while in the fridge. Does she still look impacted? Maybe it might be worth a try to take her out and see if she improves once the fungus clears up If she's only on a thin layer of sand I doubt the bloating would be caused from impaction, and think maybe something more sinister is in play I'm sorry someone with more knowledge/experience hasn't offered more help.
Hope she improves soon

shells said:

Hi,
How's your girl going?
She'll go off her food while in the fridge. Does she still look impacted? Maybe it might be worth a try to take her out and see if she improves once the fungus clears up If she's only on a thin layer of sand I doubt the bloating would be caused from impaction, and think maybe something more sinister is in play I'm sorry someone with more knowledge/experience hasn't offered more help.
Hope she improves soon

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I'll be checking later and letting you guys know how she is doing. However as of yesterday there was no improvement.

I really hope she'll get better, the only thing I have recently changed was adding a chiller to her tank and I can't see how that would hurt her!!!

Is she eating/pooing at all? Don't know for how long you could do salt baths...maybe it's worth just putting her in tank with chiller on so the temp is nice and low, check water parameters often and do water changes if necessary feed her and see how she is, maybe she needs stability and to be left alone for a while without stress...unless the fungus is a big issue...there r meds u can add to water (on axolotl.org)...sorry I'm just guessing here

Well my family is going overseas in a couple of days so she will be back in her chilled tank, I hope she survives the time they are gone

I feel so bad that I'm not there to look after her

Hi Boo... are you any where near me in Bairnsdale, Vic....???? if so, maybe I could help if your folks have to go away too. If not, I think she is best in her tank with the chiller on... your axie is lucky you could afford a chiller!!! :ha: Let me know :happy:

My Lottie said:

Hi Boo... are you any where near me in Bairnsdale, Vic....???? if so, maybe I could help if your folks have to go away too. If not, I think she is best in her tank with the chiller on... your axie is lucky you could afford a chiller!!! :ha: Let me know :happy:

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Thanks for the offer but where I live in Aus isn't anywhere near there