A few weeks ago I posted a thread about my axolotls scratching their gills and that I found little worms in the tank. At first I wasn't panicking, but I'm afraid it went from bad to worse. I started with cleaning the tank (16%) twice a week, no result. Then I just started killing every worm I saw on the glass, no result. I tried Flubenol, no result. Last sunday I tried a slightly higher dose of Flubenol and still no result. A week ago I noticed my axolotls would't take food that easily anymore until they just wouldn't eat at all.
So yesterday, I started panicking...
I made a saltbath-solution (1liter water, 3teaspoons aquariumsalt), put both of them in there for 12 minutes and then I (instead of putting them back into my tank) placed them in a box with water. I started looking for a dechlorinator, but everyone kept telling me I didn't need to used those products 'cause the water here in Belgium is fine... Anyway, they really didn't like the saltbath! They kept 'splashing around' and they don't seem very relaxed in their temporary box either (I even saw Zelda shaking her head). Annabel ate a small worm a few hours ago, but Zelda just won't eat at all, she even ignores the frozen bloodworms!
So now I'm planning on cleaning the whole tank this weekend, getting rid of all the plants, replacing the sand, ... Just to start all over again. I could put the wood into the freezer (to kill the worms) and I would have to take all the 37 shrimps out of the tank. Then I could go for a good scrub with hot water.
But I just wanted to ask first: Is this a good idea? I would have to let the tank cycle all over again and my two axies would have to stay in the box all this time... I tested everything, my water is very hard (GH 15), pH a little high (8), my nitrate a little high (12.5 - 25 mg/l) and my nitrite/ammonia very low (as good as 0). Is there anything else to do? And what? I'm a little despirate here... I also have some almond leaves in my thank.
Help is much appreciated, I'm hoping on some answers here!
I'll attatch a photo of the box they're sitting in right now...
(Notice the water is a little brown, that's because I threw some almond leaves in there as well, but I took them out already. I was also wondering if it might be a good idea to put a small bottle with ice in there?)
Thanks!
So yesterday, I started panicking...
I made a saltbath-solution (1liter water, 3teaspoons aquariumsalt), put both of them in there for 12 minutes and then I (instead of putting them back into my tank) placed them in a box with water. I started looking for a dechlorinator, but everyone kept telling me I didn't need to used those products 'cause the water here in Belgium is fine... Anyway, they really didn't like the saltbath! They kept 'splashing around' and they don't seem very relaxed in their temporary box either (I even saw Zelda shaking her head). Annabel ate a small worm a few hours ago, but Zelda just won't eat at all, she even ignores the frozen bloodworms!
So now I'm planning on cleaning the whole tank this weekend, getting rid of all the plants, replacing the sand, ... Just to start all over again. I could put the wood into the freezer (to kill the worms) and I would have to take all the 37 shrimps out of the tank. Then I could go for a good scrub with hot water.
But I just wanted to ask first: Is this a good idea? I would have to let the tank cycle all over again and my two axies would have to stay in the box all this time... I tested everything, my water is very hard (GH 15), pH a little high (8), my nitrate a little high (12.5 - 25 mg/l) and my nitrite/ammonia very low (as good as 0). Is there anything else to do? And what? I'm a little despirate here... I also have some almond leaves in my thank.
Help is much appreciated, I'm hoping on some answers here!
I'll attatch a photo of the box they're sitting in right now...
(Notice the water is a little brown, that's because I threw some almond leaves in there as well, but I took them out already. I was also wondering if it might be a good idea to put a small bottle with ice in there?)
Thanks!