Sick Axolotl! Not sure whats wrong but need help fast.

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blankminded

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Joey
I was out for work for 2 days and I come home to this! Not sure whats going on but I don't to lose this little guy. Anyone have any idea on to treat this?
 

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Ooh, that certainly looks sore for the little guy! From the pictures it looks like a wound, to me. Does he have anything sharp or pointed in the tank he could have caught himself on or swam into? Or hides that could have rough edges, hidden sharp spots on its interior?
 
He's in a 36 gallon bow front tank with a sand bottom. Fully planted and the only hide that was in the tank was a PVC pipe I cut to fit. I didn't think there was any sharp edges but I could have been wrong. I didn't like the way it looked so I took it out before I went out of town.

There is a small golden algae eater, a small group of tiny edlers, a small group of ghost shrimp, and a couple black kuhli loaches. All of which help keep the tank clean and act as a food source.
 
Whatever the case it should heal up nicely on its own. It will be worth keeping the water cool and clean and looking out for any sore tissue and/or fungus if which were to occur, salt baths are your aid! I find it unlikely he'll need any though :happy:
 
I would strongly advise getting rid of all those fish except the endlers and the ghost shrimp. Algae eaters are mean and nasty fish and just get meaner as they age. The huge amount of waste they produce negates any small contribution to the tank. ALL those species are warm water fish. Your axolotl is a cold water animal. Fish damage axolotls gills and i would suspect your axolotl was attacked.
 
The first thing that came to my mind was whether there were any plecos in the tank. Apparently, there is one, and I believe that is the case as well. There are multiple horror stories about mixing algae eaters and newts within this forum, and I would highly recommend separating them.
 
Deffinately get rid of plec :( i too had ine in my tank n once i saw the things they did to axies he went straight away oh the trauma :( deffo looks like a plec wound .. Keep it in fresh clean cool water n it should heal as they are great healers :) good luck x
 
I do not have a Pleco in the tank. I made sure everything in the tank didn't have any spins/spikes and was non aggressive. I also made sure everything in there would be able to be eaten by the Axolotl with no ill effect.

The algae eater is a "Golden Algae Eater" This is not my picture. Its one I found on the internet.
 

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Would it be ok to add aquarium salt to the tank? Just to help the healing and help prevent bacteria/fungus from infecting his wounds?
 
Golden algae eaters are aggresive fish. http://aquariumlore.blogspot.com/2008/04/golden-algea-eater.html?m=1

There is no valid reason to keep fish with your axolotl. The excuse that they are feeders is a weak one. It seems you just want a mixed species tank. The point is you are not providing proper care for any of those animals. They are from different parts of the world and have different requirements than your axolotl.I have no doubt your axolotl will be attacked again.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml

I am not judging you, just trying to show you that future harm to your axolotl is preventable.
 
I am going to do a water change in the tank today and I will be taking out the loaches and the Algae eater. The 5 ghost shrimp and 5 (was 10) are feeders and should be gone within about a week.
My main concern is his wound healing and not getting infected.
 
Keep the water cool and clean and it will heal on its own. Axolotls are masters at healing. Feeding mostly earthworms will provide him with the nutrition to make a speedy recovery.

Sent from my M865C using Tapatalk 2
 
Went to do the water change and check on him and noticed its gotten worse. There is white stuff (fungus maybe) growing on his mouth and gills.
 

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Looks like a wound has become infected with fungus, check the appropriate threads for treatment.
 
I decided to give him a salt bath last night and place him in fridge just to be on the safe side. I just got home from and did a water change on him and he seems to be a little more alert. Im hoping he pulls through. I did a large water change on his tank and took out all the other animals. Im gonna let it run and do another water change before he goes back in.
 
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