Illness/Sickness: Axolotl looks scraped!

Hey everyone,

One of my axolotls looks like he has been scraped or something. I came home from work and he looked like this. I'm not to worried but I wanted to make sure I'm on the right track with my treatment.

I think that the axolotl got spooked and started thrashing and hurt himself, but there is nothing sharp in my tank. Just rocks (large rocks) sand and plants and plastic decorations. So I'm a little confused.

One other possibility, I do have a pleco in the tank as well. Now I know plecos can try and eat the slime coat and cause infection but this looks nothing like that. So I'm looking for some thoughts.

Here are the pictures I have taken.




As far as treatment goes he has been quarunteed and will be receiving daily water changes to prevent infection. My current thought on salt baths is that it won't help his skin heal up and would probably stress and even hurt the axolotl considering the scrape.

Thanks for all your input!!!


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Looks like a similar thread I've seen with a pleco attack. Remove it ASAP. Axolotls should not really have anything else in the tank with them. My understanding is Plecos need warmer waters so either way, one if your pets isn't getting the adequate environment.

Fresh, cool, dechlorinated water. Daily changes. Tea baths can soothe the skin but if it turns fungal don't tea bath, it can make the fungus harder to get rid of.

Probably wouldn't hurt to run your hand along the ornaments. I use a stocking and if it grabs and snags too much I don't use it.

Here's some threads about Pleco's http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-general-discussion/82695-axolotls-plecs.html

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...f58-sick-axolotl/76024-very-very-worried.html

Please remove it from the tank.
I agree with the tea bath, it will help sooth the skin as it looks like a nasty wound. Also Indian Almond leaves are supposed to help the skin too. Salt baths would really hurt, but keep a close eye for infection.

It's always ill-advised to keep anything in an axolotl tank other than another axolotl. Even snails are questionable, when placed in with full grown adult axolotls. Definitely remove the pleco.

jdlqh8 said:

Now I know plecos can try and eat the slime coat and cause infection

Click to expand...

So why do it? Very bad idea.

Whether it's a scrape or pleco attack, tea baths and cool fresh water give him the best chance of recovery.

Lets say it was the pleco. How would it have happened? I can't imagine the pleco ripping that much skin off with its sucker, so did the pleco get aggressive and attack? If so what does a pleco use to attack? I'm just curious.

Disclaimer: pleco is already out. It is hanging out with African ciclids and so far Toothless (the axolotl) seems to be doing ok.

Thanks!

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Happens very easily, have you not seen when it attaches itself to the glass and sucks? Looks pretty nasty, at least my one does and he's the size of my middle finger. And if you've ever touched your axolotl you understand how soft they are, they feel like a very big oysters, so jelly-ish.. So it seems pretty easy to damage.

Yay for toothless doing okay and the removal of the pleco!

My baby got eaten alive by a pleco, vicious little critters How is toothless doing?