Hi Sherrisixxx,
Fungal infections especially by saprolegnia species are very opportunistic and tends to occur when there is an underlying problem predisposing the axie to the infection.
Poor water chemistry, temperature and stress in the environment are the more usual culprits. When axies are stressed, they have higher levels of a hormone called cortisol that would cause immuno depression. Their immune systems will become weaker and make them more susceptible to infections.
You have done a good job in keeping their water conditions well maintained. Are there sufficient hiding places? How is the nutrition? Are you feeding the right foods? Are there excessive currents? What type of substrates are you using? Have you noticed any other signs of stress or illness?
Normally when there is a common underlying problem, all axies will get affected to a certain degree if they are housed in the same tank. The fungal infections will also tend to be more generalised and randomised in distribution, affecting gills, skin, toes etc.
As you have observed that the same axie is always getting fungus on the same areas made me suspect that that particular 1 or 2 toes themselves have an underlying problem. It is possible that there are microscopic remnants of fungal elements left on the toes after the salt baths. These remnants can flare up again when the seemingly susceptible axie is subjected to stressors or less than ideal conditions.
Other causes are that there is a deep seeded fungal mycosis deep beneath the skin layer, maybe even bones of that axie. The deep infection makes it harder to eradicate completely hence the recurring infection. Presence of embedded foreign body within the skin can also allow opportunistic infections to strike. In the worse case scenario, the tissues around the toes may have a concurrent bacterial infection that constantly makes the skin vulnerable.
Rare causes include abnormalities of the cells themselves, such as 'skin cancer' or neoplasia. It is rare for axolotls to have neoplasia but it can happen. In these cases, the tissues grow abnormally and do not present with the same protective capability of normal skin cells.
I would recommend you fridge the axie and continue with salt or tea baths. Although Methylene Blue is used to treat fish for fungal infections and in particular against
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. It is not ideal for treating axolotls. Methylene blue can strip the axie's skin of the protective layer of slime. Discontinue methylene blue treatment.
Also do remember to treat your axies in a different container/tank away from the main tank. Do not add anything into the main tank.
Fridging your axie will destress it, boost its immune system and render harmful pathogens (both bacterial and fungal) less viable.
- Set your fridge to about 5 degree celsius.
- Put your axie in a container large enough to allow it to stretch its limbs and tail comfortably.
- Fill with fresh dechlorinated water enough to submerge it but not allowing it to float.
- Cover with a lid. You can use a perforated lid or netting to prevent it jumping out.
- Use a tea towel to cover it to keep the environment dark.
- Perform 100% water changes daily with clean dechlorinated water.
- You can pre prepare bottles of water in the fridge.
- Continue to offer a variety of nutritious food daily. Try live wriggly food like blackworms, bloodworms, earthworms. You can also try the usual pellet, offer treats of shrimp and fish etc. Otherwise you can also blend everything in a food processor and then roll the resultant mash into a pea sized ball to try offer your axie. Remove uneaten food within 20 min.
I would try
fridging your axolotl for 2 weeks and continually monitor for improvement. Please update on the progress every couple of days. The appetite will improve as the fungal infection is cured.
Extract from
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/illness2.shtml
I mainly use teabaths for minor skin problems. It may also be used with fungal problems but on that account I prefer salt baths. Tea has a slightly antifungal and antibacterial effect (resulting from tannins) and additionally it closes the pores in the skin a little bit (mainly resulting from tannin and caffeine). The skin tightens and gets some kind of protective layer, making it harder for fungi and bacteria to intrude the body. On the other hand it makes it harder for salt or medicine to reach pathogens which are already inside the body - that is the reason I do not use it on fungal infections, although a tea bath is sometimes recommended as a cure for fungal infections by some people.
The medication is as follows: I take one bag of black tea without any additional aroma (it is important to use black tea because this kind of tea is fermented and so it has tannins) for every 10 litres of water (preferably used in a quarantine tank). This tea gets dashed with boiling water in a seperate bowl - I leave it there for at least 10 to 15 minutes so the tannins are resolved into the water. The tea has to cool down and is finally added to the quarantine water. After a week I make a bigger change of water (60% at least), the rest of the tea is removed over time by normal water changes. If you have to make more regular water changes (f.i. in a small bowl or tank) the tea concentration can be refilled. As far as I know there are no negative effects even for long term treatment.
A similar effect (although not as strong) may have the addition of dried oak or beech leafs now and then as a precaution.
Cheers