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Metamorphosis

M

mathew

Guest
my year and a half old axolotl hes stopped eating, has shown a keeen intrest in gettin out of the water and is constanly bright red (normaly albino) and some her gills seem to be not moving while teh otehrs are, she has white almost fungus on her gils and has started vomiting the other day... i was told to do salt baths, but that seemed to only make her angry, and ive moved her into her won tank, but ive done everything possible, ive allowed her space to get out of the water fuilly and everything like that, ive consiodered her having bacterial, or fungal nifectino, or parasits but i dnt tjin, it is, her gills are going blue/blackish/ and i wandre if she is metemorphasing? what are the symptoms? i nknwo its rare but?
 
J

jinny

Guest
do a search in the forum (you can also narrow the search to this section specifically).
 
J

joan

Guest
This is probably not due to morphing, but due to poor water quality. Have you tested your water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? What's the temperature of the tank?
 
M

mathew

Guest
the water temp is fine and all the levels are nornmal, her lack of eating began when i bought three new babies and a tank twice as big as the one i had (the one shes back in by herself)she is still trying to get out it seems, and she is floating ALOT, she still isnt eating and im not sure what else to do,im going to keep doing salt baths because even thought it made her irritable, it seemed to help her gills, thjis clinic in sydney who specialise in exotic animals told me to do salt baths of non iiodenised salt (rock or sea salt) at 1-2 grams per litre)their website is www.birdvet.com.au anyway, she used to eat fresh fish and i'll try her on that agin, but im really stuck. im thinking that because of the stress and an outside bacteria or some fugus could have come in with the nex axolotls or the new tank could have all combined to make her this sick
 
S

sharn

Guest
new axies you say? im taking it you didnt quarenteen them then? this could well be your cause, we reccomend quarenteening them for at least a month before adding them into the mix.

you say all levels are normal- is the tank properly cycled? this may also have something to do with it.
 
M

mathew

Guest
yeah it is, twice a week of 50% shes by herself now so she should improve, she stuill hasnt eaten and she didnt like her salt bath much, but what can you expect, thank you all for your quick replies, its really apreciated, aleiveiated alot of stress
 
T

theresa

Guest
When you say "yes the tank is cycled twice a week by 50%, "do you mean water changes?
Do you know what cycleing (sp) means? i don't know how to put a link on the computer for you to go to to read about it, but every one else here can (LOL).
Water changes are not cycleing (sp) the tank...
Good luck, and for a speedy recovery
 
M

mathew

Guest
that all seems, technical, but well and good, but ive nevr done that before and she coped marvelously, so i dont think that could be the reason, im sure she will survive, well i hope she will, ive done everything i can and all that i can do now is hope for the best.
 
S

stipe

Guest
wait i minute i read that website on the axolotl section, does it say to house the axolotl in salt water?? if so they need to be informed or sumthing.
 
S

sharn

Guest
its not that techincal once ya get your head around it, basically the poo turns to ammonia which is then turned to a less harmful substance (nitrite) which is then turned to nitrate by bacteria.

ill bet she didnt actually cope 'marvelously' but simply survived it. ammonia burns fish- hell it even burns humans (nappy rash, it is alot more concentrated though) so its pretty potent if it gets up high. 50% a week is good but if its cycling 30% plus a day is much better.

having a cycling tank will slow down her healing and could leave her open to some sort of secondary infection.
 
J

joan

Guest
You say the water temp is fine, how hot exactly is 'fine'? They can't cope with hot temperatures.
 
E

edward

Guest
snip "less harmful substance (nitrite) which is then turned to nitrate by bacteria. "

Nitrite is not less harmful. It is as dangerous as ammonia except that it doesn't present symptoms as obviously as ammonia burns as it affects the ability of the blood to uptake and hold oxygen. In nitrite toxicity, the animal suffocates.

Ed
 
E

edward

Guest
Stipe,

I would have to look at the concentration but it is a long standing husbandry technique for fish and some aquatic animals to add some level of salt to the water.
The addition of some salt to the water helps increase the level of resistance to some fungal infections.

Ed
 
michael

michael

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I think it is probably a water quality, disease, or both problem. If the axolotls skin feels sticky when you pick it up it is definately ill. If your water is soft you should add minerals. Watch the ammonia level. Keep it cool.
 
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