I'm following this thread since I also have a sick/injured Axolotl right now - and it's beneficial for me to read about other cases while trying to nurse my girl.
I just thought I'd give a
good tip about cooling in acute situations for shorter times in warm weather;
My mom picked up and transported the girl from abroad to me when I got her - and the temperatures in the car were calculated to be too warm for her during the very long ride in the car (since I didn't want my poor mom to have to freeze her *** off with the A/C blasting on maximum, on a long journey...) so I came up with a strategy, which worked splendidly.
* Mom put her travel container in a cooler box while it was still at a good temperature and it worked perfectly. (And was freaking all the way home, checking to see if she was still alive, non stop... hahaha)
The boxes (the hard ones are much better than the soft ones) keep the temperature that the container has - for many hours, before they start to warm up. Approximate temperature increase is about 1-1,5 degrees Celsius/hour, when you don't have freeze packs in it. (Which you shouldn't since they will lower the temperature too much.)
* At home, if it's hot and one acutely needs to keep the animal at a cool, but not ice cold, temperature - a good strategy is to have the container placed in an
electrical cooler box.
These keep the temperature steady all the time since they plug in. Most don't get under 13 degrees, approximately, so they don't work for fridging very well.
Many can be adjusted to exact temperature as long as it's above the minimum temperature - so they can be ideal for keeping 15-18 degrees.
I mean for a temporary home when temperatures in the home creep up and the Axies desperately need a cooler climate.
Not for long term, since the space is very limited, but for use as a temporary solution.
Most are not compatible for using at home in regular sockets, only in cars, but there are some that have multiple electrical chords.)
(I can't use this strategy at the moment since my electrical cooler is only for use in cars - I opted for raising the temperature in the fridge instead.)
* In summer times, to keep my Axie tank cool in hot weather (however, Sweden of course doesn't get as hot as many other countries, but it can get fairly hot, especially in my sauna of an apartment), I place the tank on the floor - this lowers the temperature about 1-2 degrees. Then I remove one of the lids (only when I'm at home since my cats would munch on the Axies if left alone with the opportunity to hunt... though, the only injury to ever be sustained when I left the room momentarily - was when Engelbert, my oldest Axie - grabbed a hold of the snout of one of the cats that tried to drink from the open aquarium...
) and place a fan rack (mine has 4 fans) that blows on the surface.
Removing the top/lid lowers it about 1 degree since the water can evaporate, which cools down the water a bit.The fan rack cools it an additional degree.
These three things ables me to cool the temperature down at least 3 degrees without using a chiller. (Although I will buy one when I can get a cheaper one somewhere.)
(Of course - having the windows in the room open if possible, as well as allowing no sunlight to get into the room, is crucial and the first action to take.)
* About the "hole" - I can't be sure since I haven't had anything alike on an aquatic animal - but it does look exactly like a sore after an infection abscess would look on any other type of animal. Can be sustained by a nip from a friend, a scrape (even a tiny one), or skin irritation ("burns") of the mucous coat - for example by bad water conditions.
Another thing that can severely irritate and even hurt the mucous coat is excessive touching of it. Fish get "burns" from too much handling. And that abrasion can give bacteria a hold to infect the area. Thinning of the mucous coat can also occur after irritation from different kinds of chemicals - that the owner might transfer by not cleaning the hands properly from possible small residues of soap, creams, perfume, whatever. This goes for all aquatic animals.
* About nutrition; I'm a amateur in amphibians and their needs and reactions when it comes to nutrition but what I am an expert on is nutrition in general when it comes to vitamins and mineral nutrients, since I'm a cat breeder since over a decade and raw feed both my dog and cats.
Shrimp, clams, shrimp as well as most other shellfish and seafood contain high levels of dietary minerals, that are very harmful in excessive intake - for all species including humans - but especially so for some species of animals. As far as I've understood, Axolotls are sensitive against this. Clams and scallops also contain high levels of copper, so don't over do the shellfish feeding. However, I've given it at occasions in very small portions when my girl has been refusing food, since they generally like it.
I know skudo09 suggested it as a treat to encourage her to eat, I just wanted to point it out so that you don't add it as a part of their normal diet, in good intention.
Crustaceans also have a hard chitine cover that is very hard to digest even for large mammals and birds - they typically come out in the feces - but for an Axie they can get stuck and even do damage to the innards. Wild Axolotls eat crustaceans, but these are very small and soft in the chitine cover. Chitine is actually a good source of protein, but should be soft.
I saw another thread somewhere, where people encouraged use of shrimp and liver in Axie diet and that's pretty catastrophal since liver is very potent in a big bunch of minerals and vitamines that can be toxic to many species.
Liver contains huge amounts of iron, copper and other minerals, as well as extremely high levels of vitamine A - which is lethally toxic in high doses and has a slow half-life - even if it's a crucial component in the needs of many species. For example - raw fed cats should never have a higher percentage of 5 % liver in their diet, to avoid possible vitamine A poisoning.
I also saw another thread where a commenter claimed that raw meat was very low in minerals and vitamines - which is SO incorrect. On the contrary.
I've also seen other claims, that minerals and vitamines are not important for the needs of salamanders - which is also idiotic since all living creatures have needs concerning these nutritional agents - they are crucial for organ functions and growth.
Also - a balance between phosporous and calcium is crucial for building and maintenance of bone and can cause severe disfigurement of the skeleton if the balance is severely distorted for a longer period of time. (Been there, done that, once with a Blue tongued skink that got too much food that was rich in phosphorous but low in calcium...)
Fish as a source of nutrition is not as bad as some may think, since it's high in protein but low in fat, which is - from what I can google - a good balance for salamanders.
However, regarding minerals and vitamines - I don't know whether they are exactly a super good alternative.
I read an interesting post about the stomach contents of a dissected wild Axolotl and it contained a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Small fish was 7 %.
I don't feed a lot of fish but occasionally, I release a bunch of juvenile guppies in their tank since the guppies never attack the Axies' gills and hunting them provides a stimulating pastime for the Axolotls. I only give sweet water fish, native to at least the same part of the world - I breed guppies that I've had for many generations and know to be healthy and free from parasites, for this.
However, too much fish might cause inbalance since they, as well as shrimp and other seafood, contain high levels of phosphorous.
Raw fish also contains high levels of thiaminase, that blocks the uptake of thiamine. (An important type of vitamine B.)
Bloodworms and their final form - the flies - is what makes up the largest part of wild Axies' diet and is good for them, but can't sustain a proper source of nutrition for an adult Axolotl. Earth worms differ a bit in nutritional components but still seems to be considered the most optimal food for them. My Axies have been healthy and happy on that diet - just that some Axolotls don't seem to like the wiggling, even if they are cut into small pieces.
All oceanic food and terrestrial food is to be moderate in intake for sweet water creatures, since their mineral/vitamine levels are adapted for oceanic creatures. Or rather - any animal should be kept on food as close to their natural feeding patterns - as possible.
This is evident when observing and comparing nutritional values in food that is the natural source of food for a species. For example - the nutritional values of a mouse is absolutely perfectly aligned with the nutrional needs of a cat, down to a tee.
My Axies eat earth worms and Axolotl pellets as their staple food, with occasional treats (as well as "toys") of guppy juveniles and Cherry shrimp juveniles. They have fun hunting them
I don't feed them with anything terrestrial since it's the least natural thing for them to eat. Very rarely, they get some clams and shrimp or white ocean fish from non polluted waters. (Which I put in some fresh dechlorinated water for just a short while - the osmotic pressure will drive the salt out of them.)
I'm SO sorry for mile long ramblings
(I'm a chronic blabbermouth, even in text...)
about all kinds of stuff but I kind of just went overboard since I'm interested in nutrition for animals
You haven't even asked for this info/opinions but since you are to design a feeding plan to fatten up your Axies, I thought there might be something useful for you.
I got engaged in the subject now, while yapping about it , so I think I'm gonna start a project on trying to read up on salamander physiology and needs since animal nutrition is a hobby of mine
I hope Ponyo will be alright soon! *Crossing my fingers*
(Btw - I'm also a manga/anime freak, so I picked up on "Ponyo" and your nickname
And the "butler" in the aquarium made me lol