Illness/Sickness: Axolotl's hand eaten by tank mate

Azariel · Jun 22, 2010

About 2 weeks ago I found my little leucistic female Pilku with the skin of her right hand partially ripped off like a glove. Part of the skin was hanging and we could see her finger's bones.

I fridged her for 10 days till it looked way better and practically fully healed, and put her back to the tank with her male wild type companion.

Horror this morning when I fed them, Pilku was hidden and her full right hand was missing till the elbow.

She's back to the fridge. Wondering if there's any product, that could be found in European Union, I could add to the water to avoid infection?
She is currently very red, especially her tail and legs. Infection? Trauma?

Here are the pics from the first and the second attack.

Shizeric · Jun 22, 2010

As long as you don't see any sign of fungus..fresh dechlorinated water is all you need.

What size tank are you keeping the 2 Axolotls in, how many hides do you have, and what is your feeding routine?

Her gills also look pretty small..what are you tank parameters? nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and temp?

Azariel · Jun 22, 2010

Thank you for your answer. I just gave her a little light salt bath.

The tank is about 200l, plenty of plants and hides, there has never been any problems before. They used to get along very well.

Her gills have always been small and the others gills long. Parameters are good, temp changes from time to time (around 18° - 22° when very hot). No amonia.

One more pic.

melfly · Jun 22, 2010

Aww bless!
Keep an eye out for fungus.
I cant quite tell from the picture, but if it starts looking cotton wolley then you'll need to start salt baths.

Mel

callina · Jun 22, 2010

Hi,

in my opinion the wound looks fine - I can´t see any fungus, so there´s no need for salt bathing her. Keep her in cold and dechlorinated tap water - that´s all you have to do for her. But keep a closed eye on her.

Tina

Shizeric · Jun 22, 2010

callina said:
But keep a closed eye on her.

Tina

Ahaha, I'm sure you mean a "close eye". A closed eye is the exact opposite of what you want

.

callina · Jun 22, 2010

loool, .....thanks Eric, thats exact what I mean

Mac Myers · Jun 22, 2010

I think as Eric suggested, I would revisit the feeding routine. I have to separate my 4 when feeding or things can get pretty scary.

Azariel · Jun 22, 2010

This didn't happen during feeding, I just noticed it at this moment.
It happened during the night most likely.

I have been, since a month, quite away from my place so they have been alone a lot. Getting very excited every time I was dropping to see them. Can the boredom of no-social contact make some difference in their behaviour?

Mac Myers · Jun 22, 2010

Interesting Question... but I doubt it. I would assume hunger could be a factor... but they aren't really social animals. :happy:

Azariel · Jun 22, 2010

I fed them as much as usually, dropped to see them everyday.
For some unknown reason, I read everywhere that they aren't social animals and the first word who comes about mine is "social"!
But that's maybe due to the fact that Scandinavians are rude barbarians =P

Azhael · Jun 22, 2010

Once the axolotls make the association between you and food, they are condicioned to expect it everytime you move close to the tank. It happens with most caudates after a while.
It´s quite common for them to become very excited when they receive this stimuli, and since they are oportunistic animals that are programmed to snap at anything that moves, in the confussion they might bite each other. Normally this is not a problem and the agression is accidental and minimal, but on occasion a leg or the tail is damaged.

As far as the wound doesn´t get infected, and if the animal is healthy, this shouldn´t be a problem, they are well equiped to deal with such things.

melfly · Jun 25, 2010

Some axolotls are moody and do tend to snap at others.
I have a gold female Fred who was a nightmare at one point, she injured both my leucistic and wild. I saw her following the wild round the tank snapping at her. My wilds leg has never been the same since she attacked her once.

I kept Fred in a seperate tank for a while. Since moving back about 8 months ago she's been a lot better, altho i have noticed my wilds tail looks a little ragged. If she keeps it up I may have to seperate her permenantly.

Thing is, even with hides and enough room they tend to group together and sit on each others heads!!! lol

Mel

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Illness/Sickness: Axolotl's hand eaten by tank mate

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