Illness/Sickness: What is wrong with my Axie

[ken1981]

Hi,

I'm new to axolotl I don't know what happen.
Please help me, something is wrong with my gold axolotl.
Yesterday I change the water and when I wake up today the gills of my Axie turn white.

Is it fungus? Please help. Thank you.
Here is the pictures

 

[Olivia97]

There looks like there's too much to be fungus, however what's your parameters?

 

[Bdyoung]

It's not fungus for sure. Fungus would be something growing in the gills not just the gills turning white. I have two theories. One it's just changed the coloration of its gills for no reason. Axies are known to do this, but I have never seen it in such a dramatic sense. Or blood has stopped flowing to the gill feathers and the gill feathers are going to fall off. If that's the case I would check water flow and water levels.

 

[ken1981]

Thank you for the fast reply Olivia,

My water was around 16 degree celsius and PH was 7.1, the other I don't know as I don't have the tester kit for it.

The axolotl doesn't want to eat, and I already separate it from my other axolotl.
Is the treatment has to be salt bath/fridging or I can do something about it.

Is it because I change the water yesterday that this happen?
Will the fungus spread to my other axie?

Thank you again for your help.

 

[ken1981]

It's not fungus for sure. Fungus would be something growing in the gills not just the gills turning white. I have two theories. One it's just changed the coloration of its gills for no reason. Axies are known to do this, but I have never seen it in such a dramatic sense. Or blood has stopped flowing to the gill feathers and the gill feathers are going to fall off. If that's the case I would check water flow and water levels.

Thank you for the reply, so what can I do about this, because the water levels are quite high as I fill it almost to the top (of course I have the lid so he doesn't jump out), and the filter doesn't seem to be a problem as I have this axie for 3 months without problems.

I might be mistaken, what can I do then? will it die or I can do something about it.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Olivia97]

I would take a sample from your tank to a local aquarium and get them to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. What type of filter are you using? The lack of appetite is quite worrying to me, what does their diet consist of?

 

[ken1981]

I would take a sample from your tank to a local aquarium and get them to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. What type of filter are you using? The lack of appetite is quite worrying to me, what does their diet consist of?

Ok, I would do that. I'm using a hang on filter and I do 20% water change every week.

I usually feed them earth worm that I found in my garden and sometimes heart beef and snails as well, not sure if this is the problem.

 

[Olivia97]

I can't see anything majorly wrong with his diet, just with the snails, they can cause impaction (obviously not the case here) but just in future best to swap to something different. I'm thinking maybe either 1, the water quality is bad and you're unaware (best to get that tested asap!) and 2 maybe the tissue is rotting or 3 it's natural colouration, has your axie been active recently? Swimming, gulping for air, hanging around at the surface?

 

[ken1981]

I'll stop the snails then, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get tested. The axie was very active, he seems normal like you say (Swimming, gulping for air, hanging around at the surface), except he doesn't want eat. Hope I try tonight hopefully he's gonna eat, will keep you updated. Thank you.

 

[Olivia97]

The gulping for air around the surface may be an indication there's insufficient oxygen in the water, i would buy an airstone they're relatively cheap and should stop the gulping, however if there's high ammonia levels in the tank that could also be an indication.

 

[jessicaanne]

The axie was very active, he seems normal like you say (Swimming, gulping for air, hanging around at the surface)

Just so you're aware, a very active axolotl that gulps air and hangs around the surface isn't normal behaviour. It's an indication that something is wrong with the water quality and/or oxygen levels so hopefully you get the water tested tomorrow and correct the problem asap. It's handy to buy the API master test kit which is relatively cheap online. That way you can check the water parameters as often as you need without having to go to the pet shop/aquarium.

 

[Olivia97]

Just so you're aware, a very active axolotl that gulps air and hangs around the surface isn't normal behaviour. It's an indication that something is wrong with the water quality and/or oxygen levels so hopefully you get the water tested tomorrow and correct the problem asap. It's handy to buy the API master test kit which is relatively cheap online. That way you can check the water parameters as often as you need without having to go to the pet shop/aquarium.

As i said above. (sorry it sounded like i meant it was normal)

 

[ken1981]

thank you for your reply,
I might be wrong, I mean by my axie very active is he usually stay down all the time and usually only at night he move around for a couple minutes and I believe the water have enough air as my filter give air to the water as well, so basically the axie gulp air once or twice each day. Is this seems normal to you guys. Sorry for the wrong information I write above.

For me he doesn't seems to be stressed because I have other axolotl and he seems fine, I usually didn't put the light on, I use it only to take picture.

Sorry for my bad writing and thank you everyone for the advise, I'll try my best to save him. I'll keep update on how he is doing.

 

[nicolelawton]

sounds like ammonia/nitrate issue. id pick up a tester kit to check it out. looks like the gills were nice and feathery, beautiful axie you have there

 

[ken1981]

Thank you, here is the update on my axolotl and I also attached the photo.

He still not eating and he seems normal doing his activity, the only problem is he lose a lot of his gills feather as you can see on the picture and he's pooed in the morning as well, looked very healthy, if you have any opinion or advised on why the gills falling off.

Thank you.

Checked the ammonia and nitrate, the water is in good condition.

 

[Olivia97]

His gill filaments have definitely died. Did he have any tank mates? It also looks as if there's some fungus on the second picture.

 

[ken1981]

No he live by himself in a 2 foot tank with no gravel,the white stuff is not fungus it's the gills that change color to white but all gone now, I think he is fine now as he start eating since 2 days ago. Thanks every one for your advise. I'll post again if there is something wrong with him.