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Axolotls are illegal in California. Please read this thread for detailed information and links to the actual laws: https://www.caudata.org/threads/axolotls-are-illegal-in-california-here-are-the-relevant-laws.30779/
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what is this? nitrate fungus? need help!
- Thread starter joeaxolotl
- Start date
EasternRomioi3
Active member
Oh my, I have no idea what that is! I really, really hope someone can get you an answer.
How old is your axolotl, can you give us more details, like tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, temperature)?
How old is your axolotl, can you give us more details, like tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, temperature)?
joeaxolotl
New member
he's a few years old, levels weren't too wonky besides nitrate off the scales, even after a couple water changes. it seems like a fungus. it's all over his hands, feet, and mouth. so it seems like the ground environment was too toxic.
I have him quarantined, doing salt baths. results are looking positive. not really eating, but he'll lunge at food.
but I need to get that tank back in shape. I've added more plants, a new filter on the way, I don't know how else to control nitrate. I've been seeing some posts on hydrogen peroxide treatment to tank, I just hope the new plants can take it
EasternRomioi3
Active member
The only way to control nitrates is to do more frequent water changes. When my girl had fungus in October, I did a water change every other day, at least 50%.
I do not trust the hydrogen peroxide. I use that stuff to kill my own mouth ulcers and they hurt like a broken hand (I would know about that broken hand part...). I wouldn't use hydrogen peroxide.
However, you ordered a new filter? A second one to use? You can't just replace the filters. My girl now has two, both are cycled, one was her old one that was, of course, already cycled, then her second on cycled in the tank, it works well. Two sponge filters. Keep the old filter in! You're familiar with the tank cycling process, it can take like 30 days, and if it is messed up, fungus and all sorts of things, worse things, can occur.
Has anyone else replied to you about that? I've never seen fungus on the face like that.
Oh wait, the salt baths, how long is your axolotl? When I did my girl's salt baths, it was 2 quarts of water (cold, dechlorinated days in advance), and then I added 4 teaspoons of API aquarium salt, let it all dissolve, put an air stone in, hooked it up tot he filter, gave me girl a 10 minute bath. Within the first 3 days, the fungus fell, died completely. She regrew her missing gill stalk by Christmas, again, this happened in October. My girl is about 11 inches long. If yours is bigger, I would do 3 quarts but only 5 teaspoons of salt. The rule that I follow and learned is "2 teaspoons for every quart."
I do not trust the hydrogen peroxide. I use that stuff to kill my own mouth ulcers and they hurt like a broken hand (I would know about that broken hand part...). I wouldn't use hydrogen peroxide.
However, you ordered a new filter? A second one to use? You can't just replace the filters. My girl now has two, both are cycled, one was her old one that was, of course, already cycled, then her second on cycled in the tank, it works well. Two sponge filters. Keep the old filter in! You're familiar with the tank cycling process, it can take like 30 days, and if it is messed up, fungus and all sorts of things, worse things, can occur.
Has anyone else replied to you about that? I've never seen fungus on the face like that.
Oh wait, the salt baths, how long is your axolotl? When I did my girl's salt baths, it was 2 quarts of water (cold, dechlorinated days in advance), and then I added 4 teaspoons of API aquarium salt, let it all dissolve, put an air stone in, hooked it up tot he filter, gave me girl a 10 minute bath. Within the first 3 days, the fungus fell, died completely. She regrew her missing gill stalk by Christmas, again, this happened in October. My girl is about 11 inches long. If yours is bigger, I would do 3 quarts but only 5 teaspoons of salt. The rule that I follow and learned is "2 teaspoons for every quart."
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Shane douglas:with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??+1
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Thorninmyside:Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation+1
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Clareclare:Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?+1
Clareclare:
Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus...
+1