Advise please.

[Lise]

I was hoping you folks could help me with my ill axie.

After reading the posts here I realise I have received very poor information from the petshop (surprise) - Bob has been floating and has gone off his food, thinking it was the dirty water and filter, I have unfortunately done a 100% water change.
Bob reacted very badly and attempted to climb out of the tank. Subsequently he has developed a fungus over his gills.

I have now removed him from the tank into shallow water that I have left to stand - he has passed some gravel (I know another bad move) and has not yet eaten.

I am now planning to remove all the water and gravel from the tank and re-establish from scratch. I also plan to give Bob short salt baths to try to clear up the fungus (though he does look quite ill). Does this seem a sensible course of action?

I understand a bit more about cycling now but I can't leave Bob in a tub forever. How long do you think it would be before I could return Bob to his tank and how long should I continue the salt bath treatments.

It makes me ill to think my lack of knowledge has harmed Bob - any advise you could offer would be most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Lise,
Sorry to hear about your axi troubles, unfortunately most pet shops have little to no knowledge on axolotls, when I got my first axolotl the pet store person told me to put the water at 25 degrees!!
Salt baths are good for fungal infections, so yes, continue the salt baths and also put him in the fridge in a shallow basin of dechlorinated water just covering his back. It probably would be best to start from scratch as you can't use the gravel anyway. So just use large pebbles (bigger then his head) or you can opt for a bare floor, he may slip around a bit at first but they become accustomed to it in a couple of weeks, have you got any plants (silk, plastic or live) and hiding places for Bob? What do you feed him? I hope I have helped you a little, if you need serious help it would be a good idea to talk to people like Kapo, Kaysie, John and Ed.
Good luck!!

 

[Jennewt]

It sounds like you are doing the right things now. Do the salt baths, and stop when the fungus is completely gone. If the tank is reasonably large, you can cycle the tank with Bob in it, just be sure to monitor the ammonia and step up water changes as needed. During cycling, feed as little as possible and remove uneaten food immediately. Do you have a better idea now how to maintain the tank so that you don't have to do a total water change again?

 

[Lise]

Thanks to Jennewt and Tequila sunrise for your feedback. Unfortuately Bob passed away yesterday - despite the salt baths, fridge etc. I feel quite devasted that my lack of knowledge could have caused him suffering - he was such a great little guy. It makes me quite cross to think that petshops are permitted to deal in animals and know squat... however I am very glad to have found this site. I think it may be a while before I purcahse another axie, but thanks to this site I'll be much better prepared.

Thanks again for your help.

Lise

 

[tara]

sorry to hear that

Hi Lise, sorry to hear about Bob. Regards Tara.

 

[Lise]

Thanks for your kind words Tara.

 

[angelwitch]

sorry for your loss

:uhoh: very sorry to hear lise...
we`ve only had our axi`s for just over a week now and i can totally relate to what you said about the pet shop ..
they shop were we bought ours from could do with :kill: ..
they could not inform us of any care advice, except `they eat meal worms`
they did not even tell us to chop the heads off !:nono:

I personally think ALL pet shops should be enforced to give some sort of care details when you buy any pet, large or small.. after all they are quick enough to take our monies and make vast profits.. how much would one A4 piece of paper cost :angry:

Thank heavens for the people who have the knowledge and the good will to set up sites like these..

rant over and out...

have a good day.. i no i will
kez:angel:

 

[ianclick]

Hi Lise very sorry to hear about the loss of Bob.

Unfortunately some petshops primary motivation is money.

The best cure could well be to get another one. Its always ok to put axies in the fridge if they are sick or distressed. I know it sounds bizzare but it is a much closer temperature to that of their natural environment Glacier fed mountain streams.

Glacial ice is about as pure frozen water as it gets without unnatural purification which is the reason axies are so suseptable to changes in their water condition.

You can start the cycling process now before you get a new one so it can be introduced into a healthy water environment when and if you get a new one.

It sounds like you did all that you could and the rest was up to nature.

I am pleased to say that our local pet shop has listened and obviously had a look at this site and others as their axie tank now has sand substrate more hiding places and they have two tanks to deal with the overcrowding.

Best of luck

 

[Lise]

Thanks Click and Kez.

Totally agree with your rant Kez. The petshop even tried to get me to but a huge aerator stone, fotunately I knew enough not to go there.

I think buying another little Axie may be the solution, whilst I have cleaned out Bob's tank, I haven't had the heart to move it yet, and find myself taking a look as I walk past expecting to see Bob. Maybe I'll wait a little longer and then seek the advise of the forums to set up a system before I get another axie.

Thanks again to you all, it has been wonderful to know you are all here with advise - and understand what these little fellows can mean to you.

Lise