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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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? Ammonia effects?
- Thread starter axie girl
- Start date
Darkmaverick
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Hi axie girl,
Yes ammonia toxicity can occur in axolotls much like many other freshwater and even marine creatures. The effects do vary somewhat due to different tolerance levels exhibited by different animals. Ammonia toxicity in axolotls can be observed as both behavioural and external pathology visible to the eye.
Axolotl
Ammonia toxicity in the axolotl can manifest as a chemical insult of the skin and the external gills, cloudy eyes, and infection (normally a secondary opportunistic infection) on the skin of the animal. In the worse case scenario, it dies. Behavioural signs include can include inappetance and unusual 'floating'.
Invertebrates
A review of the effects of ammonium on estuarine and marine benthic organisms is given in Nixon et al (1995). Toxicity data are presented for shrimps, mysids and lobsters (in which ammonia appears to interfere with lobsters ability to adjust to different salinities). Allan et al (1990) estimated 96 hour LC50s for juvenile school prawns Metapenaeus macleayi and leader prawns Penaeus monodon to be 1.39 and 1.69 mg un-ionised ammonia NH3-N/l (26.3 mg and 37.4 mg total ammonia-N/l respectively). Williams and Brown (1992) estimated a 96 hour LC50 of 0.787 mg NH3-N/l (24.6 mg NH4-H/l) for the nauplius of the marine copepod Tisbe battagliai and a No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) of 0.106 mg NH3-N/l (3.34 mg NH4-N/l) for a study comprising tests on several life stages.
For invertebrates, toxicity appears to increase as salinity decreases (Miller et al 1990, Chen and Lin 1991), although too few data exist to indicate whether this pattern is typical for all or most invertebrates (Nixon et al 1995). Several studies indicate that ammonia toxicity is greatest to early life stages of invertebrates.
Fish
Acute toxicity of ammonia to fish increases with low dissolved oxygen concentrations. This has been shown in both fresh and marine water environments (Seager et al 1988, Nixon et al 1995).
The majority of ammonium toxicity data relates to fish, although most of the species tested are freshwater species, with many coarse fish appearing to be as sensitive to ammonia as salmonids (Mallet et al 1992). Nevertheless, data are available for sole, turbot and larval inland silversides. Eddy and Twitchen (1990) suggested that high environmental sodium concentrations can decrease toxicity to fish.
In the Mersey Estuary at a mean unionised ammonia concentration of 0.008 mg NH3-N/l, a diverse invertebrate population was present, and this region was passable by flounder and salmonids. For fish, ammonium toxicity appears to be less at lower salinity levels, gradually decreasing until it reaches a point similar to that found in freshwaters (Seager et al 1998, Miller et al 1990). This may be of relevance, especially in estuaries where DO sags occur at low salinities.
Sediment dwelling organisms
Ammonia exerts toxic effects in the water column and does not accumulate in the sediments. However, sediment dwelling organisms that use water in the boundary layer between the sediment and the water column (molluscs, crustacea and most annelids) for feeding or respiration could be at risk.
You might like to take a look at some of these references via this website.
http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/water-quality/wq11.htm
Regards
Yes ammonia toxicity can occur in axolotls much like many other freshwater and even marine creatures. The effects do vary somewhat due to different tolerance levels exhibited by different animals. Ammonia toxicity in axolotls can be observed as both behavioural and external pathology visible to the eye.
Axolotl
Ammonia toxicity in the axolotl can manifest as a chemical insult of the skin and the external gills, cloudy eyes, and infection (normally a secondary opportunistic infection) on the skin of the animal. In the worse case scenario, it dies. Behavioural signs include can include inappetance and unusual 'floating'.
Invertebrates
A review of the effects of ammonium on estuarine and marine benthic organisms is given in Nixon et al (1995). Toxicity data are presented for shrimps, mysids and lobsters (in which ammonia appears to interfere with lobsters ability to adjust to different salinities). Allan et al (1990) estimated 96 hour LC50s for juvenile school prawns Metapenaeus macleayi and leader prawns Penaeus monodon to be 1.39 and 1.69 mg un-ionised ammonia NH3-N/l (26.3 mg and 37.4 mg total ammonia-N/l respectively). Williams and Brown (1992) estimated a 96 hour LC50 of 0.787 mg NH3-N/l (24.6 mg NH4-H/l) for the nauplius of the marine copepod Tisbe battagliai and a No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) of 0.106 mg NH3-N/l (3.34 mg NH4-N/l) for a study comprising tests on several life stages.
For invertebrates, toxicity appears to increase as salinity decreases (Miller et al 1990, Chen and Lin 1991), although too few data exist to indicate whether this pattern is typical for all or most invertebrates (Nixon et al 1995). Several studies indicate that ammonia toxicity is greatest to early life stages of invertebrates.
Fish
Acute toxicity of ammonia to fish increases with low dissolved oxygen concentrations. This has been shown in both fresh and marine water environments (Seager et al 1988, Nixon et al 1995).
The majority of ammonium toxicity data relates to fish, although most of the species tested are freshwater species, with many coarse fish appearing to be as sensitive to ammonia as salmonids (Mallet et al 1992). Nevertheless, data are available for sole, turbot and larval inland silversides. Eddy and Twitchen (1990) suggested that high environmental sodium concentrations can decrease toxicity to fish.
In the Mersey Estuary at a mean unionised ammonia concentration of 0.008 mg NH3-N/l, a diverse invertebrate population was present, and this region was passable by flounder and salmonids. For fish, ammonium toxicity appears to be less at lower salinity levels, gradually decreasing until it reaches a point similar to that found in freshwaters (Seager et al 1998, Miller et al 1990). This may be of relevance, especially in estuaries where DO sags occur at low salinities.
Sediment dwelling organisms
Ammonia exerts toxic effects in the water column and does not accumulate in the sediments. However, sediment dwelling organisms that use water in the boundary layer between the sediment and the water column (molluscs, crustacea and most annelids) for feeding or respiration could be at risk.
You might like to take a look at some of these references via this website.
http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/water-quality/wq11.htm
Regards
thanks for the info the reason I asked was my gold fish's tank hadn't been cleaned for a while and the black ones eyes went all white like it was dead but still alive so I tested the ammonia levles, cleaned the tank and put in some melafix and its eyes where almost totaly clear in abuut half an hour I was shocked at how fast it worked.
:kill: =
= + time =
Dead = oh no = sad + time =yay
Have a Happy New Year!
:kill: =
= + time = Dead = oh no = sad + time =yay
Have a Happy New Year!
oceanblue
New member
Darkmaverick - you have been reading up on ammonia! I've not found any literature giving levels for axolotls but get the impression they are neither particularly suceptable nor resistant. I tend to work on a level of non-ionised ammonia of 0.1mg/L as a maximum acceptable level corresponding to a total ammonia of about 5mg/L at pH 7.5 and about 1mg/L at pH 8.2. (these figures are not corrected for temperature and may be over estimates if the water is in the low teens Celsius rather than about 20C)
I've occasionally had axolotl larvae and juveniles in water at higher levels than this without deaths but somehow they look a bit stressed and I've found they looked better after a water change. I use artificially hardened slightly brackish water and it seems to help keep the axolotls healthy.
Some organisms are very resistant to ammonia - Brine shrimp are supposed to be tolerant of very high levels (but I wonder if this is in the presence of a very high salt level!).
I've occasionally had axolotl larvae and juveniles in water at higher levels than this without deaths but somehow they look a bit stressed and I've found they looked better after a water change. I use artificially hardened slightly brackish water and it seems to help keep the axolotls healthy.
Some organisms are very resistant to ammonia - Brine shrimp are supposed to be tolerant of very high levels (but I wonder if this is in the presence of a very high salt level!).
Darkmaverick
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Hi oceanblue,
It is always nice to have an indepth academic discussion with other knowledgeable enthusiasts. At the risk of sounding nerdy/geeky, i was glad to be able to contribute somewhat to the care of axolotls with other hobbyists around the world. I think its through continual learning that we improve the welfare of our pets and i learn a lot of tips from the experts here as well. (Furthermore, i suppose its part of my job as a vet/ researcher).
With regards to axolotls' overall susceptibility or resistance to ammonia in comparison to other species, unfortunately not much research has been conducted and hence the very limited if any data available. I concur that temperature, pH and salinity level all would contribute. However, i would hypothesize that they would be rather susceptible to ammonia. Of course this is merely my reasoning and i cannot support it with any other clinical or research data.
- I define susceptibility as any adverse or ill effects the axolotl may present with ammonia exposure. So that includes even the behavioural signs such as inappetance and excessive floating. Not forgetting 'immune suppression' due to stress, which we cannot see with the naked eye. So i guess i mean that vulnerability to me doesn't just mean death/gross pathology as an end point.
- Axolotls being amphibians, also rely a great deal on their skin, oxygen exchange, excretory, defense etc. This is more so than some other aquatic creatures. I would think that they are thus more vulnerable to the effects of ammonia simply because they have a larger surface area that is prone to the effects of ammonia.
- I may be wrong on this one, but i have always thought of amphibians almost like a sentinel against pollution, climate change etc. They are the most sensitive to such changes and thus their survival in the wild would fluctuate most noticeably, much sooner and much more drastically than other species of animals. Thus, if i extend the theory to axolotls, i would think they would be more 'sensitive' to ammonia.
- Even though most axolotls are now bred and kept in captivity rather than in the wild, i would think that their normal habitat would give an indication of their ideal environment conditions, since they evolve and adapt to those conditions. From literature, it seems to indicate that axolotls live in lakes and streams at high altitute in mexico. These waters i would think, would be not only cold, but pristine clean (low in ammonia) as well. I would thus think the effects of ammonia would be compounded in an animal evolved to live in such waters.
As for brine shrimp, i agree with you that the salinity plays a pivotal role in conferring its resistance to ammonia.
Cheers
It is always nice to have an indepth academic discussion with other knowledgeable enthusiasts. At the risk of sounding nerdy/geeky, i was glad to be able to contribute somewhat to the care of axolotls with other hobbyists around the world. I think its through continual learning that we improve the welfare of our pets and i learn a lot of tips from the experts here as well. (Furthermore, i suppose its part of my job as a vet/ researcher).
With regards to axolotls' overall susceptibility or resistance to ammonia in comparison to other species, unfortunately not much research has been conducted and hence the very limited if any data available. I concur that temperature, pH and salinity level all would contribute. However, i would hypothesize that they would be rather susceptible to ammonia. Of course this is merely my reasoning and i cannot support it with any other clinical or research data.
- I define susceptibility as any adverse or ill effects the axolotl may present with ammonia exposure. So that includes even the behavioural signs such as inappetance and excessive floating. Not forgetting 'immune suppression' due to stress, which we cannot see with the naked eye. So i guess i mean that vulnerability to me doesn't just mean death/gross pathology as an end point.
- Axolotls being amphibians, also rely a great deal on their skin, oxygen exchange, excretory, defense etc. This is more so than some other aquatic creatures. I would think that they are thus more vulnerable to the effects of ammonia simply because they have a larger surface area that is prone to the effects of ammonia.
- I may be wrong on this one, but i have always thought of amphibians almost like a sentinel against pollution, climate change etc. They are the most sensitive to such changes and thus their survival in the wild would fluctuate most noticeably, much sooner and much more drastically than other species of animals. Thus, if i extend the theory to axolotls, i would think they would be more 'sensitive' to ammonia.
- Even though most axolotls are now bred and kept in captivity rather than in the wild, i would think that their normal habitat would give an indication of their ideal environment conditions, since they evolve and adapt to those conditions. From literature, it seems to indicate that axolotls live in lakes and streams at high altitute in mexico. These waters i would think, would be not only cold, but pristine clean (low in ammonia) as well. I would thus think the effects of ammonia would be compounded in an animal evolved to live in such waters.
As for brine shrimp, i agree with you that the salinity plays a pivotal role in conferring its resistance to ammonia.
Cheers