Axolotl Dying. PLEASE HELP

[Vaan2931]

I rescued an Axolotl a few days ago and I'm really worried about his health. He seems to have little tiny black dots on his tail, his cloaca seems slightly red and his hind leg is also quite red. There seems to be some sort of weird goo which is brownish in colour on his toes and I just pulled a large chunk of it out of his gills. I'm really worried as he's keeping his mouth quite open and is really emaciated.

I've never dealt with anything like this before. Please help!

 

[leandrah]

Can you please post a picture, this would help the most.
How long have you had him? and was he like that when you got him?

Also, what are your Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate readings?
Please post a picture as soon as you can - it will help the Prolific Members give you advice on whats wrong

 

[Vaan2931]

I've currently fridged him at about 5C to see if it will help. I'll try my best to get some photos.

I've had another look and it appears that he has what looks like tiny cuts on his leg, which would explain the redness. However, there was nothing in the tank with him and nothing sharp which could cause it.

And yes, he was like this when we got him, just not as bad.

 

[leandrah]

Are the red cuts not from his previous owners tank?
I would give him a tea bath, because that will soothe the skin. I personally dont have any experience with the goo stuff, but i THINK that it might be from bad water conditions - once again, I am not sure of this. Has he gotten worse since you got him? or has he stayed the same?

Do you know how to give a tea bath?

 

[Vaan2931]

I've never actually heard of giving an Axolotl a tea bath. Could you direct me?

And the red cuts appeared last night, while in my own tank. The leg was red, but had no cuts on it before. And yes, he has got slightly worse, despite me changing his water everyday.

I'm also unable to get photos. My camera isn't working. :nono:

 

[leandrah]

Okay, you use Black tea. 1 cup of strong black tea for 10 liters of water. Wait for the tea to cool down, and then add the anti chlorine to the tea and add this to his water. If he is in the fridge, then leave the tea in the fridge for a while so that it is the same temperature as his water in the fridge

What are your Nitrites and Ammonia sitting on?

Also, what are you feeding him? and is he eating?

 

[Vaan2931]

He normally gets earthworms but I ran out last night so this morning I tried to feed him all that I had left - some jellied brineshrimp. I think the most important thing is maybe to get him eating but to do that I would need to take him out the fridge and let him heat up again... I'm really unsure.

I'm going to try some bloodworm later and maybe waxworms to fatten him a little. Would you recommend this?

Also, I have just done a 90% water change (don't normally but I panicked) so the ammonia should be very low.

Edit: 50% water change last night too

 

[leandrah]

I think that you should try some more earthworms.
Also, if he is very thin I would feed him 3 times a day. Even if he only eats a little, just feed him more often. Earthworms are the best because they are very nutritious.

It is a good sign that he is still eating, and I think that feeding him more often will do wonders for him.

Is your tank established? - How long has it been running for? and do you have a filter as well as ornaments?

 

[leandrah]

The brown goo on his feet, is it fluffy like a fungus? And are all of his toes still in tact? If it is a fungus then the tea bath wont help,

I think that the redness could be from high Ammonia and Nitrite, so personally I think that the water change was a good idea

Pictures really would help, could you not take them with your phone?

 

[Vaan2931]

Yes. I have a filter and the tank has been running for about a year now.

He isn't actually eating. I tried just there and he simply won't, despite him eating last night. His mouth is also open quite a bit, however he is still alive.

In fact, I don't know if he has much time left. I really gently removed the brown fungus stuff from him and he barely tried to get away.

Edit: Also, it isn't fluffy. It's literally goo. His toes seem a little ragged too.

I also don't own a phone. (Weird teen)

 

[leandrah]

He might not be eating now because the fridge is so cold.
If I was you, i would send a personal message to Auntiejude and ask her. She knows a lot about this stuff and she will give you the best advice possible

Please let me know what the outcome is

 

[Vaan2931]

Thanks a lot for helping but he has passed away.

 

[Skudo09]

I am so sorry to hear that.

 

[auntiejude]

I'm sorry to hear he didn't make it. The chances are he was alrady too far gone when you got him for you to save.

It sounds like he had an infection/septacaemia - the brown goo may well have been decaying flesh, but without photos it is hard to tell.

But you can comfort yourself with the fact that he was cared for to the best of your ability.