Axolotl's cloaca is rotting?

[Munchausen]

In mid-late November, my 7 year old male axolotl's arm was bitten off by his female tankmate. I have since seperated the two with a divider. Since the incident, a tiny arm has sprouted under the left-over bone and he seemed to be recovering. The past week or so, he's been floating on his side, tail bent, and having spitting up his trout worms. The tips of his fingers are very thin, and extremely black. Its gross and hard to believe, but it seems like his cloaca is black and melting off! There is a dark, lint-looking material at the bottom of his aquarium. It is his dead skin! I don't know if he's exfoliating or he's has axolotl leprosy or what?!

Now, he is in a plastic tub alone in 2 inches of water, enough to be wet and his head is dragging on the bottom of the tub. I have been able to shoot a pipet of blackworms into his mouth and he's been able to keep it down. He has the will to eat (live) and he's had shedding before: he was once black but he changed white once, I thought he was dying.

Picture 1 is him in 2007-2008. Picture 2 is him this summer, with some butt problems. I can't find the picture of his new arm or his butt currently, with the problem worse. (If the B-word is considered indecent, I apologize). I don't know what else to call it.

 

[jdlqh8]

Wow, that is kinda strange. I'm not sure what you should do but I would fridge him and consider salt baths until someone more knowledgeable has a better idea.

Good luck!

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[snuggly time]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

Hi,
I've read a similar thread to this, it's also got links on it to other threads with the same situation.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...cloaca-leucistic-growing-veins-his-gills.html

Hope this helps, one of the threads found it was four different parasites. You might have to find a vet for this to be sure?

 

[Olivia97]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

A trip to the vet wouldn't go astray here. I would hold off on salt baths until you know exactly what's going on.

 

[Munchausen]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Right now my buddy is eating blackworms like a champion, but his tale is completely bent, it's parallel to his body. I feel so bad for him he's gotta be in a lot of pain. I put Jungle Brand Fungus Clear (active ingredients: nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and potassium dichromate) in with him. It seems to be controversial to use in this forum, but it has worked in the past with me. I change 30% of his water every day and feed him.

I live in mid-Atlantic US, anyone know how much a vet visit could cost or what could they even do for him? I'm thinking y'all are right about the parasites. It has always worked on fungus, but I've noticed that the black worms have not died in it, and I'm wondering if the parasites will though... I'm probably going to salt bath him tomorrow.

 

[Olivia97]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

I wouldn't do salt baths, it looks kinda raw.

 

[Munchausen]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

Oh, ****, if rawness is a problem with salt, then would the Jungle Brand Fungus Clear (active ingredients: nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and potassium dichromate) be bad too?

If an axolotl still readily accepts food, then how bad off could he be?

I don't know what to do, he's been the most accessible friend of mine for like 7 years.

Where do parasites come from anyway? I feel so guilty.

 

[Kaysie]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

I really don't think this is an issue you can treat at home. You really need to take this guy to a vet.

 

[Olivia97]

Re: Axolotl's butt-hole is rotting?

I don't think any fungal cures would help actually. Parasites can be introduced via the air, plants, new additions such as fish, shrimp and other lotls, food and i'd say it's possible for a parasite to remain dormant for many years.