Illness/Sickness: Does my Axolotl have Ick?

[Kerby]

I've recently added 10 golden minnows (not quarantined) in with my axolotl "Kerby" for snacks =X

The next day all the fur was gone from his gills, and only 1 minnow remained =(

I feel terrible, I didn't think they would attack him and I wish I was around to monitor them.

It's been day 3 now since this has happen, and he hasn't ate anything. I'm also noticing white spots on him but I'm not sure if I'm over reacting, if he has ick... what do you think?

I don't want to have to treat him if I don't have to, so hoping you guys can help me.

 

[willowcat]

I can't tell or see the white that you speaking about. But, I do notice the filter in your aquarium. Below the filter there is no sand. On the other end of the tank there is sand. That tells me that there is a lot of water flow being generated by the filter. Water flow = current. Current is not good. On the right hand site of this page, below "You're welcome!" put your cursor on the "Caudata.org Sites". Then click on the Axolotl. In this awesome reading it talks about current and has pictures of an Axie with "current lesions". (for the lack of better words). See if they match your pictures. Get a sponge filter. The plastic riser impedes the current.

 

[Elise]

From my initial observations, it seems to be a have a half-sand/ half-bare tank.

If your axolotl's frills have vanished in day then you have every right to be concerned. Often the first sign of trouble in in the frills.

I would take the axolotl to a vet for antibiotics and place it in a quarantine tank. After which, I would invest in a proper UV sanitizer capable of killing parasitic pathogens at the proper flow rate.

The antibiotics used by ambystoma.org are very effective:

Q. What antibiotics can be given to axolotls and what are the proper dosages?
A. The Axolotl Colony has used enrofloxacin (Baytril), amikacin, and gentamicin. All of these are powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics. Amikacin and gentamicin are aminoglycosides, and enrofloxacin is a quinolone. In our experience, all are well tolerated by axolotls. We recommend that Tetracycline and related antibiotics be avoided because it is a strong skin irritant.

We give antibiotics by injection usually. We do not have good data on the efficaciousness of antibiotics added to the water. We use a dose of 5mg/kg body weight. We use a solution of 5mg/ml antibiotic in physiological saline and give a volume of .1 cc. The animal should get 3 shots of amikacin or gentamicin, each separated by 48 hours or 5-7 shots of enrofloxacin, each separated by 24 hours. We inject with a tuberculin, 25-gauge needle intraperitoneally, just in front of a hind leg, approximately parallel to the body and about midway between the dorsal and ventral surfaces: that is, dorsal to the bladder and ventral to the kidneys and too caudal to hit the liver or spleen.

It is possible that other antibiotics could be used, or that some antibiotics could be administered in water, but we do not have enough experience to recommend dosages of other antibiotics or other methods of delivery
SOURCE

 

[pondweed]

Do you have any more "before" photos? From the first one, it looks like the white speckles you might be talking about are already there, and seem to be under the skin rather than on the surface. They seem pretty regular rather than speckly too. They could just be markings and you might be right you're being extra vigilant. I don't know much about Ick; I've never had the misfortune to see it in person.

Second, is it possible the minnows went for his gills before he gobbled them up? Have you tested your water parameters since this happened? What have his bowel movements been like since he ate them? (Is it possible with a belly full of nine minnows he just hasn't wanted more food yet?) What's his behaviour been like otherwise?

How is the remaining minnow behaving? Are there any signs of sickness in it? If there were any underlying parasite/infection, the stress of moving to a new tank would probably impede its immune system for it to start showing. (And if they were all from the same batch, if there were a communicable illness, you'd think they'd all be infected. I'm still a novice. Someone else might be able to tell you if you could judge the likelihood of the others being ill from the health of the remaining minnow.)

I'm asking these things for when the usual sussed-up crowd get here, they can offer their insights.

 

[Kerby]

I can't tell or see the white that you speaking about. But, I do notice the filter in your aquarium. Below the filter there is no sand. On the other end of the tank there is sand. That tells me that there is a lot of water flow being generated by the filter. Water flow = current. Current is not good.

I made it half sand, half bare. I feed him on the bare side cause it makes it easier to clean up but still wanted to give him something more natural to walk on.

Do you have any more "before" photos? From the first one, it looks like the white speckles you might be talking about are already there

The one photo with his healthy thick frills is a week before he lost his frills. Maybe that's just his color?

I would take the axolotl to a vet for antibiotics and place it in a quarantine tank. After which, I would invest in a proper UV sanitizer capable of killing parasitic pathogens at the proper flow rate.

If I could even find a vet that specializes with axolotl's in Edmonton, it would cost a fortune. My gf says she has seem him twitch out, flip out for a lil bit then stop but I haven't seen this yet. I feel hopeless because I do not have a lot of funds.

I screwed up by giving him feeder fish. I know it

 

[michael]

I'd just do a big water change and add about a tablespoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons to the water. Keep a close eye on it. Other than the gills i can't see other signs of problems in the picture. Gills like that could be from the fish nibbling, high temps, or water quality.

If you see a lot of skin sloughing, fungus, or blotches I would treat with Furan 2 at 1/2 to full recommended dose. I wouldn't get to excited right away. Stay away from using live fish as axolotl food.

 

[Kerby]

Can't post much cause my computer is packed but he is looking better, been giving him 15 salt water baths in Tue fridge. And keeping him in separated container by the window (only at night) treating his tank by adding a salt and a heater to kill ick or anything above 91 degrees.

Gonna be picking up ice packs to keep his tank cold I recently moved 10 days ago and it's hotter in this building. He is way happier when the water is cold.

I read that he freaks out in salt water baths but he was really chill about it. Did not freak out.

Gills are starting to grow back too and he is eating again

Posted by phone