Eye problem

[sherrisixxx]

This morning when I woke up Axelina seems to have something wrong with her eye. She was fine last night, so this is a sudden thing. It looks like there is some sort of white film covering most of her eye. In the other eye there is only a tiny bit of this thing. Any idea what it could be? Should I give her a salt bath?

Thanks in advance for your kind replies

 

[kapo]

Do you think she, Axelina, cud have caught something off Rosie as they are in the same tank aren't they and Rosie is newish? Are you able to post pics? Sorry, can't be of more help!

 

[sherrisixxx]

Kapo, yes, Rosie is newish. Rosie was in a quarantine tank only 1 week, cos the ammonia there nearly killed her (My mistake!!)And she has been with Axelina now for a bit over a week. Rosie is well,tho,her eyes are fine. I have been on the net for hours searching for info (am at work,luckily its not busy), and think Axelina may have either fungal or bacterial infection. Am just worried cos it started so quickly and agressively. I think I may give Axelina a salt bath when I get home? Should I give her some medication,too?
Thanks for your replies in advance!

 

[sharn]

no meds unless she looks like shes going down hill, she may have just bumped her eye or the slime coat is working over time. it could very well have been something rosie bought in, just cause she doesnt have it doesnt mean it wont affect axelina, her immune system might have not had to battle whatever this is before.

so are her eyes blurry? or have something covering them?

 

[sherrisixxx]

Thanks Sharn. It looks like there is something covering most of her left eye. The right eye only has a tiny bit. Shall I give her a saltbath? Or could this be stress related, cos Rosie is there? Rosie was sorta following Axelina quite a lot last night.This may have stressed Axelina. I keep a tank divider most of the time, and only tak ethe divider off when I'm in the same room with them, Thought better safe than sorry to start with. There isn't any nipping anymore,tho

 

[coffo]

well i remember seeing in a thread they shed thyre skin maybe theyre eyes go pale like land going lizzards before they loose it

but yea its most likley an infection

 

[sharn]

id give salt baths if it looks external, if its internal you will need to find some sort of antibacterial med, maybe something like furan 2?

 

[sherrisixxx]

How do I know if its internal too? I gave Axelina a salt bath last night and this morning. One of her eyes is now totally covered in this white film, and the other has some. I think it may have little bit of cotton-wool type thingy attached to it. Would this mean its fungal? Am realy worried about her, as she is usually very active and energetic, but now she just stays mostly in her cave.
Also, should I also give salt baths to Rosie? She seems 100% fine, but if she is the one carrying this bacteria, would salt baths get rid of it?
I love Axelina so much, I just want her to get better soon, and be her happy self.
Thanks again for your kind replies in advance.

(Message edited by SherriSixxx on March 13, 2006)

 

[sharn]

if you cant see anything on her outsides its classed as internal i think. cloudy eye in fish is a bacterial thing so i assume axoltols can get it too. it sounds like fungus though from the furry bit so keep up with those salt baths.

since she was only quarentined 1 week maybe she did give something to axelina and because of stress the fungus has showed up? keep a close eye on both of them

any pics possible?

(Message edited by sharn on March 14, 2006)

 

[sherrisixxx]

Thanks Sharn.Axelina's eyes are looking bit better today, the white covering seems a bit thinner.And she ate her dinner last night, too, so that's a good sign. A friend is coming over later today with a digital camera, so hopefully manage to get a photo of her eyes.
Oh, poor Axelina seems to hate me now!I think it's cos she hates going to salt baths, and she kicks so much when I lift her. She wasn't kicking much to start with, but now I can't even catch her without a net!Poor Axelina, am worried this will add to her stress. Will only use the net from now on.Also put extra Stress-coat in the water.

Does anybody know should Rosie be getting salt baths too, as he may be the carrier of the bacteria?

 

[sharn]

fungus (i learnt this the other day) comes in from spores on the air so its present in most aquariums i would think. im not sure if a axie can have no signs of fungus but still carry the bugs or not sorry, ed or joan might be able to answer that one

 

[sherrisixxx]

My friend didn't manage to get any clear enough pics of Axelina's eyes, but the good news is, she is a lot better! Now she only has a thin whiteish grey cover on her eyes, but at this rate I'm hoping itll be gone in a few days. She still hates her salt baths, tho

 

[sherrisixxx]

Oh no! She's got it again! Axelina's eyes were back to normal only a few days, now she has a fw bits of white on her eyes again! Poor darling! Am not sure, but I think Rosie has a tiny bit on her gill, too. I have started giving them both salt baths again. Could I have some bad bacteria living in their water? I check the water every week, and it's fine. Or could they just be stressed? As I keep them apart with a tank divider most of the time, but after Axelina's eyes cleared, I took the divider of in the evenings for a few hours.Rosie keeps crawling underneath Axelina and following her around,so it may be stress?? oR shall I treat the water with something?

 

[sherrisixxx]

Help! Does anybody know the answer to this? Why did Axelina get the eye-infection again? Is she catching it from Rosie, who is not showing any symptoms? Or is stress?
Sorry for so many questions, but am not sure what to do. Started salt baths yesterday, but her eyes are worse today. And she gets very badly stressed about salt baths. It's nearly impossible to catch her anymore with a net, she trashes around the tank like mad. She really,really hates salt baths.And that no doubt adds to her stress,oh no. And she doesn't eat from my hand anymore either, but hides. She does eat, tho, if I leave food for her in the tank.
How can I help my little darling? Is it time to start medication?

 

[luke]

It sounds like spores are still present in your tank if the problem has returned. I can't offer any advice I'm afraid. I hope she gets better real soon! Come on guys/girls help her out a bit.

 

[sharn]

im really not sure sorry, it may be just what you said- stress. try and keep their water cool (or put them in the fridge) and do the salt baths religiously, if that doesnt help it maybe look into other meds. im not sure if you can give axolotls topical applications with meth blue or not but alot of people do that with fish (topical applications are applying it straight to the affected site with a sterile cotton bud etc), but since its on her eyes im not sure if that would be a good idea...

 

[sherrisixxx]

Many thanks for your replies.Axelina's fungus spread to one of her gills 2 nights ago.She is getting salt baths twice a day, and the fungus hasn't spread since 2 days ago, but hasn't got much better either. But Axelina seems happier, she walks and eats. Will continue with salt baths, but if fungus gets worse, I will take her to the vet for tests,in case its some other kind of infection. Will keep you informed on how my little darling is doing. Oh, and Rosie is fine.

 

[sharn]

its good its not getting worse so your doing good. if you like you can up it the salt baths to three times a day. good luck and keep us posted!

 

[jojo]

It good to hear its not getting worse! Im suprised Rosie isnt effected also, thats wierd.

Good stuff Sherri

 

[joão]

I never had fungus problems with my axies at home , but where I work, I had some problems but I found that instead of doing the salt baths just add some salt to your tank like a soup spoon for 200 lit aquarium, and give your axie a bath under running tap water, the fungus come off really quickly and it does not damage your axie as much as the salt.
All this is based in my experience.