Fungus? Injury? Gill deterioration

[griseldaismyguy]

Hey everyone,
My axie has been acting strange for about a week- hiding away in her darkest hide, really pulled back so that no light is touching her. Today I gently nudged her out of her hide and saw that one of her gills looks seriously deteriorated. It looks kind of deflated and completely pale, and some fronds are missing. I can’t tell if it was injured somehow or if she was responding to some recent changes in the tank. She still has her appetite. —
A few weeks ago I swapped the substrate from sand to planted tank soil. I also added in a few new plants and some ghost shrimp. Last week I began using a homemade yeast-based co2 injection.
When I noticed she was hiding I started checking
the parameters every couple of days-
For the most part it has seemed normal to me- the ammonia rate for some reason always reads at at least .25 when I test my tank, has for months but she has been totally healthy and my nitrate levels are usually at around 5ppm-10ppm, no nitrites when it comes time for the weekly watch change ( I usually do 1/3 water change once a week)
A couple days ago I checked again and got a low nitrite reading so I assumed we had a crash. I did a 1/3rd water change and brought the temp down to the low 60s by turning the fan on (it’s consistently at 68 in this weather.) I checked the params again today- my ammonia was at .5, and it was difficult to tell if I had any nitrate, though the sample seemed a tiny bit orange-y, no nitrites. It can’t be that bad in there tho bc the ghost shrimp are doing fine, and I assume anything really serious would have killed them.
I checked the ph and it was at 6.4 which is way lower than usual (usually have to use the high range kit! But it is possible it has been dropping for awhile without my knowing it bc it usually sits right in the middle), I assume this has to do with the increase in co2 so today I ran out to the store to get a splitter for my air pump and got another airstone. I’ve also taken some measures to cut back on the co2 the system is producing (I’m gonna remove it at night.) may remove it all together- I know it’s pretty unnecessary with my set up, but I really want to have a lush tank >.<
I feel like a fool for changing so much at once, clearly I crashed the tank. I’m going to get the stuff I need to tub her tomorrow so she can be safe, but I’m wondering- should I give her salt baths too? I read that these kinds of changes can cause fungal growth, but I don’t want to irritate her if that’s not the issue. I havent seen anything that looks like a cotton-y ball like people describe on her gillS, but it’s possible she sloughed it off when she was hiding,
. Apologies for the awful picture but I caught her out and about when the light was off in the room for a bit, and I didnt have the heart to shine a bright light on her when she has been so stressed.

 

[griseldaismyguy]

Update: today her gills flushed and the white one looked pretty much normal- still missing some fronds but nowhere near as scary looking as yesterday. I did notice when I was having trouble with her tank cycle when I first got her, some of her gill stalks would go really white at the tips. It got better once her tank was fully cycled. She seems to be more active today- I turned the tank lights off (I have led timer lights for the plants, they are on fairly low but maybe I need to take them even lower) and brought the temp down to the low 60s. I tested Params and nitrite and ammonia seem to be back to zero, no nitrate but all the plants might be gobbling it up. The ph went up a bit too, so I’m guessing the co2 was the culprit there. She was so pale this morning I was scared! But after I turned the lights off she flushed and became much more active. I’m still going to tub her for a bit, just to be sure the tank is safe, but I think I’m going to hold off on the salt baths for now. I attached a photo of her when she was pale this morning, tho like I said once she was active the frond flushed again and she looked pretty good. Only thing is- She did have a small red spot on her belly I’ve never seen before this morning.

 

[griseldaismyguy]

Well, I got home from picking up some tubs and she was in even worse shape- now there are red splotches on her tail and a piece appears to have come off of the tip of her tail. I got her into a salt bath (and out again lol), then set her up in the fridge with some back up water cooling in there. Praying this works! Will try bathing her twice a day.
In the meanwhile~ how do I treat the water in the tank? It seems like red leg disease? is there anything I need to do to kill the disease in there? I'm scrapping the co2 thing-- not worth it with so many variables.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Planted tank soil and CO2 are big no nos for axolotls. Many of those soils add copper which is a huge issue for axolotls.

 

[griseldaismyguy]

Noooooooooooooooo. I can't believe I missed that about the soil in my research. I went with the natural co2 injection system vs a chemical fertilizer because I knew axies were really sensitive, but people mostly just said it was unnecessary, not harmful... and I had big dreams of a lush tank ;-; I google anything before I put it in my tank but clearly I didn't look close enough with regards to the fluval soil.

Do you think these are chemical burns? and if so should I avoid the salt bath?
I keep her tubbed for a few weeks then, maybe a month. I'll take the substrate out ASAP. Do you think it makes sense to do a complete water change before putting her back in, or should I ease it out over the month?

Planted tank soil and CO2 are big no nos for axolotls. Many of those soils add copper which is a huge issue for axolotls.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Do research on the soil you added - it MAY be okay but may not. Is it sand like or little balls? If little balls its bad regardless and they disintegrate in their GI tract and everything is released and absorbed.

But yes these could be issues from the soil and CO2 - natural or not its bad.

You CAN your Thrive-S fertilizer - its copper free and shrimp safe.

I would tub with 100% water changes until 1 week PAST any further signs.
I NEVER recommend actual salt baths however I DO recommend 1 tbsp per 10g or approx 1/4 tsp per gallon a forever preventative and if coupled with an airstone actually reverses and treats nitrate toxicity. fun trivia. It is completely, doesn't even register as salinity.

Noooooooooooooooo. I can't believe I missed that about the soil in my research. I went with the natural co2 injection system vs a chemical fertilizer because I knew axies were really sensitive, but people mostly just said it was unnecessary, not harmful... and I had big dreams of a lush tank ;-; I google anything before I put it in my tank but clearly I didn't look close enough with regards to the fluval soil.

Do you think these are chemical burns? and if so should I avoid the salt bath?
I keep her tubbed for a few weeks then, maybe a month. I'll take the substrate out ASAP. Do you think it makes sense to do a complete water change before putting her back in, or should I ease it out over the month?

 

[griseldaismyguy]

It's fluval stratum- the little ball kind. Couldn't find any info on the actual makeup but I just took it all out- back to barebottom! Wanna give the tank a chance to really even out before she goes back in there. She was quite healthy before and her appetite is fine, so I'm hoping she will recover in the tub. She'll be glad for a chance to have some blood worms and brine shrimp!
Do you do any kind of bath or anti bacterial treatment? I've seen all sorts of things- people refer to the axolotl.org health page a lot. Gave her a salt bath today and she seemed calm enough.
Thanks so much for your help. I have been so worried about her.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Salt baths themselves are a last resort.
I use dissolved salts/solutions in all my tanks and tubs - johns, holtfreters, modified holtfreters or plain pickling salt depending what you have access to. They are talked about on axolotl.org they prevent fungus and anemia and strengthen their slime coat and improve electrolyte absorption etc.

You can make IAL extract and use in the tub to soothe her.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

@griseldaismyguy

How is your axolotl doing?