Illness/Sickness: Fungus, please advise

[Sciencegeek123]

Hello,

Two days ago I moved my Axolotl tank. They seemed fine, and I hadn't noticed anything unusual about them. The next day, they were bloodshot and had something on their gills. It just looked dirty, like something had stirred when I moved the tank, I didn't think it was a fungus though. The water appeared to have gone bad, in that there were bubbles at the top. I had done a 75% water change the day before, so I'm not sure how this happened. I immediately removed them from the tank and put them in chilled drinking water in my fridge. Their tank has a chiller and stays at 60deg consistently. Unfortunately I had immediately drained and cleaned out the tank in the hopes that I could get them back before running the water through a battery of tests. That was a naive mistake, but I was worried. Today when I went to do the 100% water change, I noticed that their gills were MUCH worse. I'm not really sure how best to proceed or what this is, so any advice is appreciated. I've embedded two pictures showing the fungus the best, but there are more in the link here: [link]
Thank you!

The tips were just black yesterday, which is why I thought it was just dirt.

Bad gills, did not look like this yesterday when I first fridged them. Those white spots on him appear to be more fungus.

I'll be completely refurbishing their tank, including the filter.

-SG

 

[layna]

Those pictures are not showing, do you have any others?

 

[Sciencegeek123]

Here is a link to an imgur album. I can post them elsewhere if that doesn't work.

- Album on Imgur

-SG

Edit: I've ordered Furan and Melafix which should arrive today. However I'm not sure which one would be better to use.

Edit 2: They are worse today. There is now white nodules along their body. More pictures here: - Album on Imgur

 

[blushed]

I used melafix, it helped over night when my boy had a bout of fungus or slime coat peeling (I'm still unsure which).

Hope someone else can help! Your poor axxie!

 

[ChristineB]

I'm sorry to not be of any help. :-( But it just seems shocking to me that it's progressing so quickly! Have you now tested for something wrong with their water quality? Are they still in the fridge? Maybe that is stressing them and slowing their metabolism too much.

 

[Sciencegeek123]

It's absolutely shocking to me. I replace their water every day with drinking water from the grocery store. That seems to be as safe as can be. But the black one had NONE of that fungus last night. They are still in the fridge.

Can someone advise on the dosage of melafix?

-SG

 

[Elise]

Perhaps moving your tank caused your cycle to crash, resulting in a spike of ammonia. The blood shot veins look like ammonia toxicity to me.

Also, I'm concerned about the water that you're using in the fridge. It should be noted that bottled water may be derived from a public water source and may contain the residual disinfectants chloramine, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. Spring water is typically used for amphibians, if using bottled water. Have you been dechlorinating your drinking water?


Regarding Melafix, its safety in amphibians is unknown and is liver toxic. Use with caution. (source)

 

[Sciencegeek123]

Noted. I used half the recommended dosage and will replace the water in ~12 hours. I prepared treated tap water rather than the drinking water just in case. Would the Furan be better?

The white splotches on the dark one has gotten even worse.

-SG

 

[HitmanSougo13]

Can you tell us what the parameters are on the main tank? If it is not ideal then you should not put the Axies in there until it is perfect.

Since you did not mention parameters I am guessing you were not sure what the parameters were when you started seeing that problem. It can be ammonia poisoning or it can be from the bottled water. Keep your Axies in sick tubs with 100% daily fresh declorinated water changes until the main tank has the ideal parameters.

Other wise if you are looking for antibiotics you have two choices. The situation is happening pretty fast so if you are worried then you can see a vet who will give you stronger antibiotics which will cure the axie in about a few days to a week or you can go with the store bought ones which take about 10 days to cure an axie http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...xolotl/99459-axolotl-antibiotic-solution.html