Furen -2 and melafix question!

[Possum63]

Hi all

So my flatmate's axy, Sunshine, got his back legs mangled and then got a fungi (i posted about this previously when it first happened). He's had a couple salt baths and he's been fridged for the past two days. He's doing well but the fungi is still present. He's been treated with API furan -2 but she has API melafix set aside to use as well. But she asked me to ask a couple questions here...

So her question is: can she use both the furan-2 and the melafix together? Or will the react negatively with each other? Which one do you recommend she be using if they can't be used together? Thanks for your help

 

[Jen10s]

If you check out the website, there's a list of what's safe and what's not. I've heard mixed feedback on both but personally, I'd just do the salt baths and nothing else to cure the fungus - I'm sure you've already checked out the sticky thread under "Sick Axolotls" on how to do your salt baths and it seems the most effective way to treat anyways....

Can you post a photo of the little Axy? So we can see how bad the fungus is and the poor little legs too ?

 

[Possum63]

Unfortunately I can't get photo's of Sunshine at the moment as he's in the fridge and I don't want to disturb him but I'll try take photo's when my flatmate next takes him out for a bath. I know she did actually pluck a large clump of the fungi off and then did another bath today but I wasn't around when she did this so I didn't see how he's looking but she said he still has fungi on one leg (even after plucking some off).

His gills have also almost completely lost their fluffy bits (for lack of better wording) so he looks very sad This happened before he got the salt baths so I'm assuming it was due to stress and his injuries?

I've also advised her to get a declorinator with aloe in it (as she is just about out) so it will help his slime coating after the salt baths

Will keep y'all updated on how he gets on!

 

[Possum63]

Oh and I can tell you the fungus just looks like white/clear cotten candy on the end of his leg where his foot was mashed up and helf bitten off. I don't know if that helps or not in which medicine to us

Oh and he is obviously in isolation while he heals getting 100% water changes daily and will go into a separate tank till fully healed so she isn't worried about using a medicine that will kill off the cycle as he's not in the main tank

 

[michael]

I would use a full treatment of furan 2 before trying anything else. The treatment full treatment lasts about 5 days and can be repeated once. If that does not work I would try methylene blue next. If the fungus is loose sometimes it is possible to pick or slide some of it off.

 

[Possum63]

Here are some photos of him. He has fungus on his front right foot where he got a graze now as well. Not looking good at all the poor guy but he isnt showing signs of stress which is positive.

 

[michael]

I think the key to recovery will be removing whatever hazard caused the wounds, a well balanced aquarium with cool water, and a good nutritional plan. I would treat the injury but not be overly concerned with using several treatments. Unless some basic husbandry issues have been addressed the problem will recur.

 

[Possum63]

Thanks Micheal. The injuries were caused while we were both away on holiday and the bigger girl that was in with him turned on him (she seems to be getting very aggressive now days but she is a wild type). She has since been divided off from the rest and this guy has been in the fridge.

Due to being in the fridge he hasn't eaten for about four days. He is normally feed axolotl pellets and tiger worms. He is being treated by fridging as well as daily salt baths. He is also being treated with the Furan-2. My flatmate is organizing a new tank for him to go into till he has fully recovered.

Is there anything you would suggest we do differently? Thanks for your help.

 

[michael]

You might be treating to aggressively. It is important to get him in a balanced tank where he is acclimated. The pictures do not show a huge fungus infection. The back legs look pretty rough. He needs good nutrition to start regenerating.

 

[Possum63]

Okay. We can put him back into his normal home, but would there be a risk of the fungus spreading to his tank mates? He would be in with his sister and another same sized axolotl should he go back in.

 

[michael]

If you have the space a separate aquarium would be best for now.