Help!!! Is it Gill fungus?

[christina]

Having lost my 1st axolotl 'Dune', my 2nd, a black axolotl is now having health problems. I've removed him from the normal aquarium and placed him in a separate container in an esky with ice blocks. I have also treated him with Tri-Sulfa and Aquari-cycline over the last 2 days with little effect. Does anyone know what it is and could they possibly recommend a good treatment?

 

[sharn]

ouch, that looks rather sore! id put him in the fridge doing salt baths twice a day, salt baths seem to help most skin problems. if you need more info on salt baths have a look around this part of the forum or do a word search, i cant remember the exact amounts because i dont do them often sorry. hope this helps

 

[suzanne]

ooooohhhhh that does look nasty doesn't it...
I think if i remember rightly it's 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 ltr?
Bath the axie in the solution for no more than 10 mins at a time. Some people give up to three of these baths a day...I haven't had to do this yet but I agree with Sharn..Salt baths are the most effective and safe method.

 

[christina]

Thanks for the recommendation, began salt baths yesterday and was able to gently remove a lot of the fungus with tweezers today. Hoping for the best...

 

[andrew]

Do you know what caused it?

Fungus outbreaks seem allot more common when the tank temperature starts to get too hot.

He will probably go off his food, so an esky and ice blocks are a great idea.

10C I believe is the most beneficial temperature.

As far as medications go methylene blue is also available is Australia. Its relatively cheap so might be worth a go. keep up the salt baths though (these do wonders).

I wish you luck with him. Please keep us updated with your progress.

 

[christina]

I think your right, the higher temperatures have been a factor in the fungus outbreak.

Spoke with a vet today, who is knowledgeable about axolotls and he suggested that Melafix is more effective than salt baths. I've been doing both treatments and the fungus has almost cleared up completely.

 

[andrew]

A vet that knows about axies! I'm blown away. lol

Be careful with melafix though. If you read some old posts it apparently irritates the skin of axolotls and overexposure damages their liver.
I'm not saying don't use it, just be careful.

It is however on the list of safe medication at www.axolotl.org

But it sounds like you've got everything under control. Good luck with it.

 

[sharn]

yes andrew you are right about the irritation thing. it irritates the wound into healing so it clears up faster

 

[christina]

The fungus appeared to have cleared up completely with continued salt baths, but when I went to change his water in the morning found he was dead. Think I might stick with my goldfish for a while, not sure where I was going wrong with axolotls. I'd had 'Dune' for over 3 years without any health problems. Thanks to everyone for there help and advice.

 

[sarah]

the axolotls at pets paradise near me were covered in that kind of fungus. A young girl baught one cos the manager told her that it was 'shedding its old skin!'
I walked out the store and waited for the girl, when she walked out i told her its fungus and return it. lucky she listen to me because the next day all the axolotls in that tank died.
I wrote headoffice a letter and i got no reply...

 

[sharn]

sorry to hear about your loss christina!! i dont think you were doing anything wrong at all... its just the way things go sometimes

sarah... sadly this is a all too common occurance... most pet stores (there are a few exceptions!!) just dont have a clue