Kaysie
Site Contributor
It would probably be worthwhile to get the opinion of a veterinarian. I agree with Ellen when she says it looks necrotic. It very well could be a septicemic infection secondary to the injury.
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Illness/Sickness: is this fungus?
- Thread starter vampire
- Start date
definately looking fungal to me now.
any tips?
http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/3/8/6/f_ewwm_f7ba658.jpg[img
any tips?
naymo
New member
This reminds me of me of my late axie Hades, he had a small bit mark which seemed to be decaying back, alot like yours is, but it was only his tip. I amputated this after advise from others in the forum. It was not quite as bad as your axies but heres a link if youd like to have a look at the thread:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54078
But I think this injury is beyond any amputation you could do by yourself, id suggest seeking a vet, and maybe some salt baths to try gain contol over the fungus which seems to be quite a vast infection there.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54078
But I think this injury is beyond any amputation you could do by yourself, id suggest seeking a vet, and maybe some salt baths to try gain contol over the fungus which seems to be quite a vast infection there.
thanks guys, i had the impression he will pass away from day one. not sure why, first few days home he was eating fine etc, no other tank mates. all my levels were fine. he is my first axy but i'm not giving up. I assume it was something he had before I got him home.
that said.
what do I need to do with my setup before attempting another?
that said.
what do I need to do with my setup before attempting another?
ellenant
New member
I would say the fungus is secondary.
The top of the tail is necrotic (=rotten) tissue,
fungus LOVES rotten things.
I definitely would treat that fungus NOW.
You have to get that under control.
But I am sure there is an underlying necrotizing bacterial infection.
So--
fungal treatment first, and then antibacterial.
But sorry, I do not know enough to give you any specifics...
Well, I have a print out of the axolotl newsletter 28 from 2000
from the axolotl colony (it is a pdf available online).
They talk about treatment there:
For fungus Sodium Chloride (normal kitchen salt, WITHOUT Jodine!!!):
either 4-6g per liter bath for 1 week or
35g per liter dip for 10 minutes or
35.8g/l dip for 10 minutes repeat every other day for 3 doses
For the bacterial infection:
Enrofloxacin (an antibiotic, sold for dogs and cats as "Baytril")
10mg/l dip, 1 hour per day.
The Baytril you have to get from a vet.
Good luck!!!!!!
The top of the tail is necrotic (=rotten) tissue,
fungus LOVES rotten things.
I definitely would treat that fungus NOW.
You have to get that under control.
But I am sure there is an underlying necrotizing bacterial infection.
So--
fungal treatment first, and then antibacterial.
But sorry, I do not know enough to give you any specifics...
Well, I have a print out of the axolotl newsletter 28 from 2000
from the axolotl colony (it is a pdf available online).
They talk about treatment there:
For fungus Sodium Chloride (normal kitchen salt, WITHOUT Jodine!!!):
either 4-6g per liter bath for 1 week or
35g per liter dip for 10 minutes or
35.8g/l dip for 10 minutes repeat every other day for 3 doses
For the bacterial infection:
Enrofloxacin (an antibiotic, sold for dogs and cats as "Baytril")
10mg/l dip, 1 hour per day.
The Baytril you have to get from a vet.
Good luck!!!!!!
Pumpkin Pie
New member
Of course you should try and save him, keep doing the salt baths!
ellenant
New member
Another solution for you would depend on if you
find a vet who is keen enough trying.
On your pictures it looks to me as if only the tail is affected.
the infection is progressing and could eventually affect
the spinal chord.
I would try to amputate the tail.
The axie will regenerate it.
This is something you do as a last resort in dogs and cats,
but we also did it in green iguanas in the regenerating
part of the tail after a severe case of bad husbandry
and tail necrosis in 10 cases in a clutch of babies.
(we= when I worked in the Munich university reptile clinic).
In your severe case, it might even be the best solution.
Do you live next to a bigger town that might have
a keen vet that is also treating exotic animals?
find a vet who is keen enough trying.
On your pictures it looks to me as if only the tail is affected.
the infection is progressing and could eventually affect
the spinal chord.
I would try to amputate the tail.
The axie will regenerate it.
This is something you do as a last resort in dogs and cats,
but we also did it in green iguanas in the regenerating
part of the tail after a severe case of bad husbandry
and tail necrosis in 10 cases in a clutch of babies.
(we= when I worked in the Munich university reptile clinic).
In your severe case, it might even be the best solution.
Do you live next to a bigger town that might have
a keen vet that is also treating exotic animals?
I guess what I'm trying to get at. And there's no way to put this arias without sounding like a bastard is. I paid $25 for him a week ago. Vet plus drugs will be way more than that. One vet even told me the same thing. Said not worth it 
ellenant
New member
What the hell?????
One of my 5$ pet rats once had a mammar tumor
and I paid 80$ to get her the best treatment and surgery.
I could have not lived with myself if I would not have
done that.
Only because an animal is cheap does not mean that the
owner is allowed to dispose of it so easily.
With aquiring an animal, the owner also aquires
the responsibility to care for it.
It is not an object, it is a living thing.
My axies here were for free, I rescued them from university.
They are precious to me, as are all my other pets.
I can not share this way of thinking.
(I am a vet too, and I have a feeling that I would like
to kick the collegues butt who has such a way of thinking,
he is supposed to be a protector of animals, thats what
our profession ethic says!!!!!:angry
One of my 5$ pet rats once had a mammar tumor
and I paid 80$ to get her the best treatment and surgery.
I could have not lived with myself if I would not have
done that.
Only because an animal is cheap does not mean that the
owner is allowed to dispose of it so easily.
With aquiring an animal, the owner also aquires
the responsibility to care for it.
It is not an object, it is a living thing.
My axies here were for free, I rescued them from university.
They are precious to me, as are all my other pets.
I can not share this way of thinking.
(I am a vet too, and I have a feeling that I would like
to kick the collegues butt who has such a way of thinking,
he is supposed to be a protector of animals, thats what
our profession ethic says!!!!!:angry
Ellen, I can definately understand your chain of thought, I too have spent an absolute fortune on animals ($340 for a chicken with a liver condition), Hundreds on tumour removals for rats (all grew back), over $400 on rabbits.... I certainly take the responsibility of being a pet owner very seriously but given changes in my financial situations I would not undertake the same financial outlay unless there was an excellent chance of a full recovery. I realise it sounds harsh but that is just the way things are now.
I despair at animal suffering, I would definately reccomend euthanasia over a slow and lingering death.
I despair at animal suffering, I would definately reccomend euthanasia over a slow and lingering death.
gr33neyes
New member
Perhaps in this case a vet would be better to advise on whether treatment is going to help or euthanasia is better.
As cruel as it sounds sometimes it does come down to money. I recently spent what I consider to be a lot of money on being told by a vet that my dog had a urine infection. The breakdown of the fees showed that the vets 5 minutes of time telling me cost more then the actual injection and tablets.
Vets fees are something to take into consideration before buying any animal. However there is a real lack of knowledge on axolotls at least in my area by vets so treatments would be more hit and miss.
I hope the axolotl will be ok....unfortunately I feel it won't be, the tail looks pretty rotten. Unless you know how far the infection has spread amputation may be useless, it looks fairly advanced up the tail. I don't know how far up you can go without 'cutting ' the axolotl in half so to speak.
Keep us posted Vampire
As cruel as it sounds sometimes it does come down to money. I recently spent what I consider to be a lot of money on being told by a vet that my dog had a urine infection. The breakdown of the fees showed that the vets 5 minutes of time telling me cost more then the actual injection and tablets.
Vets fees are something to take into consideration before buying any animal. However there is a real lack of knowledge on axolotls at least in my area by vets so treatments would be more hit and miss.
I hope the axolotl will be ok....unfortunately I feel it won't be, the tail looks pretty rotten. Unless you know how far the infection has spread amputation may be useless, it looks fairly advanced up the tail. I don't know how far up you can go without 'cutting ' the axolotl in half so to speak.
Keep us posted Vampire
thanks guys, I knew there would be mixed feelings on this and I appreciate the effort.
I tried to find someone in the area and they are all, we can give it a go type vets....I have had a close look and the decay is well past his back legs so amputation isn't going to be an option.
heres all I can do sadly :9
salt baths to try get rid of fungus + Enrofloxacin.
If thats no good sadly I think it will be teh end of my new pet.
But it hasn't truned me off, (even though this is the first one).
I'm already thinking of getting a new one (shoudl the worst occur)
What do I need to do with my existing setup? Ie if its bacterial will there still be stuff in my tank?? how thorough do I need to clean etc?
side note I don't think he liked the salt bath... when I got him out i thought he was dead but he eventually started moving again once back in fridge ... not looking good at all..
I tried to find someone in the area and they are all, we can give it a go type vets....I have had a close look and the decay is well past his back legs so amputation isn't going to be an option.
heres all I can do sadly :9
salt baths to try get rid of fungus + Enrofloxacin.
If thats no good sadly I think it will be teh end of my new pet.
But it hasn't truned me off, (even though this is the first one).
I'm already thinking of getting a new one (shoudl the worst occur)
What do I need to do with my existing setup? Ie if its bacterial will there still be stuff in my tank?? how thorough do I need to clean etc?
side note
I don't think he liked the salt bath... when I got him out i thought he was dead but he eventually started moving again once back in fridge ... not looking good at all..
All I can add is I wish you the best of luck Vampire. I am so sorry you've come to the world of axolotls with such a rough beginning and I hope your little fellow pulls through.
I'm hoping someone more advanced on the forum will spot this thread and advise on this...
side note
He will find it a little irritating. Ensure you leave him in the salt bath for about 10 minutes but no more than 15 minutes as the salt will start to damage his skin.
Keep us posted and all the best,
Jacq.
gr33neyes
New member
With regards to cleaning the tank setup out you may find this link helpful http://www.petfish.net/articles/How_To/aquarium_cleaning.php
Depending on the type of filter you used you may wish to throw away any filter sponges and replace them with new, but like Jacq has said someone else on here may have a better way.
Depending on the type of filter you used you may wish to throw away any filter sponges and replace them with new, but like Jacq has said someone else on here may have a better way.
spoke to vet today just in case anyone else ever needs some info. said its best to euthanise
in regards to the tank I'm to clean it out and let it dry in the sun for a week, the bacteria lives in the wet.
better luck next time i hope.
in regards to the tank I'm to clean it out and let it dry in the sun for a week, the bacteria lives in the wet.
better luck next time i hope.