Mouth fungus. little info i have

[10fenny]

So my lotls just got mouth fungus. it started on their gills and moved to their mouth.. i have 4 lotls in my 75 gal. they all had the gill fungus but the salt baths cured that. now two of them have mouth fungus. the one thing i found said antibiotic injection. which i can do but if there is any other info that would be great

 

[auntiejude]

You need to go back to salt baths again to get rid of this fungus, but you also need to figure out why you are having ths problem.

At the very least you need to check the temperature (over 20C seems to precipitate fungus), check your water quality and probably do several large water changes over a week to eliminate any fungal spores in the water. It's also worth giving your filter a clean too.

In the mean time keep your axies in separate tubs so they don't re-infect each other, change their water daily and keep on with the salt baths for 2 days once that fungus looks to have gone.

 

[10fenny]

So is it fungus or bacteria? the anti biotics suggest its bacterial not fungal. Also some people say to just do biotics cuz salt is too stressfull.. some say the opposite. My mom is a nurse... so she can get me antibiotcs for injection.. my lotls are about two years old so ide rather not hafta start over

 

[10fenny]

This so called fungus is getting pretty bad.. its starting to eat away at the skin... i have a lil guy with it and he prolly wont make it.. it has eatin all his fingers away

 

[Petersgirl]

To be honest this sounds like it's getting serious fast. I'd get them to a vet asap.

 

[Bellabelloo]

This needs the attention of a vet.

 

[10fenny]

Well i am unable to locate an axie vet where i am...nor could i afford it right now anyways.. like i said both my parents are doctors so i am able to get ahold of almost anything to help them.. i could get some antibiotics but i dont know if that will help.. this sucks to say the least

 

[auntiejude]

Your parents may be doctors, but they are not vets. Any drugs they get for you may not be suitable for amphibians.
Salt is the best option until you can find a vet - completely axie-safe and proven to get rid of fungus. If you can post some pictures maybe we can help you with a diagnosis so you get the right treatment as the wrong treatment may kill them.

 

[10fenny]

Well i got some names of some suitable biotocs that are axie safe even the dosages.. got them written down at home.. im not gonna just shoot em with penicilan and hope for the best. like i said i wont be able to see a vet.. i live with my gf in a crappy appt and were both broke.. ill try and get some pics tonight... im just seeing if there is someone who knows anything with were im going with this

 

[mewsie]

If its fungus, you need to treat fungus, not bacteria.

It's really difficult when you're skint, I know, but you need to take some sensible amphibian-based action, so I'd suggest you listen to the advice being given in this thread.

If salt baths worked for fungus before, and you really cannot afford to visit a vet, follow the salt bath tutorial again.

But you really need to identify the problem, if you cleared up fungus before and have the same problem again, you may end up saving your little pals, only to find them sick again.

I'm really sorry to hear your axies are ill. With a lot of meticulous care and attention to detail you can hopefully heal them.

Photos are essential to help us help you, so get some up as a matter of urgency.

Good luck!

 

[10fenny]

well don't worry ill be doin the best I can and take any advice I can get.. hehe I actually had to look up skint.. you crazy brits hehe. I thought it might be offensive at first.
ive been keepin up on the salt baths. my other two lost gills on one side entirely. they are better, eating, active, and separated from the others that are in my fridge right now. my initial problem was that my nitrates with almost unreadbly high. 15% water changes a day till I got it to a decent level. ill be home in a bit to take pics.

 

[10fenny]

ok heres some pics.. i just got home and holey **** they look sooo much better. they had "fungus" covering there whole face. it looked like it was sealed shut so im hoping they will get over this. even the small guy in the last pic... i thought for sure he was a goner with his no activity and terribly appearance. he may be skinny but hes hella active

 

[10fenny]

Here are the unfortunates.

 

[10fenny]

it looks like its just ammonia burn now... i had to take big black bertha outta the water for i could not get a pic. You can see the white film around the lips that used to cover her hose nasal and lower chin area. The last pic you can see the foot has nothing to it. sry for the late reply but i've been super busy working on cars 14 hours a day

 

[mewsie]

Oh my goodness, poor things.

It sounds like you have a LOT of work to do in managing water conditions.

Also, it's gonna be said, and its gonna be said a lot - you really should be avoiding handling your axolotls at the best of times, photos through water are fine, but dude... Your HANDS! You've clearly been working on cars all day cause your hands are still caked in oil and whatever! I can imagine its a nightmare to ever get clean hands again after working on cars, but you must stop handling your axolotls, full stop.

Their skin is delicate and sensitive. They also absorb chemicals very readily through it. If you are routinely handling them or their tank with post-car-day hands, this could very well be contributing to the problem.

Your axolotls are lovely, you really need to look at getting tank and water conditions under control and start problem solving here!

I hope we can help you get things sorted.

(Lol @ skint btw)

 

[10fenny]

Well i had to get them into the salt somehow... and trust me my hands are clean.. u shoulda seen em before.. thats after about 12 washes.. there stained.. but thanks

 

[snuggly time]

Have you got a water testing kit? It would be really helpful to know what the water parameters are. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph and temperature.

I agree, keep handling to a minimal if you can. Also, cool clean water when the salt baths are done to help them recover.

I've been working on my car for about 9 hours today and can't get the oil off. Spent ages washing and got as much as I could but they're still dirty, so I know it's hard. Maybe gloves would help if you need to handle them.

Good luck :happy:

 

[Petersgirl]

There's a professional hand cleaner called Wurth Hand Cleaner that does a good job of removing engine oil from your hands. My mechanic cousin uses it to get petrol off - obviously you'd have to rinse thoroughly but maybe it'll help? If it's expensive or you can't get it you can use sugar and washing up liquid.

How is your bubby doing now?

 

[10fenny]

bla... ok i guess lotl story time... i got them about two years ago from a petstore where they were kept with super high current gravel filled tank. they were just babies so i started them on a 20 gal long tank with a aquaclear 70 on it turned way down. with black sand bottom.. led lighting that made the tank filled with plants.. they got a lil biggger so i put them in my 75 gal with a fluvel FX5.. turned way down. marineland double bright led keeps the plants crazy. big bertha loves to play and dance in the brightest area. they have since then bred about 4 times.. first batch i raised over 300 lil guys out of i dont know how many eggs. i now own a set of twins that i hatched from a shot glass and my friends and pet stores took the rest. one of my friends could not care for them anymore so i took them back. when she said goodbye to them she started to hold them. hey hey hey i say what are you doing let them go. i am a firm believer in not holding them. only when i have to.


so ive been unable to find my master test kit but i do have my nitrate kit handy which has been reading a steady 5 ppm. ive been a mega fish nerd since i can remember and im 28 now. i like to run crushed coral in my tanks cuz it keeps the ph steady just above neutral. ive never done a waterchange more than 20%. its been super hott around here which with my high nitrates i know caused the prob.. but the sickly have been in the fridge thankfully. thanks for lookin out on the mechanic hands. people always talk about my dirty appeared hands but i just laugh because they have no idea.

 

[10fenny]

so ive stopped the salt baths for i feel its stressing them out more. i cant get a solid answer cept salt baths and fridge. a few weeks ago i had them in the fridge for the gill fungus that cleared up. but when i put them back in the big tank all hell broke loose. so there gonna be in the fridge for awhile im thinkin. they tended to look worse the next day after the salt baths, even with half dose. but just leaving them alone in the fridge has done wonders. they dont wanna eat but with their metabolism slowing down and how fat they still are im not too worried. the one that looked like i had to put him down is looking a lot better too. as i said im a full time young mechanic so i know i can be extremly abbrasive to most people and thats ok. ill keep you guys updated