Illness/Sickness: New and Possibly Ill?

[Jinxei]

(Some backstory)

I've been looking into getting an Axolotl for a few months now and wanted to have my research done before going up to a local Reptile Show and picking one up (I'm nervous about having one shipped).

Fast forward to yesterday. I went to a local aquarium store to pick up a few things for my other fish and noticed they had an Axolotl. I was amazed, but his conditions seemed really poor. His tank seemed excessively warm, there was a heat lamp, a low amount of water and nothing but sand. I went home and talked it over with the boyfriend before deciding we would get him the next day. (I have a white knight complex).

The store had NO information on him(it?). They didn't know the age/gender/where he came from/last time he ate/etc. Regardless, we bought him. He's currently in a 30 gallon tank. He's about 8.5in or 22cm long. Since being home he has eaten roughly 3-4 bloodworms while I was watching. His claw tips are black, not white, so I'm not entirely sure he's reached maturity? But I DO believe he might have some sort of illness? Perhaps a fungus?

I have included a first picture of him at the shop where we got him as it best shows why I think something is wrong (it seems to have lessened since coming home) as well as an image of him since being home (about 6-7 hours) that shows his current skin look/condition.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Not sure if I need to get him in to the vet next few days or immediately.

 

[Skudo09]

Gosh he (from the second photo it doesn't look like a male at this stage) looks terrible in the store photo.

Is your tank cycled? From the photo it looks like it was freshly filled with water so I am assuming it has not been cycled (but correct me if I am assuming incorrectly). If not cycled, I would very carefully monitor the parameters and test the water daily and perform frequent water changes to ensure the levels of ammonia and nitrite are at safe levels while the tank cycles. Maintaining optimum water quality will give him the best chance of recovery.

 

[Jinxei]

We're about 90% sure she is a .. she at this point. I so hope I'm not misgendering, though. For future purposes of getting a same gender tank mate. I've been doing a lot of photos of her since we got her both because she's cute and for documentation purposes and this morning a few images made me unsure of gender. Again.

The tank was filled yesterday morning and sat running for about 5-6 hours before we picked her up and put her in about an additional two hours later. I was really nervous doing this so we have been monitoring all night and checking the water constantly. We're using this site with the testing to make sure we're in the right ranges ( Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity ).

Does it just look like stress is what was wrong with her in the store image? It doesn't look like a fungus and I'm not able to match it with any other illnesses I've seen other than heat and stress.

 

[AxolotlChris]

First image in the shop does look like the water quality was affecting her. The gills are shriveled and looks like there's some sort of white fuzz on them and some of the body (possibly fungus). That shop obviously doesn't have a clue :uhoh:

You've started in the right place with the Axolotl.org website and this forum.

Use this website also for more info on cycling and water quality and many other aspect of keeping Axolotl: Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling

I recommend this water testing kit: Welcome to API Fishcare: FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT


Make sure your using a dechlorinator when doing daily water changes.

 

[Skudo09]

AxolotlWrangler has given a good link on what aquarium cycling is. It would be good to read up on it and get a full understanding so you can ensure she is now in good quality water and not exposed to further toxins like ammonia and nitrite as the cycling process takes place. This will give the best chance of recovery.

 

[Jinxei]

Thank you for all the help so far!

Is there a possibility she could be blind? If I put anything right in front of her (trying to get food near her, she hasn't eaten at all today and seems super thin) it's like she doesn't see it, even my hand.

All the water testing has coming back fine through out the day, as far as I can tell. Nitrate is at 0. The hardness of the water is a dead middle safe. Alkalinity is low. PH is at a 7.2.

I'm so worried she's going to starve or I'm missing something obvious ..

(Updated to add an image of her face as close as I could get.)

 

[Hoagii]

Hmm... her eyes do look clouded over. She should be able to smell her food even if she can't see. Maybe try something big like a night crawler that will make more turbulence in the water (I think axolotls have a lateral line??). Or drop it on her face. She may snap if she feels it bounce on her nose.

 

[Skudo09]

Her eyes do look somewhat cloudy but I would maybe monitor for now and see if this condition improves with good water quality. Maybe offer some different foods to tempt her? Keep trying. She may not be interested in food initially as she is settling into her new home. Give it some time.

Do you have test kits for ammonia and nitrite as well? Cycling tanks takes weeks and weeks, especially whilst keeping aquatic life in the tank. The big concern at the moment will be ammonia and nitrite levels.

 

[xxianxx]

A cloudy eye can indicate ammonia scarring, this should clear up over time if kept in a clean tank. Blind axolotls can feed fine, eye sight is not essential to this species.

 

[Jinxei]

I've so far gotten bloodworms, brine shrimp, earthworms for her. I ordered pellets from Michael on here. I'm not sure if there's anything else that might be more tempting to her or not at this point.

I'm apparently blind myself. I didn't realize I had tests for Nitrate and Nitrite and thought I had two kits for the same thing. At any rate, they are both at 0 and ammonia is testing at 0 as well.

She seems to navigate her tank really well. I've taken out a lot of things so it doesn't have so much and a lot of the plants but watching her this morning she seems to know her way around. I'm not sure if it's just a memory thing, but she swims to the top of objects and perches on them and has even found her way back to the cave that we have. I know it could be memory but I just have my fingers crossed.

Thank you all for the help. You have no idea how much it means to me and hope that it gives me. I have been a crying mess over her health and wanted to call up the pet store and raise hell last night.

 

[Jinxei]

I also have a preexisting tank currently that's been running for months now. It only has a betta and a few shrimp in it. To help with the cycling, should I maybe add a few of his decorations to her tank?

 

[Jinxei]

Sorry I've posted a lot of replies since the last reply from a non-me person.

I've calmed down on thinking she's so sick and that she's getting better now, but I have a new concern. I've posted tons of photos of her and a new concern was brought up that she might actually be a larval tiger salamander.

I'm including a couple photos on here in hopes of getting some positive ID on species. I don't want to be unprepared for her if she is a salamander and something happen to her as her tank is in no way properly set up for any land dwellers.

 

[Skudo09]

Hmm. She looks more like an axolotl to me but I can't say I see many tiger salamanders other than images online given we can't have any other salamanders in Australia other than axolotls but she still looks unwell and possibly her slime coat shedding. Keep on top of water quality and test the parameters daily whilst you are establishing the cycle.

Yes you can add decorations from the established tank or maybe some filter media if it can spare some (depending on setup). It will still take a while to cycle your axolotl tank but seeded material will help to speed up the cycle and get it started.