Illness/Sickness: Nothing Seems To Work?!

[curtistomas]

My Alex is sick and nothing I seem to do helps!

I have done the following...

Day 1 - I noticed white fluff on his gills
Day 2 - His gills seemed to have been damaged on the ends
Day 3 - Placed in fridge
Days 4,5,6,7 - Salt Bath - Fridged... (removed a small amount of fluff but now spread to feet)
Days 8,9,10 - Salt Bath - Fridged in methylene blue [very mild] (which turned the fluff blue)
Days 11,12 - Salt Bath - Fridged

In the salt baths I have used 2tpsn salt to 1l filtered water. The fridge is at 5c.

He doesn't seem to be getting any better now!

Please help

 

[Morrison]

I'm not trying to scare you or saying fridging is wrong but this PRETTY MUCH looks like the bad experiences I've had with fridging. Maybe it's not the same what's going on but I'll describe what happened (sorry, my English is a bit lame):

Both times I fridged an axie they both developed fungus on the feet and gills. Both axies were in the fridge because they didn't want to eat. They didn't have fungus before going into the fridge. Both died (not only because of the fungus, just because they weren't lucky with the whole situation: not eating, stress etc).
But it's not too late! I would take him out of the fridge, let the temp. get back to normal and do daily water changes (or even twice a day, to keep it even more clean). Do salt baths (2 - 3 tablespoons of salt per liter, which is pretty much the same as you described, so that's good) every 12 hours in a separate container (use fresh salt and water everytime you do a salt bath, just in case). Leave your axie in there for about 10 minutes, but not for more than 15 minutes! It will damage his gills and skin if he's left in there too long. Repeat salt baths every day until the fungus falls off. Worked for me, all the times.

After the fungus is gone, a catappa leaf (almond leaf) added to the tank might help keeping your axie's skin (slimecoat) and gills healthy. It also works a bit against fungus in the tank.

I still don't know why fridging went wrong for me (and maybe for you too). Maybe 5°C is a bit too cold? (Someone who can tell me this? Still don't know the answer).

Really hopes this works for you and your cute Alex!

 

[snuggly time]

Hi,

What type of salt are you using?

This is a quote from Kaysie's salt bath tutorial (http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...axolotl/72698-salt-bath-picture-tutorial.html)

Mix your salt bath solution. Using the 1 liter container makes measuring this super-simple. I use a trusty ol' nalgene bottle. Mix your solution at 2-3 teaspoons per liter. As for the types of salt used: any non-iodized salt is fine. Don't use the 'low sodium' salts; those just replace sodium with potassium. I use aquarium salt, but rock salt, sea salt, or non-iodized table salt will be fine. Just note if you use a finer grain salt, you'll have more salt per teaspoon. That is, big grains of salt take up more space, so there's more air-space per teaspoon. To counter this, I use two and a partial teaspoon of aquarium salt.

 

[gfsward]

Usually people do exactly what Dolores said in conjunction with fridging because it slows them down and makes it easier to treat them. Try increasing your salt content in the salt bath water and that should help. You'll be able to see dramatic results pretty quickly. Follow the salt bath tutorial that Beks linked on here and he should be ok Good Luck! We're all rooting for you!

Dolores, if they weren't eating before you fridged them, putting them in the fridge would have made the problem worse because it slows down an axies metabolism a lot so they would eat even less. I've read that that temperature isn't bad for axies and have heard of some that had ice on the top of their water and were still fine. Did you try giving them salt baths after the fungus developed?

 

[curtistomas]

Thanks, I hope he doesn't die! I've been using table salt. I read the label and it didn't say anything about being iodized.

Alex's tank mate (Alexandra - original I know) doesn't appear to be infected. I have done a complete water change and cleaned my tank really well. I've then refilled it with cold water and am cycling it with the original filter. I placed her in the fridge for the night to allow the tank to 'sort its self out'. Have I done the right thing?

I will be taking both out of the fridge tomoz and let them adjust in their boxes at room temp.

Where do I get an almond leaf from?

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[curtistomas]

Hey,
So my Alex lost all of his gills from the fungus and a few toes. He doesn't seem to be in pain (although it looks painful) and hes back in his tank and is loving his worms.

I have got some almond leaves and have been keeping a close eye on him... so far so good!

 

[FX1C]

Sorry for the late input but here's my 2 cents.

I agree fridging isn't always necessary & it's much less stressful to just keep then in a clean tub if fresh dechlorinated tap water. Changed 100% daily. With a quick salt bath twice a day then straight back into the clean tub. Scrubbing the tub thoroughly every 2nd day ensures the water is clean & will help detox & encourage healing.

I've tried almond leaf a few times & I'm not overly impressed with it & have noticed a bug / larvae appear after I ad the leaf to a clean bucket of water to let stand. I've had huge success using plain black tea & adding o the water with the daily change seems to help a lot - it soothes the slime coat & seems to help gills repair at the same time as staving off fungus. I now add it to my tanks every few water changes to add some tannin & it seems to help.



Also what dechlorinator are you using & do you measure it accurately? It's very important to work out exact quantities & not over dose it.

Make sure to test your tank regularly now that you've given it a total scrub down - there's a big chance it will crash & have to start cycle again if the filter doesn't have enough in it to jump start the cycle again. Better to change small amounts 20-30% regularly than 100% in response to a problem..

Hope he gets some gill growth happening soon



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[curtistomas]

I have just placed an almond leaf into the tank (I had already ordered them and arrived today). I'll keep the advise on the tea - just incase the leaves don't seem to have any positive effect...

Thanks so much!

 

[FX1C]

I have just placed an almond leaf into the tank (I had already ordered them and arrived today). I'll keep the advise on the tea - just incase the leaves don't seem to have any positive effect...

Thanks so much!

You must remove the axolotl to detox it. You still haven't mentioned the parameter test results & rather than risking further damage & death to your axolotl I suggest immediately getting into fresh water.

You can do almond leaf & tea treatment at the same time no problem. But adding them to a toxic tank will do nothing!!



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[curtistomas]

I have been doing daily 20-30% water changes and have been testing parameters every time.

My levels are:

Ammonia - 0-0.5
Nitrate - 25
Nitrite - 0.5
pH 7.6
Temp - 20-22c

He has little whisks of gills growing again

I have a live plant in the tank too to try and help with the cycle.

He is eating earthworms and seems to be happy.

Do you think the almond leaf should be removed and do you think I should take my alex out of his tank?

 

[layna]

Your cycle isnt quite done so if your axie is already ill, the ammonia and nitrite wont be helping, do you have tubs you can put them in until the tank is cycled?

I believe someone further up said the leaf wont help if the tank isnt cycled, so it wont be doing anything. If you put them in a tub each you could add the leaf into that and it will work better.

Also your temp is slightly higher than preffered, do you have a fan or something that could be used to cool the tubs down a bit?

Also what dechlorinator do you use? API 'stress coat' has aloe vera in which will give your axie a protective slime coat and help reduce stress from water issues and scrapes ect

 

[curtistomas]

Yes I have 3l 'sandwich boxes' I could use. I have got a fan and will place next to the 'sandwich boxes' (if you think they are big enough?)

I have been using 'ReptoSafe' (the same one as I use for my turtles - it seems to work well.

I was looking up some water chillers and will need to invest in a proper system I think as I'm not always around during the day to change ice bottles...

I feel like nothing im doing is right

 

[Petersgirl]

That is not true, Curtistomas. You're trying everything you can. Your tank needs a little time to cycle, that's all, and salt baths should clean up the fungus. Once it's gone, tea baths, as suggested by Nikki, as well as your almond leaves, will help to keep the wounds clean and let them heal.

For now, you can pop your axxie into a tub with clean dechlorinated water. If you don't have a filter system (which understandably you won't for a 3ltr sandwich box!) the water will need to be changed every day to ensure his wounds have time to heal. Keep him somewhere dark, cool and quiet.
I'm in exactly the same boat as you apart from the fungus. Tooth is missing a few fronds from the top of one gill, and looked ill when I saved her from another family member's tank. While I cycle her new 15 gallon tank, she waits in a clean breeding tank which is water changed daily.

Keep your head up, keep your heart strong. You can do this. It all sounds a bit confusing now but once you and your axxie are settled it becomes fairly easy. I change Toothless's water every morning, as soon as I wake up. I test her cycling tank water and feed her two lovely chopped worms every other day. That's all there is to a recovering tank and an axolotless cycle Once your tank's cycled you just need to observe Alex until the fungus disappears, then monitor the remaining skin/wound.

He might take a month or so to regrow his leg, ditto his gills. But with cool water and good food he'll get there.

PS Reptosafe also contains aloe vera and so will also help to keep his wounds bacteria-free! Good call.