Now what?!

[justin]

Several of my sub-adults had been biting each other on the rear legs and I was uncertain as to whether this was a result of agonistic behavior or a bacterial infection initially...They are all recovering quite well.

However, one of my older axolotls, (almost a year) in a different tank, has come down with something quite wicked. It's a golden albino that has started turning bright red and appears to be loosing the integrity of it's skin...Puffy looking as well. Seems to have happened over a period of two days. Bright red patches over a good portion of it's body especially it's rear legs. Now I'm wondering if this isn't a true case of 'red-leg.'

I've separated it in a container of fresh water, but have yet to put it in the fridge. I also added a few drops of mecurochrome to the container.

Any additional help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[mel]

can I ask if he looks like my bobo? thread 'help i think bobo is sick' or something like that. and does he put his head out of the water at all or float alot?

 

[sharn]

septicemia maybe?

 

[cynthia]

Justin - This page is about treating axolotls with redleg http://www.msu.edu/user/eisthen/lab/methods/animalcare/redleg.htmlv

 

[justin]

Unfortunately it died within a 48 hour period...I'm not sure how long the infection was building, but it's physical symptoms came on quickly. Within this time frame it broke out with purple/red patches over most of it's body. It's rear legs were completely purple and it was quite swollen. It's skin seemed to lose it's integrity as well.

Really disappointing considering it was almost fully mature. I'm suspicious a sluggish filter is to blame; letting the bacteria build outta sorts. It's since been cleaned and refurbished.

Thanks anyway.

 

[jordan]

thats terrible to hear justin.

 

[andrew]

filters don't normally filter bacteria, in fact most are designed to grow it (bio filters.

I would be more suspect of a rise in temperature helping to incubate something nasty.

Then again it could just be bad luck that one of his wounds got infected.