Illness/Sickness: Persistent Fungus Infection

[LaneAlex]

Hi,
I have a 5 yr old male axie named FrogDog. He got a fungus infection starting on his toe (white, cottony mass) over a month ago. I first tried Pimafix in the tank. No luck.

I then followed the instructions posted on this forum (THANKS!) for the salt baths but without fridging and it worked. I did this for 4 days and the fungus fell off after the second day. While treating him in the smaller containers, I broke the tank down, cleaned it and started cycling the tank with a 'seeded' filter from a friend's tank and gradually mixed the tank water with the dechlorinated water in the small containers before actually putting him back in the tank. In other words I followed her instructions to the letter.
After a week in the tank the fungus returned on the same toe. So I repeated everything again. The fungus returned again. Repeat above and tonight it has returned yet again. I've kept the 20 gallon tank at a cool, steady temp around 60 F. I'm using a Fluval U2 filter, it is throttled back so as not to cause too much water movement.
He is eating well.
I'm so discouraged, frustrated and tired of breaking that tank down.
I'm hoping that someone can suggest something that I can do to turn this around and stop the fungus from coming back. Right now he has received his salt bath and is in the small container with the decholrinated water.
Thank you very much!

 

[Mortimer]

I'm wondering if doing a salt bath then using this might prevent it from coming back:

"Mercurochrome is an antiseptic/disinfectant available at pharmacies and can be quite effective when treating bacterial and fungal problems. The former Indiana University Axolotl Colony recommended adding just a few drops to tint the water orange, and change the water frequently. 2-4 ppm (parts per million, i.e. 2 to 4 grams per 1000 litres of water) is the dosage recommended by Peter W. Scott." (from axolotl.org)

S

 

[LaneAlex]

Thanks Sharon, it is certainly worth a try. Good to know that the folks at IU used this.

 

[Kaysie]

Mercurochrome is no longer available to the public in the US.

 

[Mortimer]

Ooooof.

 

[Petersgirl]

Here's an extract from Axolotl.org:

One form of potentially deadly bacterium that can be treated quite easily if caught in its early stages is Chondrococcus columnaris (commonly called Columnaris). This is a white fungus-like disease often confused with Saprolegnia, a common water-bourne fungus. Animals tend to lose their appetite and become sluggish, and then become covered in white/grey patches of bacteria. It's easiest and best to treat while still in its early stages. One treatment recommended by Heather Eisthen on the Urodeles newsgroup is to dip the effected animal in sea water for 10 minutes a day for three days in a row).
Holtfreter's solution in higher than normal concentrations is also effective against Columnaris, as is the use of a salt bath. Place the animal in a salt bath for about 10 minutes once or twice a day. A salt bath is prepared using 2-3 teaspoons of salt (table salt, cooking salt, or iodized salt, but not "low" or "low-sodium" salt) per litre/two pints. Don't leave the Axolotl in the salt bath for more than 15 minutes each time, because the salt will start to damage the Axolotl's skin and particularly its gills. Of course, this is all useless if the animal is still under stress when put back in its aquarium (strong-flowing water, high water temperature, bad water quality, etc....).
Saprolegnia, the most common sort of true fungus found in freshwater, can be treated by similar measures as Columnaris and this fungus is only rarely fatal, if treated early. If your tap water has chloramine, this can be used as a treatment for fungal problems. Bathe the wounds or immerse the animal in the water for a few minutes each day, as you would with a salth bath. Fungus can also affect eggs, and effected eggs should be removed if feasible, because the fungus can spread to other eggs quite quickly.
In all cases of disease or stress, isolation of the effected animal is strongly recommended and a few weeks in cool water is often helpful to speed recovery during and after treatment.


Please note well: Salt solutions can do great damage to the gills of axolotls, leading to bleeding and shedding of gill fimbriae, so don't subject an axolotl to high salt concentrations for very long periods at a time.


Mercurochrome is an antiseptic/disinfectant available at pharmacies and can be quite effective when treating bacterial and fungal problems. The former Indiana University Axolotl Colony recommended adding just a few drops to tint the water orange, and change the water frequently. 2-4 ppm (parts per million, i.e. 2 to 4 grams per 1000 litres of water) is the dosage recommended by Peter W. Scott. (I'm guessing this is where Sharon found this treatment).

The University of Mantioba (posted on the Urodeles newsgroup and also the former Indiana University Axolotl Colony) used Nitrofura-G, a compound of Furazolidine, methylene blue and potassium dichromate, to treat skin infections, minor fungal problems, gill fuzz, red sores, and skin irritations. They say it is available from aquarium stores. They use it in the recommended dosage of the manufacturer and find that animals improve dramatically over three doses. Furazolidine is an anti-microsporidal (somewhat effective against protozoans and fungi). Methylene blue is a generally toxic chemical that is toxic to most organisms to some degree. I'm unsure about the toxicity of potassium dichromate.

Does any of this help?

 

[FX1C]

Mercurochrome is no longer available to the public in the US.

I'm stunned! Here in Australia it's used for every bump & scrape - you're not a kid unless you've got the red war paint lol

What stuns me is you can't buy mercurochrome in the US but you can buy guns & ammo at the local store
(No I won't get into gun topics - that's way too off topic & emotive )



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Mortimer]

Nikki, my thoughts exactly.....

 

[LaneAlex]

Thank you all for the information. Yes, I did read the column that you recommended.

I have decided a plan of action:
FrogDog has had his 4 days of salt baths and again whatever it bacteria/fungus is has disappeared. I would also stress that his appetite is VERY good so that is good news.
I will keep him in the container, changing water daily for at least 2 wks starting today. Since it seems to return within a week of stopping the salt baths.
If it comes back I will take a sample of it to our exotic animal vets at the university and ask them to tell me exactly what we are dealing with. There are some other medications that John Claare has listed on his axie web page as being 'safe'. Perhaps one of them will work once we know exactly what it is.
I'll keep you all posted as to how it goes.