Please help, I don't want to lose my last one

[Sam77]

Until a few months ago, I had 3 axies happily living together in a 200l tank. A few months ago I lost my albino to a mystery illness, it started with intermittant scratching of her gills, then 2 incidences of skin shedding, then eventually she had septicaemia and died. A month or so later, my wild type started presenting with the same symptoms, I isolated her straight away and took her to the vet. He wasn't convinced there was anything wrong at first, then she started to get septicaemia as well, so he gave her antibiotics which I didn't manage to get into her, but we tried our best, put it into her food/water etc. but sadly she died as well.

I had thought that my golden had escaped this, as she has been completely symptom free, for at least a month, but the last few days has scratched at her gills a couple of times, and today I managed to get a good look at her in the light, and she seems to have the same thing that the others started with. It looks like her gill filaments have started to dissappear at the bottom of each gill stalk, I don't know if this is due to scratching, or a result of it. I really really don't want to lose her, but I have no idea what could be causing it, or what, if anything I can do. The vet thought the others might be stressed as I had recently introduced my golden to the tank, and he thought this might have stressed them out. However this wouldn't explain why my golden has now started showing symptoms.

My parameters are all as they should be - temp 16C, ammonia & nitrite 0, and nitrate never goes over 20. I test all the parameters regularly and have never had a problem yet. They eat mostly earthworms that I order from the internet and keep in the fridge. They have sand as a substrate, plenty of live plants, and lots of places to hide. I change 20% water weekly and they have a canister filter with a spray bar which hardly causes any water movement at all. I have no idea what might be causing this. My husband thinks there could have been something in the tank, as it was second hand when I bought it, but they have been in the new tank since May, and I cleaned it thoroughly with vinegar and lots of water before cycling.

Please, if anyone can think what might be wrong/what I could do, I would be so grateful. I look after them so well, am neurotic and won't let anyone spray anything in the room/rest of the house, we don't use candles or any air freshner. The only thing that gets in the tank that shouldn't is the occasional dog hair. Could this be a problem??

Thanks for reading my essay!!

 

[Sam77]

This is Rosie this morning, it is hard to tell, but the gill filaments on the right side at the bottom are looking strange. Have also posted a picture of her tank (there was one more hide and plant, but I have taken them out as I only have 1 now, and she didn't use them) incase anyone can see anything wrong with my set up?

 

[wandering]

Hi,
I notice that you have no light in the tank and a fitting for one, leaving exposed connections. There may be contamination from the metals getting condensation on them that the drips into the tank. I believe copper is toxic to amphibians?

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[Bellabelloo]

I really don't know what is going on. I think the tank set up looks fine, and your information doesn't indicate anything amiss. I wonder maybe if there was something transferred from the second hand tank? I think the only way you may find out what is going on is the vet doing maybe a skin scrape to identify what is occurring. Other than that maybe try adding Indian almond leaves as they have anti bacterial properties.

 

[Sam77]

Ooh thanks wandering, I hadn't thought of that. I will take the lid off. I took one of the lights out to make it a bit dimmer for them when the light was switched on.

Bellaboo, I have been putting Almond leaves in since I lost the first one, but stopped a couple of weeks ago, so I will stick a couple more in. Can I keep adding them indefinitely? Thanks for responding. Any advice I am super grateful for.

 

[wandering]

As long as your axie doesn't get out! I'd hate to be responsible for that! You might try unscrewing the bulb holder and put a plastic disc shape (cut from a plastic bag) over the end and screw the ring back to seal the end. I have done this on one of my tanks to protect the electrics from water. Or put an old non working bulb in it.

Hope your axie gets better soon.

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[AxieMama]

Are the worms organic? Bought from the same place as usual?

 

[Sam77]

Wandering - I have put an old bulb back in, so she won't jump out. To be honest she barely swims to the surface, she is a lazy old thing, so I would be impressed if she did try to jump!! Thank you for all your advice.

AxieMama - I order worms every month from worms direct, and there has been about 6-8 weeks between each of the 3 axies getting sick, so they have all eaten different batches. If it is bacterial, I find it hard to understand such a long incubation period, with several months between my first and last starting to show symptoms. I really have no idea what is going on.