Poor Calipso

M

Madhatter

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I've had my axies for 9 months and I've never had a huge problem with them, I've had the gravel eatting but as soon as I saw that I removed the gravel.

But today I woke up and I saw that my black princess Calipso has white (i think its fungus) on her gills.

As I've said I've never had a major problem with them, and I don't really know what to do. I've read up on other people with fungus on their axies, and what everyone has told them to do, but I'm worried that if I follow what I've read from other peoples stories I'll be using the wrong treatment for her.

I'm really worried about her, I feel like I ruined her life or something.

I did a water change on Monday, 25%, and I'm trying to get a proper pH testing kit.

But I'd like to fix the fungus soon.!
 
i had a small problem with fungus about 2 months ago. Overnight my youngest axolotl developed fungus on one of her gill stalks.
I had recently introduced her into my main tank and i think the extra bioload caused a change in the healthy bacteria levels.
I was lucky to catch it in the early stages, I managed to remove the axolotl from the tank into a small container filled with water. I found a pair of round ended tweezers and managed to pick off nearly all of the fungus. Most of the gill filaments on this stalk also came away with it as I think the fungus had killed it off. I have a very steady hand so i wasn't worried about hurting the axolotl and she remained fairly still the whole time.
I then replaced the axolotl back into the tank and did a 40% water change. I now carry out a small water change (bucket full) every other day and I have never had any problems with fungus since.
This was how I overcame the problem but you may feel uneasy about picking at the fungus with any tool. I was all set up ready for giving a salt bath, but in my case it wasn't needed .
Ph probably isnt the problem here, you need to get a water kit that checks ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, then you can manage your water changes better.
 
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So do you think I should give her a salt bath?

hmmm how exactly do I do this, like I said, I've never had a major problem like this.

I'm scared of hurting her
 
What is your tank temperature?

This can play just as important role in why your axolotl has gotten fungus as can water quality.

Axies can live in pH levels of 6.4-8.0, and therefore should not need to adjust if they are between those levels.

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrates are more important to test for. Take a sample of tankwater to your petshop and get them to test them and then write the results down and keep a record by your tank. If the ammonia or nitrite levels are above 0, do a 20% waterchange on the same day. Continue doing frequent partial waterchanges every one or two days.

Salt baths:

Prepare a solution of 2-3 teaspoons of uniodised table salt/sea salt or aquarium/tonic salt per litre of dechlorinated water.

Dissolve the salt. If using the aquarium/tonic salt make sure to crush it well and stir to dissolve it.

Remove your axie from the tank - place her in the saltbath.

Make sure to cover your axolotl container with a lid so she doesn't take fright (she may be slightly irritated by saltbath - entirely normal).

Keep her in the saltbath for 10-15minutes max. Set a timer so you don't forget.

Once complete, remove her from the saltbath and return to tank.

Make sure to empty the saltbath after each use.

Saltbaths need to be done twice a day (or preferably 3 times a day) for up to a week after the fungus drops off.
 
I d like to start the salt baths tomorrow before I go to school in the morning, but all I can find is table salt for now, and I keep looking at her and she looks worse.

Can I just use this salt?
 
you need to check to see if it contains an anti-caking agent, if it does then axolotl.org says its not suitable.
 
*sigh* it does contain an anti-caking agent.

I'll have to get some salt after work tomorrow, the ones that Kapo told me to get. I want to do this right.

I'm so worried.

Will she be ok untill 9pm tomorrow?
 
If that's all you've got at the moment, you can make do with that until you pick some salt up at supermarket. We get packets of table sea salt or uniodised cooking salt (which has no anticaking agent in it) from ours as our petshop tends to run out of the aquarium/tonic salt.
 
It has an anti-cooking agent in it.

I'll buy some proper stuff tomorrow
 
I just had another look at her and it looks worse.

I dont think its fungus, its like all her gills have been torn to pieces, and they are white and mouldy, and its starting on her toes now.


I just took some pics

sorry they are blurry

100_1326.jpg


100_1327.jpg
 
Fungus does that, it eats away at gills/toes etc once it takes hold. It needs to be treated with saltbaths.

You need to get a thermometer to monitor your tank temperature as soon as possible.

Also, take a sample of your water into your petshop and ask them to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Get them to write the figures down next to the names. Apart from a water ager/conditioner/dechlorinater you do not need to buy anything to fix it - so avoid taking any advice they give you to fix the problem. Frequent partial waterchanges (20-30%) will sort out any high ammonia/nitrites (over 0) in your tank. Do not do large waterchanges.

What size is your tank (measurements) and how many axolotls do you have in it? Do you have any other companions? What do you feed? How often do you waterchange?
 
my tank is about a meter and a half long, and 30 cm wide.

I have mystery snails in the tank and 3 other axies as well as 2 tiny small feeder fish.

I feed them a ranged diet, because I had trouble feeding Calipso at the start. I feed them earthworms, mealworms, mince meat and lamb heart ( without the fat) and the occasional small fish as a treat.

I do a water change about once every 2 weeks.
 
do you take off the heads of the mealworms? They can cause internal damage to an axolotls insides as they may bite. You can crush the heads if you can't face cutting them off.
 
The anticaking agent is more than likely harmless. The table salt is fine.
 
Sorry to hear about your axie. I'd really check your temperature and keep a thermometer in there if you haven't already got one, as they'll not cope with temperatures over the low 20's for long without getting stress, fungus etc and we are having a cracker of a summer!! Depending on where you are of course. I think this is actually the hardest thing about keeping axies in Australia.
 
Well today was the start of the salt baths.

I've done 2 so far, one in the morning and one tonight, and already its seems that some of the white is going.

Its just the gills and stems are also going.. and a toe

I know they can grow these back but I feel so bad.

And I think it may have spread to my Salsa, I found a patch, I might start treating it too.
 
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