Possible fungus on gill and white poop

[Pandibug]

Hello everyone!

I keep two axies, Kirby and Cormano, in a 50 gallon tank. The tank has been cycled since before they moved in, water parameters are ideal and I perform 30% water changes every two days. They won't eat earthworms so they are currently being fed sinking pellets.
Anyway, yesterday I noticed that a tip on Kirbys left gill had turned blood red. Today his gills are darker all over and there's like a little white tuft coming from the blood red area. He's also flapping his gills alot more than usual.
Gills aside, he also has a case of weird poo, slimy white poo to be exact. I'm thinking it could perhaps be caused by the suboptimal diet?
Does anyone have an idea what is up with him?

Here are some (bad) pics:

The middle branch is the affected one

 

[auntiejude]

Yep, that looks like fungus on the gills, you need to start salt baths straight away. Have you read the tutorial? You don't need the fridge though, you can do it at room temperature. Fungus often takes hold in a minor injury - he could have caught it on an ornamnet, been snapped at by another axie, or even scratched himself.

Weird poop is normally diet related, the problem with pellets is that axies can stuff themselves, then not digest the pellets. Does he only eat pellets? Do you know why your axies won't eat worms? I find hand feeding more reliable than bowls or jars, at least I know who has eaten what.

 

[Pandibug]

Okay, I'll give him a bath right away. The correct procedure would be two baths a day until the fungus has disappeared, yes?
They are only eating pellets. I think the worms might be red wrigglers, so my little divalotls won't even look at them cause they're stinky or something. Sadly I haven't been able to find a store that sells nightcrawlers anywhere, but I am always keeping my eyes open.

 

[auntiejude]

Yes, salt baths twice a day until the fungus has gone, then for 2 more days.

If you blanche the worms - just pour a little boiling water over them then immediately cool under a tap - it kills them and prevents them from excreting the goo that makes them taste nasty, but keeps them fresh and nutritious. Try it - it may be what they need to take the worms.

 

[Pandibug]

Hey again! I tried blanching the worms but they still wont take them, or well Kirby wont eat anything. He hasn't eaten anything for three days so I'm getting a little worried. The salt baths seem to be working though, the fungus disappeared after two baths and he's flapping his gills at a slower rate.

 

[layna]

Pellets will be okay for the time being to keep them going, did you cool the worm immediatly, and shake it in front of their face so they thought they were alive?

 

[Pandibug]

Yeah of course, still no luck.

And now things turned for the worse. Just woke up and checked the tank and Kirby has turned a deep pink. I immediately thought of ammonia burn so I checked my water parameters and they are good as they always have been, and then I saw that he had a big lump of white slime coming out of his cloaca.
I've put him in the fridge. Where do I go from here?

 

[layna]

Fridging is usually only for serious cases of impaction/fungus to slow it down, if he is passing stuff i wouldnt necessarily put him in there as it will just slow him down.
Are you feeding him earthworms?

 

[Pandibug]

No, he wont eat anything and hasn't done so for several days. I put him in there because he is in really bad shape, he's deep pink, theres a glob of white stuff attached to his cloaca an his tummy is looking malformed.
I really don't think not feeding him earthworms is the issue.

 

[layna]

what is the temperature in the tank?
I cant see your picture, but if he is in that bad of a state, then he will need to go to the vets, there was a similar post a couple of days ago about the white stuff coming out of the bottom as previously mentioned and this bacterial infection, which a vet will most likely have to deal with.
Not eating for a couple of days isnt worrying, if it was weeks then id be more worried.
However feeding things such as meal worms mean they excrete the white stuff as its the exoskeleton that they cant digest.
Sometimes pellets can cause digestion problems such as constipation, thats why i asked what you feed them.

All i can suggest is trying to find a vet unless someone on here has more knowledge for you.

 

[auntiejude]

I have to agree, I think it's time to find a vet - if there's nothing external thats causing irritation then it must be internal, and if it's an infection you'll need a vet for antibiotics.

You've done the right thing by putting him in the fridge.

 

[Pandibug]

Thanks guys for the input! I'm contacting a vet right now.