Question: Salt overdose

[FltingBrunswick]

Long story short….. free axolotl with fungus and we decided to adopt him. The owner said he would give him a salt bath prior to me arriving. I didn’t think much of it and when I arrived he was already in the bath.

A few minutes into watching the axie in the bath he stopped moving. At first I thought he'd calmed down but a minute later he rolled over. I panicked and grabbed him out of the bath and held him in fresh water. He was completely limp, not moving or breathing. I 100% thought he was dead but he started twitching his toes after 7 minutes in fresh water.

The owner said he was in the bath for 12 minutes when I took him out and he’d used 3 tablespoons canning salt to a liter of tank water. I left and though he is conscious he’s not moving much. His toes and legs are twitching. The fungus is a minuscule piece on a gill stalk.

Thoughts?

 

[Skudo09]

The salt solution they used was a lot of salt...

I would keep him now in cool, clean drchlotinated water (maybe in a tub and do 100% water changes daily). You could offer a tea bath to help soothe the skin. It doesn't sound too good at this stage but I am not sure what else you can do.

Wishing all the best.

 

[tammyaxie]

It's supposed to be 2-3 teaspoons per liter not tablespoons.....that's a supersonic solution right there. Glad he survived

 

[FltingBrunswick]

I didn't know what to say, I was so angry. Just happy he started coming around and booked it out of there back home. Oi.

The little dude is in a 5 gallon, no lights, conditioned water, at 60 with a sponge filter. He seems a little better, not as much twitching and interested in me. *Fingers crossed*

 

[FltingBrunswick]

Just wanted to give an update!! The little guy has made a 100% recovery and has grown back all of his frills after they unceremoniously shed over the next 2 days.

Unfortunately, I will have to rehome my axies and feel terrible having to part with him.

 

[Skudo09]

Great to hear he recovered from his super strong salt bath .

That is sad to hear you are no longer able to keep your axolotls though. Unfortunately life does throw some curveballs. But I am sure you will find good homes for them. Maybe sometime in the future you may be able to keep axolotls again?

 

[FltingBrunswick]

Yes! It was great watching and helping him recover. I hope once work settles down I'll feel comfortable caring for them again - they are so wonderful. With the the work on my plate right now I just don't want to risk anything happening because I'm not around!