Sick/Dying Juvenile

[Xeraki]

He was fine on Wednesday, very enthusiastic during feeding time (4:30pm, before I leave for work).

Thursday, he ate his first earth worm piece, and then refused the rest - which is very odd for him, but I didn't really think much of it at the time. Had my mother try to feed him when she got home from work (9pm) and he still refused food, she said he was acting strange.

When I got home from work around 7am I noticed he was gaping a little bit, and he seemed to be having trouble passing his feces - his anus was opened really wide. But I've never actually caught any of them in the act of pooping so again I wasn't sure if there was anything wrong, and I went to bed.

Woke up today and he was floating at the surface, off kilter. I've moved him into a bowl.. he was reacting to touch earlier but not anymore, and now his limbs are twitching. I think he may have already passed..

Aquarium readings:

pH: 7.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5

Here are some pictures. These spots were NOT there yesterday, other than the blown-out anus:

 

[Elise]

Your axolotl needs to be seen by a vet.

 

[Xeraki]

I'm fairly sure he passed away a few moments after I posted this. He was in an aquarium with two other juvenile axolotls.. is it possible this could spread, whatever this is?

Neither of them are showing any of the same signs that this one did.. though, even his popped up extremely fast. As I said, he was fine up until Thursday morning..

 

[snuggly time]

Keep an eye on the other two and if they show any signs I'd get them to a vet ASAP.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Xeraki]

Thank you..

They're both still acting normal and I don't see any evidence of the different spots Xanth got. However both of their gills are less floofy than they were a few days ago.

I was reading on the main Axolotl website, on possible bacterial causes, so I'm wondering if that may be what it is.. and if I need to pull them out into separate containers with frequent water changes until I can get the main aquarium water fixed. I don't really want to do that if it's not necessary, but the feathery bits on their gills shriveling up is worrisome.

 

[Xeraki]

It's been a few weeks and the other two juvies had been fine up until now. They have been in separate containers and receive frequent water changes, following the basic schedule of the axolotl colony website, while i've been trying to get a fresh start with the large aquarium.

But, yesterday (8/7) around 5pm I noticed one of them had small red dots on his tail, as if some capillaries had popped randomly. And, his cloaca is a little swollen now too, kind of the same as the axolotl that passed away a few weeks ago. His gills are still healthy and he's very active and swimming around, otherwise.

What could this be? Should I do a salt bath to hopefully kill whatever bacteria could be causing this.. or do I need to try and find a vet?

(I will attempt to grab some pictures later this evening)

 

[keiko]

I'd suggest finding a vet just to be sure.

 

[Xeraki]

It might be a little while before I can actually make it to a vet, due to my work schedule.. should I start up a salt bath if he continues to show these signs?

(is a swollen cloaca a symptom of anything in specific anyway?)

 

[snuggly time]

Have you got any photos of this?

Keep them in clean water and perhaps add an Indian Almond Leaf or tea bath to try help. But if your other died from this you really do need to see a vet! Good luck