Sick juvenile axolotl - need advice

[Jlm1978]

Hi all. Fairly new axolotl owner here, hoping for advice.

48 hours ago, Copper Penny, our 4 inch juvenile axolotl, looked great. Then 24 hours ago, our youngest child called me over because CP looked awful - white fuzzy stuff peeling off her whole body, with her tail shriveled. Can't tell if she is shedding her slime, has a bad fungus, both, or something else entirely.

We moved CP to a tub with fresh, dechlorinated water and gave her tea baths - but no improvement. So today, we did a tub water change, added Indian Almond leaves, Maracyn Oxy, and EM Erythromycin, and then we fridged her.

Not sure how she got this bad in one day. Her tank nitrites are 0, her nitrates 5-10, and her ammonia had a little, unexpected spike, but was still just .25. The temperature here got a bit warmer, but her tank temp didn't really move from around 67 F. No change in diet. No new additions to her tank which is an 20 gallon long. Our other axolotl, a 1-2 year old male who lives in a separate tank, is doing just fine. CP had been tubbed overnight about a week or so before when she was constipated and floating tail up, and she got a tiny fin nick then, but all that seemed to have resolved itself.

I'll attach a couple pics I took of CP in the fridge (the water is clean - the brownish color is the leaves). If anyone has any ideas what is wrong or what else we can do, we'd appreciate the help!

 

[wolfen]

add 2g/l non-iodised salt to the tub water changing it 2x daily until shedding stops then change water daily, dechlorinate water before adding axolotl, feed at night change in morning.
almond leaves although beneficial take time to release tanins, crush into cup adding boiling water, allow to cool down then add to tub water (same as would be done with tea bath)
if possible have tank/tub temperature reduced (fridging is too cold), 15°c-18°c (59°f-64°f) 15°c/59°f being best.
was the tank cycled properly,what is the ph, kh gh if possible.

 

[Jlm1978]

Thank you for the advice. pH was around 7.4. Believe that tank is properly cycled, though there was the small ammonia spike I mentioned. Found an amphibian vet who can see her tomorrow morning, so fingers crossed she will hold out until then - doesn’t look any better today, but doesn’t look any worse either.

 

[Jlm1978]

Quick update. Unfortunately, CP died this weekend. The vet was good, but she just went downhill too fast. The day after her vet visit, sepsis set in (swollen red legs that she could no longer move). So we added methylene blue baths and an antibiotic to her routine, while still doing the salt baths - but no luck. Nonetheless, thanks to the folks in the axolotl community who responded to me and offered their advice.

One additional question I’m hoping I can ask. I noticed our other axolotl has a little thing dangling from his chin. I’m pretty sure it’s just a tiny bit of skin or slime he must have scraped, but given our recent experience, I’m on the lookout for (and probably over worrying about) fungus. I’ll attach a pic - if this looks like anything to be concerned about, could folks let me know?

 

[wolfen]

possibly flaked skin, what is the condition of his gills.

 

[Jlm1978]

possibly flaked skin, what is the condition of his gills.

Gills look great. No other visible issues, behavior is normal, appetite is normal.