Illness/Sickness: Tankmate attack :(

[ks85]

My pretty black Axolotl has had a stroke of bad luck. He/she was attacked pretty viciously by a tankmate, and sustained damage to all four legs, and the back of the tail. I separated them in the morning, and put him/her in the frige, and now I am doing salt baths, as it looks as though a fungus has started. I'm not sure what to do since it doesn't seem to be helping. Should I amputate the worst damage so as to remove the necrotizing flesh? I trained as a nurse so I do know how to do this, to an extent, I am fairly confident that I could do it only removing what is already dead. Here are some pictures. Advice would be much appreciated as I have never had this happen. Perhaps I had two males together and they got aggressive? I'm not quite sure what happened. I really don't wanna lose any of my axies though :-( I have a 10 gallon tank that is already cycled I can put him/her in when the wounds or fungus is gone, whatever is best.

 

[ks85]

erm... update... I still have my axolotl in the fridge, salt baths... and have removed the most damaged foot that had only dead skin hanging off and growing fungus.

here is what he/she is looking like right now. I am wondering if I should keep fridging and salt baths, or just keep him/her separated and start feeding again.


best path to regenrating and healing? This axie was eating earthworms as well as sinking pellets occasionally, if I was feeling lazy.

 

[keiko]

Are you sure there's fungus? Salt baths with open wounds is pretty painful so only do those if absolutely necessary.
I'd just keep the axie separated with cool clean water and some indian almond leaves. He/she will need a lot of energy to regenerate everything so it might be good to take him out of the fridge. If he starts looking worse then you can always just put him back in.

 

[ks85]

I think there was at first, but now I think it's just peeling skin. Thanks, Keiko, I think I will take (him?) out of the frige and just keep em' in the small container with a leaf for a few days. I just feel so bad :-(

 

[Aristole]

I think there was at first, but now I think it's just peeling skin. Thanks, Keiko, I think I will take (him?) out of the frige and just keep em' in the small container with a leaf for a few days. I just feel so bad :-(

hey take a photo of your axie side on to tell if it is a boy or girl.
Female axolotls generally have rounder, plumper bodies, due to them holding eggs.
Males tend to have a longer body and tail then females.

The most reliable way to tell whether your axolotl is male or female, is to look at their cloaca (vent). The male's cloaca is swollen, while the female's has only a tiny bump, if one at all.

 

[ks85]

I think it is a female, hard to get a good pic while in the shallow tub. (and I am terrible at sexing them until it is super super obvious HEY IM MALE!)

I did put an almond leaf in there and put the axie in my bedroom with the others.. the limbs died and came off completely.

no food has been eaten at all

here are a couple pictures, I did take her out of the water for a second to snap a few quick pictures. (the last picture is before she got attacked)

 

[ks85]

well.... I got 'em to eat two worms today! yay for eating food! I was surprised because all the times I tried pellets, nothing. Hopefully this means something for poor little legless...

 

[axys]

i cant give u any specific advice because fortunately i have never experienced something like this, but i can assure u tht axolotls are hardy animals, thts why so many universities are doing research on them. they are incredible creatures who can not only regenerate their limbs and other body parts (as everyone already knows) but are naturally resistant to cancer as well (they only get cancer 1% of the time when they are exposed to carcinogens compared to mammals like rats who get it almost 100% of the time woahhh!!) so u have a natural fighter. just give him alot of attention and care and love as im sure u already do and with time hopefully things will get better! i wish u and ur little buddy the best of luck!

 

[ks85]

Thanks very much! I am hopeful but taking as much advice and as many precautions as possible, because my first axxie passed away. I have done much better since then and been much more successful since then, until now....

legless has passed two poos since losing the damaged limbs now, so I'm glad that at least she seems to be taking in nutrition and digesting it! I am going to try a couple more nightcrawlers tonight and see if she(or he) is really on the mend or was just hungry from going so long without.