Thanks a lot! But I still need help

[Jessicat]

Thanks a lot! But I still need help (fungus?)

...Or rather my axolotl does. Probably not the best way to make a first post, but I've been lurking here for a long time, and finally got my own axolotl late last year.
I found that thread showing the x-rayed axolotl with a marble stuck inside it, and proceeded to clear my tank of those things! Here's where the problem might have started; there was stuff (not poop, more like, slime? ) everywhere in the water after I removed all the marbles. I think I did about 1/2 a tank water swap that day and pulled out all the junk I could with a turkey baster, but the water was still a little bit cloudy ._. Continued to swap out 1/3 last week and this week to get it looking better without taking out too much (I wasn't sure if they could go into shock from sudden water changes? I know amphibians can be sensitive to that kind of stuff.)

I noticed when I went to feed him(or her, dunno yet) today that there was a small white thing growing on one of the gills. This is caused by bad water right? I swapped out the last of my dechlorinated water tonight but was wondering what the best way to get rid of the fungus is? Salt water baths sound stressful for them but if it works I'll do it. Is keeping them in the fridge also necessary? Do they eat when they're in there? Only thing is my water is now dechlorinating so I can't change tank water for a day or so. Is bottled water safe? What should I look for to be sure it is (or not)? Sorry for all the newbie questions, help would be appreciated (and if needed I can take a picture of the thing on his gills if it would be helpful) Thanks in advance!

 

[auntiejude]

Fungus looks like cotton wool. Its not caused by bad water, fungus usually gets into a small wound. A photo would help confirm it.
Salt baths can be done at room temp, and although it sounds nasty its only for 10 minutes at a time, and it works.
If you're using a dechlorinator you don't need to let the water sit for very long, only long enough to equalize the temperature. Dechlorinators are instant acting.

The slime you describe could have been bacteria or algae, quite common in a tank, especially when you've got stones that trap all the poop.

 

[Jessicat]

Fungus looks like cotton wool. Its not caused by bad water, fungus usually gets into a small wound. A photo would help confirm it.
Salt baths can be done at room temp, and although it sounds nasty its only for 10 minutes at a time, and it works.
If you're using a dechlorinator you don't need to let the water sit for very long, only long enough to equalize the temperature. Dechlorinators are instant acting.

The slime you describe could have been bacteria or algae, quite common in a tank, especially when you've got stones that trap all the poop.

Yes thats exactly what the fungus looks like! Though when I went to take a picture I poked my axolotl with the turkey baster; I needed him to turn around, but instead he did a crazy sprint through the tank! He wiggled between one of the deco pieces and the fungus came off I guess he was sleeping and I scared him? (He usually likes chasing it so that's why its weird) Don't think I've ever seen an axolotl move that fast XD anyways, I took the fungus piece out of the tank, but I should still setup a salt bath for one or two days just incase right?
And yea, there is totally some algae in there, I'm guessing that's bad ._. The decorations in his tank have some on them, should I take them out to clean?
I'm not using a dechlorinating solution, just taking tapwater and letting it sit for 24-36 hours. I guess having some on hand would be helpful, I've seen Reptisafe sold locally here, is that any good for axolotls? Sorry for even more questions, lol, I'll get this figured this out ^^;
*edit* added pics of the tank, fyi it's a hand-me-down from one of my leopard geckos XD cleaned before my axolotl moved in, lol, also I don't use the sticker thermometer there or the heat pad underneath, it was just easier to leave them there than deal with the sticker residue ^^; Temps are always at or under 20C

 

[layna]

Yes i would still do a salt bath for a day or two just to make sure its all gone.
Have you thought about a substrate and some plants in there? axies tend to like hiding and theyre isnt really anywhere for him to hide in that tank
Plus my axies LOVE sitting among the plants hehe!

Did you cycle the tank before you got him? If your tank is cycled you shouldnt be doing 100% water changes, just around 20% once a week if you have a filter running.
If you havent cycled your tank, then you should be doing daily 20% water changes until it cycles. (you should have a liquid test kit to test the water parameters).

Most dechlorinators should be okay, i personally use api stress coat as it has added aloe. you can buy them from your local fish store or amazon, ebay ect

 

[Jessicat]

Yes i would still do a salt bath for a day or two just to make sure its all gone.
Have you thought about a substrate and some plants in there? axies tend to like hiding and theyre isnt really anywhere for him to hide in that tank
Plus my axies LOVE sitting among the plants hehe!

Did you cycle the tank before you got him? If your tank is cycled you shouldnt be doing 100% water changes, just around 20% once a week if you have a filter running.
If you havent cycled your tank, then you should be doing daily 20% water changes until it cycles. (you should have a liquid test kit to test the water parameters).

Most dechlorinators should be okay, i personally use api stress coat as it has added aloe. you can buy them from your local fish store or amazon, ebay ect

Well he used to hide in that little log but then he grew bigger ^^; I had those glass half-marble things as substrate in there before, but took them out when I saw they were dangerous (even though it was cute when he'd push them around) I hate sand so I think I'll just keep it plain. I have some extra rocks my leopard geckos used to have (they're clean and in storage; the rocks, not the leos ) I dunno if having them in there would be ok or not, as rocks are porous and I don't know if you can fully clean a rock that wasn't used in an aquatic environment before. I tried putting in a plastic hide, but they float! So that was a fail.
Ah, I don't think I've cycled the tank, I mean there's a filter and I was changing water weekly and the filter thing bi-weekly before but it just got dirty faster (might be the bloodworm cube debris too; can't wait until he can eat actual worms XD)
I'll need to invest in a water tester too then ._. Sheesh, I thought axolotls were low maintenance XD I'm new to the aquatic scene, only owned reptiles before ^^;
I went and did some reading and apparently algae can be good, but at the same time I guess it's bad because there was enough waste for them to grow in the first place ._. I do know power washing everything is bad, but at the same time I want to improve the water quality x.x Is the filter I have ok or should I use a different kind? Before that one I had a hanging-over filter, but it didn't put much air into the tank...and then it got all slimy so I took it out. Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

[layna]

Well haha they are low maintenance once you have cycled the tank.
How long have you had him?
If your tank isnt cycled you should be doing daily 10% water changes until it is cycled, then weekly 20% changes to keep on top of water quality.
Earthworms are the best and cleanest food for them
Um i know some people boil rocks to clean them, but they would have to be like really big rocks that he couldnt ever eat
Or you could try some mopani wood in there?
Or a fake tree root ornament, i have one and its pretty realistic looking, similar to this;


And an easy no maintenance plant would be elodea, which also helps with the water quality it just floats and my axies like to hang off it/in it

what is your tank size and what is your filter? the general rule is that the filter turns over 4 times your tank volume, so if you had a 100L tank then youd need a 400L/PH filter

 

[Jessicat]

Well haha they are low maintenance once you have cycled the tank.
How long have you had him?
If your tank isnt cycled you should be doing daily 10% water changes until it is cycled, then weekly 20% changes to keep on top of water quality.
Earthworms are the best and cleanest food for them
Um i know some people boil rocks to clean them, but they would have to be like really big rocks that he couldnt ever eat
Or you could try some mopani wood in there?
Or a fake tree root ornament, i have one and its pretty realistic looking, similar to this;
View attachment 34546

And an easy no maintenance plant would be elodea, which also helps with the water quality it just floats and my axies like to hang off it/in it

what is your tank size and what is your filter? the general rule is that the filter turns over 4 times your tank volume, so if you had a 100L tank then youd need a 400L/PH filter

I have a regular 10 gallon (long not tall) tank. The filter is a combination carbon + sponge, "penn-plax smallworld" brand, they're sold at walmart for pretty cheap. The other one I used to use is by "grreat brand", its big and rectangular with a replaceable filter sheet (for 10/20 gallon tanks, 90 gph).
Also good to know there are no maintenance plants; I think I'd accidentally kill it otherwise LOL never been good with 'em ^^; Need to find out where to buy it around here.
I just remembered a friend of mine gave me some old caves she used to have in her tanks (she's a fish fanatic haha), so I cleaned one up and am waiting for it to dry before putting it in the tank. It's really big though, hope my axolotl doesn't grow out of this one XD
I got him in late september, i had the tank filled for a day (plus added reptisafe; they were giving out sample packs good for 8 gallons at the expo XD) before I put him in, I got the filter a couple of days later, seemed fine, but I think the marbles held down more junk in the tank than what shouldve been there, and I've been playing catch-up ever since.

 

[layna]

That sounds like you havent cycled the tank, have you ever tested the water?
If you dont have a test kit you can take a sample to your lfs and ask them to test it.
A lot of problems with axies is due to water quality and as you have no substrate there it may be taking your tank longer to cycle as there is less surface area for the 'good bacteria' to grow.

Cloudy water can be down to bacterial blooms when the water is trying to sort its self out ect. The reason your filter is so dirty, is most likely because your tank is cycling, just rinse it out in a tub of tank water once a week, but dont scrub, just squeeze.

I would just do daily 10% changes until you get the water tested and find out what your parameters are

What dechlorinator do you use? Most are pretty much instant, so just add it to the water, then leave it for a couple of mins and then you can add it to the tank, you dont need to leave tubs of water lying around for days on end haha!

 

[Jessicat]

That sounds like you havent cycled the tank, have you ever tested the water?
If you dont have a test kit you can take a sample to your lfs and ask them to test it.
A lot of problems with axies is due to water quality and as you have no substrate there it may be taking your tank longer to cycle as there is less surface area for the 'good bacteria' to grow.

Cloudy water can be down to bacterial blooms when the water is trying to sort its self out ect. The reason your filter is so dirty, is most likely because your tank is cycling, just rinse it out in a tub of tank water once a week, but dont scrub, just squeeze.

I would just do daily 10% changes until you get the water tested and find out what your parameters are

What dechlorinator do you use? Most are pretty much instant, so just add it to the water, then leave it for a couple of mins and then you can add it to the tank, you dont need to leave tubs of water lying around for days on end haha!

I made another thread with cycling questions, and I think you replied there too XD I've ordered the test kit, and since its in Canada it should get here hopefully within the week. The filters I have are disposable so I don't clean them I just toss them (I thought reusing them would be unsanitary?)
If lfs = local fish store, I have to say the local places I know of are either sketchy and/or not knowledgeable. The petsmart near me had a minimal selection of filters, and the one I got (hanging-in-the-tank, 90gph, last one of the weakest filter they had) was probably too strong for the tank then? and it also didn't provide any air (do axolotls need the added air? The sellers I got him from said they did).
I've been using Reptisafe dechlorinator, but I'm out and need to get some more, so I have been doing the bucket-of-water-lying-around method right now ^^;

 

[Elise]

Look into ordering a hide for your axolotl as this will help with stress. I noticed some debris in your tank, remember to remove all uneaten food as it will foul the water.

As far as air goes, you're looking at surface agitation to increase dissolved oxygen in the water. When you pump bubbles into your tank the gas exchange happens at the surface and not in your water column. As long as your filter is providing surface agitation and your axolotl isn't needing to surface to take in air frequently, you should be fine without the air stone.

 

[Jessicat]

Look into ordering a hide for your axolotl as this will help with stress. I noticed some debris in your tank, remember to remove all uneaten food as it will foul the water.

As far as air goes, you're looking at surface agitation to increase dissolved oxygen in the water. When you pump bubbles into your tank the gas exchange happens at the surface and not in your water column. As long as your filter is providing surface agitation and your axolotl isn't needing to surface to take in air frequently, you should be fine without the air stone.

I got a hide in there for him a couple days ago, and noticed today that he finally figured it out, lol. I've been trying my best to remove all the uneaten bloodworms, there's so much weird floating debris though, I don't know what it is but its difficult to try to baster it all out. There was a *lot* more back with the old substrate, seems like it's just really small bits that won't go away ._.
Surface agitation? so a filter that makes a small waterfall is ok? I thought axolotls hated the moving water and that'd bother them I think the one I used to have is too strong, it's a 90gph in a 10 gallon tank. If you have any type or brand recommendations please let me know! I need to scout out more pet supply shops and hope I can find something that works (third filter's a charm? Wow I'm bad at this XD)
Added pics of the new hide (he shouldn't outgrow this one right? )

 

[layna]

Yeah i have replied on your other one too about the disposable filters, no no no no no!

Your tank will never cycle and youll always be trying to fix the water see other post