Illness/Sickness: Very sick Axolotl and need advice! :(

[luckyangel77]

I haven't had my Axolotl for very long and when they were given to me they were very healthy, just skinny, but through some bad advice and misinformation they have become very sick! I was told it was ok to get cleaner fish for the tank but found out the hard way that is was a very terrible thing to do! My male Axolotl tried to eat one of them and it became lodged in his throat. After about 3 days of trying I finally carefully got it out of his throat and about a day or two after he started eating again and seemed active and happy!! A few days after that I noticed a little patch on his mouth that did not look so great. It quickly got worse and he stopped eating! Then he started heavily bleeding out of his mouth and gills. When I was going to separate them because blood was getting all in the tank I noticed a white patch on the females gills. Now she won't eat and seems bloated. I have switched out the water making it cold and dark for them and added Erythromycin packets to the water as directed because the both have the signs of an infection in the bloodstream. They are both hanging in there, but I'm wondering if there is more I should or could be doing for them. The male is so pale and the color is gone in his gills I'm sure from all the blood loss. I feel absolutely terrible that through my inexperience with these guys that I have caused them to be ill.

 

[Skudo09]

I am sorry you have received such poor information and advice that has resulted in your axolotls being so unwell.

I assume that as you have been directed to treat them with Erythromycin packets that you have already sought veterinary advice. This is good as this is what I would have recommended. It does sound to me that the male is anemic due to the loss of blood. Bloating in axolotls in not generally a good sign. It is most likely due to the bacterial infection and hopefully the treatment will help. Keeping them in cool, clean, dechlorinated water and as stress free as possible will help. You could offer different types of foods that may tempt them to eat but given they are unwell, they may not eat at this stage. Keep offering. I am not sure what you normally feed them but a couple of suggestions - earthworms (especially nightcrawlers. Earthworms are very nutritious too and make a reat staple diet), scallops (not the greatest long term diet but with a sick axolotl I have heard these can sometimes tempt them). What does the white patch on the females gills look like? Is it like a cotton wool appearance or discolouration or flat?

Hopefully others here may be able to suggest other things you could do. Wishing all the best.

 

[LSuzuki]

I recommend a vet. Is there a vet that treats amphibians near you?

If a vet isn't possible ...Axolotls and amphibians in general are sensitive to medications that are safe for fish. Here is a good page with some links to info on safe medications (Erythromycin is safe) and treatments.

Are you monitoring your water parameters? (Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temp) Often illnesses start with poor water quality. Is the tank cycled? (Are you familiar with cycling a tank?)

 

[luckyangel77]

I am not familiar with cycling, but tonight I did a 25% water change then started the second round of antibiotic treatment. I gave them some bloodworms in hoes they might nibble on those. I usually feed them earthworms. I did buy a water testing kit so I can make sure the water is adequate for them as well. I'm not sure if I should try to fridge them after the antibiotic therapy is completed, at least for the boy that is. I'm not sure if you can see my albums or not, but I added an album of them as they were getting sicker.

 

[LSuzuki]

Since this is all new to you, there is a very good chance that the original cause of the problem for the female is poor water quality. The ammonia has probably built up to toxic levels, so check it immediately. ("Cycling the tank" means giving the right bacteria time to colonize the tank so to eat ammonia and nitrite as it is produced.)

If the ammonia is high (over 0.5 ppm, I think, is considered high), do a big enough water change to bring it down below 0.5. You do have a dechlorinator, right? Dechlorinate the water before/as it is going into the tank

If the ammonia is very high, put fresh, dechlorinated water (of the same temp as the tank) in some axolotl-sized containers and move the axolotls to the containers until you get the ammonia levels down in the tank.

 

[Skudo09]

To add to Laura's good info, i would read up on cycling so you have a good understanding of it and how it affects aquatic life. Below is a link that may help. This will help you in providing good water for your axolotls and aid in their recovery.

Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling

 

[luckyangel77]

Thank you very much for the helpful information! This weekend they both started showing improvement and the Male (Lucky) even started eating for me yesterday. I gave him half and earthworm yesterday and some bloodworms this morning. I can't tell you how happy this makes me! The girl (Angel) is starting to looks better too. While she lost one of her gills due to the fungal infection, she seems to be starting to come around and the bloating is starting to go down since she has gone to the bathroom a few times! I have read up on cycling and have been testing the water regularly!! All levels seem to be great except the PH was a touch high.