Very sick / dying axolotl please help

[Axolotl Lea]

Hi. I got my 2 axies only 10 days ago. We cycled the tank and the water quality is perfect. One is fine, the other - looking back at photos - had some white skin patches on photos that I took at the aquarium store. She was fine at first but has been sick for 6 days now. She was eating right up until last Thursday then suddenly (and I have looked back on photos) her gills curled forwards and had white fluff in them. She became quite unresponsive. Looking back on some videos from the day before she was shedding some white stuff from her skin but it isn’t noticeable unless you are looking for it and she was swimming and eating fine.
we took her to the vets that day who swapped and found multiple bacteria and Protozoa. Recommended an isolation tank and betadine baths.
we followed their advice. The friday (next day) she looked dead. We called again and were referred to a specialist vet who’s dealt with axies before.We couldn’t take her in for fear the journey would kill her. she was given potassium permanganate baths daily, oral antibiotics (metronidazole) And an anti inflammatory all daily. We were told don’t fridge her but use a tank chiller to maintain temp around 14c.
Saturday we thought we’d lost her. Limp right side and only responding a little to uncomfortable stimulus. Her gills looked terrible.
Sunday she rallied a little - moved a bit, still had a limp ish right side. But still not fighting when giving her medicines.
Monday I called the vet who was heartened by her improvement and gave a nutritional supplement for every second day 0.1-0.2mls we gave 0.1 as we didn’t want to make her sick. Yesterday (tuesday) she had moved and pooped. When my husband did her meds she fought a bit more than she had. He said her arms felt even when they pushed against him. But then when she went back into the tank (daily water changes, daily water tests - all good) she flopped onto her side and her right side was once again limp. We managed to get her onto her belly. She hasn’t moved overnight (just like on Saturday). We won’t check for a response until this eve when we do her daily water change, meds and nutrition.
has anyone had experience with an axolotl this sick? I’m devastated.
The other one is fine. In the normal tank. Eating, swimming and gills look great. I don’t understand how 2 from the same place can be so different. I’m also angry at the aquarium store for not noticing she was sick. It was subtle..... but it’s their job. Id still have her but we could have fixed this earlier. Attached is a photo from the shop with the patches circled. A photo of her from her new home looking well on the Wednesday but the white patches now I know to look at there. A photo from the vets on the Thursday so only a day later and photo from Monday.

 

[Axolotl Lea]

Hi. I got my 2 axies only 10 days ago. We cycled the tank and the water quality is perfect. One is fine, the other - looking back at photos - had some white skin patches on photos that I took at the aquarium store. She was fine at first but has been sick for 6 days now. She was eating right up until last Thursday then suddenly (and I have looked back on photos) her gills curled forwards and had white fluff in them. She became quite unresponsive. Looking back on some videos from the day before she was shedding some white stuff from her skin but it isn’t noticeable unless you are looking for it and she was swimming and eating fine.
we took her to the vets that day who swapped and found multiple bacteria and Protozoa. Recommended an isolation tank and betadine baths.
we followed their advice. The friday (next day) she looked dead. We called again and were referred to a specialist vet who’s dealt with axies before.We couldn’t take her in for fear the journey would kill her. she was given potassium permanganate baths daily, oral antibiotics (metronidazole) And an anti inflammatory all daily. We were told don’t fridge her but use a tank chiller to maintain temp around 14c.
Saturday we thought we’d lost her. Limp right side and only responding a little to uncomfortable stimulus. Her gills looked terrible.
Sunday she rallied a little - moved a bit, still had a limp ish right side. But still not fighting when giving her medicines.
Monday I called the vet who was heartened by her improvement and gave a nutritional supplement for every second day 0.1-0.2mls we gave 0.1 as we didn’t want to make her sick. Yesterday (tuesday) she had moved and pooped. When my husband did her meds she fought a bit more than she had. He said her arms felt even when they pushed against him. But then when she went back into the tank (daily water changes, daily water tests - all good) she flopped onto her side and her right side was once again limp. We managed to get her onto her belly. She hasn’t moved overnight (just like on Saturday). We won’t check for a response until this eve when we do her daily water change, meds and nutrition.
has anyone had experience with an axolotl this sick? I’m devastated.
The other one is fine. In the normal tank. Eating, swimming and gills look great. I don’t understand how 2 from the same place can be so different. I’m also angry at the aquarium store for not noticing she was sick. It was subtle..... but it’s their job. Id still have her but we could have fixed this earlier. Attached is a photo from the shop with the patches circled. A photo of her from her new home looking well on the Wednesday but the white patches now I know to look at there. A photo from the vets on the Thursday so only a day later and photo from Monday. View attachment 85022View attachment 85021View attachment 85020
Apologies here is the one from the vet on Thursday

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Okay first things first, what are your water parameters? How big is your tank? Dechlorinator? Tank temperature? Tub her in 2 gallons on water, and order some methylene blue and Furan2, both can be found on chewy. I use Kordon aquarium methylene blue.

 

[Axolotl Lea]

Ph was normal (6), ammonia all but undetectable and temp set as per vet to 14celsius. She said fridging isn’t as good as 14. Dechlorinated. What are those chemicals? She has a filter running too. And a chiller maintaining temp.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Okay, everything looks good except ph. Ph should be between 7-7.8. You can used crushed oysters shells in a clean sock or mesh to raise ph. Furan2 and Methylene blue are sued to treat skin illness. You can add some aquarium salt in your cart as well, it’s good to have in case u need it. I’ll see if I can find the handout for johns solution, as you will want to make that as well.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

HHC - Johns Solution by Volume
Here’s the johns solution hand out from Calagarycoppers, a super knowledgeable breeder on this site. you’ll want to make that and add it to her tub ASAP

 

[AlexisJG]

Ph was normal (6), ammonia all but undetectable and temp set as per vet to 14celsius. She said fridging isn’t as good as 14. Dechlorinated. What are those chemicals? She has a filter running too. And a chiller maintaining temp.

have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrites & nitrates? also axolotls prefer hardier water so a ph of 7-8 (7.5 is perfect) is preferred. I strongly recommend to keep a water test kit on hand, I use the API freshwater master kit it’s super easy to use around $20-$30.

 

[AlexisJG]

Sometimes axolotls are just different and things happen, also just because one store had 2 axies doesn’t mean they came from the same place. Sadly it’s common for pet stores to not give great care to their animals especially exotics, don’t get me wrong there are some amazing pet stores out there as well. My axie has had fungus before due to stress from tubbing, I have done fridging and it didn't really help with the fungus, I have done salt baths which helped some I just don’t like to do it often or for more than about 10 mins, i also have used the API pimafix which is an aquatic antifungal it’s not exactly for axolotls so I use way less than the bottle says (about 1-2 drops per 2-3 gallons) and it has shown improvement. What do you feed your axies? Worms may be more intriguing rather than pellets so I would try frozen blood worms or something. I understand it may be hard to do water changes, salt baths etc due to how fragile your poor baby is, I’m sure you guys are as gentle as possible. I would try the Pima fix for the fungus and they say to continue quarantine for 5-7 days even after your axie is having normal behavior just to monitor that it’s 100% better. Best of luck

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Follow the vets advice for the treatments - I do have a few basics that should help.

I rescue and rehab axolotls from all stages - some have been missing all limbs and tail and emaciated from neglect and cannibalism.

Axolotls from pet stores tend to be from very crowded environments and frequently inbred. Think of a puppy mill.

Do not do meth blue or furan 2 - what your vet had prescribed is better.

I recommended tubbing - this isn't fridging - Float the tub in your chilled aquarium - water changed minimum once daily - twice is better.

your pH is extremely low and likely making it harder to treat. Axolotls prefer mid 7's and Hard Water. What does your tap water test at?

What water treatment are you using - it could actually be making things worse.

Johns Solution is actually a good idea for your little one is brings up the hardness and is used by many vets here in Canada as a treatment for axolotls.
The handout linked is actually my handout I made for my axolotl families to refer to.

The pet store picture does not concern me at all - the 2 spots do not even look like Fungus or infection.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrites & nitrates? also axolotls prefer hardier water so a ph of 7-8 (7.5 is perfect) is preferred. I strongly recommend to keep a water test kit on hand, I use the API freshwater master kit it’s super easy to use around $20-$30.

Ph was normal (6), ammonia all but undetectable and temp set as per vet to 14celsius. She said fridging isn’t as good as 14. Dechlorinated. What are those chemicals? She has a filter running too. And a chiller maintaining temp.

I’d also do a couple tea baths with black or green tea. Don’t steep he green tea as long as the black tea, just until the water is a light brown.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

I would order some Furan2 and Methylene blue just in case. It’s good stuff to have on hand because it can cure almost everything. I’d do one bath in it, a dash in 2 gallons of water and see if it helps clear those white spots.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrites & nitrates? also axolotls prefer hardier water so a ph of 7-8 (7.5 is perfect) is preferred. I strongly recommend to keep a water test kit on hand, I use the API freshwater master kit it’s super easy to use around $20-$30.

Follow the vets advice for the treatments - I do have a few basics that should help.

I rescue and rehab axolotls from all stages - some have been missing all limbs and tail and emaciated from neglect and cannibalism.

Axolotls from pet stores tend to be from very crowded environments and frequently inbred. Think of a puppy mill.

Do not do meth blue or furan 2 - what your vet had prescribed is better.

I recommended tubbing - this isn't fridging - Float the tub in your chilled aquarium - water changed minimum once daily - twice is better.

your pH is extremely low and likely making it harder to treat. Axolotls prefer mid 7's and Hard Water. What does your tap water test at?

What water treatment are you using - it could actually be making things worse.

Johns Solution is actually a good idea for your little one is brings up the hardness and is used by many vets here in Canada as a treatment for axolotls.
The handout linked is actually my handout I made for my axolotl families to refer to.

The pet store picture does not concern me at all - the 2 spots do not even look like Fungus or infection.

Sorry, forgot to credit you for that post with the handout! I’ll go and edit right now.

 

[Axolotl Lea]

Thank you for all your replies. I’ve been quiet because my axolotl sadly passed on that day. The vet said we had done all we could and it was a very aggressive infection. She’s not suffering.
Her tank mate is fine and continues to be fine.
thank you all. We will be introducing a new friend shortly as her tank mate isn’t used to being alone.
these little things are so precious and delicate. i also meant ph7 when I wrote 6. I was so stressed I got it wrong. Vet checked water too and all was fine.