Very stubborn gill fungus

[jinian]

Hachiko, my little GFP wild type, has a recurring fungal infection in one gill branch. I've given her salt baths repeatedly while fridging according to the picture tutorial, and the fungus goes away, but it always returns in the same place. I'm using 3 teaspoons of sea salt per liter of water, and I just finished doing 15-minute salt baths every day for a week, but the fungus is back. It seems this infection is way more stubborn than I expected!

Do people have any recommendations for treating a fungus that doesn't seem to be eradicated by the normal dose of salt? I'm considering doing salt baths twice a day, increasing time, increasing salt concentration... I'd like to avoid using chemical treatments, but I'm getting ready to consider that too. Thanks!

 

[sde]

Off topic, but I noticed you live near me.

Ok, I am no expert on this so take my advise knowingly.

So, I have heard that you can also use black tea, but I don't know any direct directions for use of it on axis. it is good that you are salt bathing, you may want to increase the time/salt concentration/times per-day, like you said.
Could it be do to poor water quality? Could you post a pic?

Ok, I found one!

Tea bath for axolotls
Contributed by Daniel Weiner, August 2007.

I mainly use teabaths for minor skin problems. It may also be used with fungal problems but on that account I prefer salt baths. Tea has a slightly antifungal and antibacterial effect (resulting from tannins) and additionally it closes the pores in the skin a little bit (mainly resulting from tannin and caffeine). The skin tightens and gets some kind of protective layer, making it harder for fungi and bacteria to intrude the body. On the other hand it makes it harder for salt or medicine to reach pathogens which are already inside the body - that is the reason I do not use it on fungal infections, although a tea bath is sometimes recommended as a cure for fungal infections by some people.
The medication is as follows: I take one bag of black tea without any additional aroma (it is important to use black tea because this kind of tea is fermented and so it has tannins) for every 10 litres of water (preferably used in a quarantine tank). This tea gets dashed with boiling water in a seperate bowl - I leave it there for at least 10 to 15 minutes so the tannins are resolved into the water. The tea has to cool down and is finally added to the quarantine water. After a week I make a bigger change of water (60% at least), the rest of the tea is removed over time by normal water changes. If you have to make more regular water changes (f.i. in a small bowl or tank) the tea concentration can be refilled. As far as I know there are no negative effects even for long term treatment.
A similar effect (although not as strong) may have the addition of dried oak or beech leafs now and then as a precaution.
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[auntiejude]

I have exactly the same problem - one of mine has reccurent fungus that just won't go away.

You could try some almond leaves in your tank, they work in a similar way to tea.
I would stop with the fridging and do the salt baths at room temp - axies can get stressed being put in and out of the fridge.
A stronger salt solution may irritate the axie's skin, but it's worth trying just a little bit of extra salt, and certainly twice a day will not hurt.

But you need to figure out why this is happening. It's usually an injury that allows the fungus to take hold - did you notice any injury before this started? Did anything change? I think mine was caused by a change of dechlorinator (it wasn't working properly, I had to add extra, and it seems too much aloe can upset axies' slime coat)

You're right to try and avoid chemicals, but it you need to there is a lis on axlotl.org of axie safe medication.

But I think persistence is the key to fungus - salt baths until 3 days after it appears to have gone.

 

[layna]

Dont do tea baths whilst your salt bathing as it makes it more difficult to get rid of the fungus.
Do 10-15 min salt baths twice a day until the fungus goes, then continue for a couple of days after to make sure you have gotten it all off, then add some almond leaves to his tank to help keep the fungus away. Just be wary though that if you add a lot it can lower the ph in your tank.
Do you have any wood in your tank? It leeches tannins in the water and this is similar to a tea bath in that it will help your axies slime coat be 100% thus reducing the chance of fungus getting into their skin.
You could also try using a dechlorinator with aloe in it, again to protect their slime coat

 

[Amy82]

Hachiko, my little GFP wild type, has a recurring fungal infection in one gill branch. I've given her salt baths repeatedly while fridging according to the picture tutorial, and the fungus goes away, but it always returns in the same place. I'm using 3 teaspoons of sea salt per liter of water, and I just finished doing 15-minute salt baths every day for a week, but the fungus is back. It seems this infection is way more stubborn than I expected!

Do people have any recommendations for treating a fungus that doesn't seem to be eradicated by the normal dose of salt? I'm considering doing salt baths twice a day, increasing time, increasing salt concentration... I'd like to avoid using chemical treatments, but I'm getting ready to consider that too. Thanks!

Providing your water parameters might help someone give you more advice.