Warts in Juvies...

[Minniechild]

For the most part, my juvies have been doing really well. However, over the past few weeks, i've lost a number to an unknown and VERY fast illness (24 hours from symptoms presenting to death at most). Today, I was checking on the large communal box (one of those under-the-bed boxes. 21 axies between 6 and 9 cm in length, and 28L of water, two sponge filters and 10 PVC pipe hides. Temp is approx. 15C, water changes every 3-4 days, shifted to earthworms two weeks ago from blackworms- currently being fed every second day), and caught three who were beginning to show the same symptoms as the ones who passed away- lethargic, the goldie and leucistic both alarmingly red, and the wild looking generally zonked. Pulling them out (and stripping down the box to try prevent the rest contracting it), found what looked like plant tail warts- some on the limbs (looked like minor tank nibbles gone dreadfully wrong in the aftermath), and alarmingly specifically on all three at the same spot along the caudal fin, about where the waist would be on a human. Whilst I removed what i could from the limbs and have started salt bathing them, I am still clueless about what it is, or what's going to be the best option short and long term, and was hoping someone had seen something similar...

P.S apologies for the lack of pictures- i'm on my iPad as my computer had a heart attack and refuses to work on Caudata anymore.

 

[FX1C]

Caitlin sorry I'm not more help but I can repost the pic you sent me


Have you got tapatalk & bump on you iphone & iPad? It makes posting pics so much easier



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Minniechild]

Thanks so much for posting, Nikki! no tapatalk at the moment as my computer's previously been all right to post from, though i suppose unless Chrome puts out an update soon, I'll need to invest.
Just gave them all a checkup... The goldie and leucistic are looking a bit worse. Crossing my fingers that there's something I can do for them.

 

[mackinthebox]

Ive had very little experience with axolotls, only owned 2 so far
to me though it looks like the one in the pic had its leg nipped at
these could be injuries from the lotls nipping at each other, just snagging a bit of skin and not completely biting it off?
not sure, just my opinion

 

[Minniechild]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the limbs were the initial site of infection, and I've removed as much infected tissue from them as possible. However, when I was looking at them, if this infection or whatever it may be hadn't wrecked havoc on them, they would have healed within a few days at most- nowhere near the level of injury which would have required an amputation or any human intervention. It's just this...whatever has ravaged them.

 

[mackinthebox]

you may try separating a few and fridging them to see if they improve
if they are nipping each other and they are getting an infection it wont stop until theyre separated to stop the nipping or the bacterium, or whatever may be causing it to worsen, is removed from the water
if it continues to worsen you might take one or two of them to a vet and see if they can determine what it is, infection, wart, or other...

 

[Minniechild]

With one of the previous cases, I did try fridging, in conjunction with tea baths, and it added perhaps 10-12 hours to the course of the disease... As to separating, tomorrow i'll grab another box from the shops, which at the very least should help with triage. If anything, it will mean extra space for the ones i'm keeping (and who were separated out months ago, so crossing fingers it won't affect them.).