G'day from Down Under

Hi all, have just joined the forum.

Have 5 slippery lotls at the moment.

Was given one as a secret santa gift two years ago, ended up buying he/she friend to co habitat after a year and then within a year well.....ended up with a whole lotta babies.

Of that litter(?) I kept three to keep in a large tank with their parents but before I put them in I noticed my black lotl has some kind of fungus/white spot. Have tried treating it but to no avail, he/she is still isolated.

This weekend gone I had more issues with the main tank and the other parent and the three grown babies floating off and on. They all seemed to have come good with the exception of the parent as he/she seems to have some further issues of which I am worried about with some sort of lesion on his/her lip. I have him/her isolated and trying fridging after reading about bloating on another site and a way to assist any blockages etc.

The younger ones seems to be ok with minimal to no floating at the moment whereas the parent was all over the place.

First pic is the parent there is also something that is on it's eye. The other pic is of one of the other kids floating on its side this weekend.

A couple of weeks ago I thought I would try some small feeder fish but I fear they may have attributed to the disease my parent lotl may have.

Any assistance and help would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

Hello and welcome. I hope experienced axie keepers will weigh in, otherwise try posting in the help section. Anyway what kind of substrate do you have in your tank?

I'm not hugely experienced, so I hope that the more experienced keepers and breeders can offer some advice.
Isolation is a good idea, so you have done well so far. For fungus you could try a tap water bath (no dechlorinator) as this is not as harsh as a salt bath. If you look in the forum index you will find a sticky with information of bathing a poorly axolotl.
If you can post as many pictures of the individual problems it will help with giving specific advice, especially with regards to any lesions. If that is some sort of infection then a tap water bath, or tea bath, may also help with healing, but the more experienced keepers may be able to suggest some medication.
You are right with the floating/constipation/bloackage thing. I would suggest not using feeder fish, and feeding earthworms/nightcrawlers etc. There is also a lot of information here that may be useful for you in your current situation.
Caudata Culture Axolotl Articles
Sorry I can't be of more help at the moment, but please keep us posted with as much information and as many pictures as possible, and that will help other to be able to offer more specific advice.
God luck.

Hello

I'm sorry your axolotls are sick I am also not very experienced, I just have my one juvenile axolotl. But based on the information I have seen, sometimes feeder fish can carry parasites as well as cause bloating if too large for the axolotl. I have also heard they can cause some digestion issues?

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...702-communicable-fish-diseases-parasites.html

Though if it is fungus as you suspect I have heard salt baths can help, there is a guide here:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...axolotl/72698-salt-bath-picture-tutorial.html

However it may seem like a lot is happening all at once, and if it is possible I would consider a vet as good plan B to have. Like the others mentioned, I hope someone more experienced can perhaps suggest to you some medications to try?