Axolotl arm all mangled and red and just hanging there! Help!

[Lelez]

Hi. I went to check on my axies this morning and found one of their arms totally mangled and all red and it's just hanging there! I feel really bad as it look last rather painful and I'm wondering if there is something I can do. I think his sister may have tried to take a chomp out of him.

 

[melfly]

Poor guy.

If he were mine i'd take him out of the tank so i can keep a closer eye on him as i think the arm will come off at some point.

You'll need to keep him in clean cool water (and make sure he cannot jump out of a tub or whatever you choose to keep him in)

Keep a close eye out for fungus but don't treat him with anything just yet as it looks rather raw.

Mel

 

[Petersgirl]

I agree with Mel on removing him to a tub or tank with fresh clean water and doing water changes daily if it's not cycled, but what about tea baths? I've heard they are very gentle and will prevent the fungus from forming.

Here's the recipe if you want to try it;

• 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.
  ​

It does look like a bite from a tank mate so it might be worth dividing them when you put them back to prevent more nips. Tank bites are one of those unpredictable things. It might never happen again or you might come in a week later to find him bitten again, or his sister. You can make one from a condensation board very cheaply and easily. Hope this helps!

 

[Lelez]

Thanks for your replies, guys! I have removed him from the tank and he is in clean cool water. I will do daily water changes. Also will try that remedy!!

I'm considering putting him in the fridge, is that a good idea? My apartment is on the warmer side. Or I could keep him in my room with the A/C on if that would suffice.

His hand fell off and there's just a few bits of flesh hanging now, but overall looks more improved from a few days ago. His head has some weird spotties on it now and his legs are on the redder side and really veiny. Can't tell if he's just stressed in his new temporary house or if it's something else.

 

[Lelez]

 

[FX1C]

If you can just keep the ac on and perhaps a fan aimed over the water surface then you won't need to fridge.

I'm a big fan of adding black tea to my tanks whenever there is any signs of injury of fungus..

If the leg seems totally mangled a trip to a vet to amputate may help with faster regeneration.

Hope your little lotl recovers quickly Please keep us updated on progress.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[flalib01]

Thanks for your replies, guys! I have removed him from the tank and he is in clean cool water. I will do daily water changes. Also will try that remedy!!

I'm considering putting him in the fridge, is that a good idea? My apartment is on the warmer side. Or I could keep him in my room with the A/C on if that would suffice.

His hand fell off and there's just a few bits of flesh hanging now, but overall looks more improved from a few days ago. His head has some weird spotties on it now and his legs are on the redder side and really veiny. Can't tell if he's just stressed in his new temporary house or if it's something else.

Poor thing . I hope he gets better soon. In the past, I've only put my axolotls in the fridge for 20 minute bursts when my apartment was warm or they were stressed (sometimes my fridge gets really cold, and I didn't want to risk hurting them), but I would also cover them with a cloth so the brightness of the fridge didn't stress them more. The AC with a fan (or maybe just the AC) like what others have suggested in a dim lit room would probably be best - you wouldn't have to move him too much, and he'd be in a cool, dark environment.

I can't see any spots in the picture . Are his gills facing forward, or is the tip of his tail curled? He doesn't look stressed out to me in that picture.

 

[Lelez]

Just wanted to update everyone on his progress...his arm seems to slowly be growing in nicely, getting a little longer each day! Been doing daily water changes and have him in A/C & a fan on him to keep him cool.

 

[Dipsy66]

All crossed for you that he makes a speed recovery.

 

[Alkylhalide]

Yay! Looks good thus far!

A black tea bath may help keep fungus away while it is healing. Steep a cup of tea and cool it down to room temperature and then add to fresh dechlorinated water. I add it to my whole tank and just take it out by water changes but if in a tub maybe 15-20min a day and then put back in normal declorinated water.

 

[Ksmoot]

This same thing jut happened to mine- do you remember about how long it took to fall off? Overall healing time?