Axolotl bacterial growth

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Kevinjr0208

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My daughters axolotl has bacterial growth on the gills. I noticed it 9/5/22 and when I saw what I needed to do for a salt bath and got the supplies the tip of the bill broke off. On 9/7/22 I cleaned the tank and did the water change, parameters were good with the water and the temp of the water was at 61.2 F. 9/8-9/9 there was no growths but on 9/10 all the gills but the previously infected one has bacteria growth. I checked the water parameters and everything is perfect. I did a salt bath with 3 tbsp salt with 2 liters of water for 10 minutes. I have the axolotl in a separate tub right now and not in the tank.

What is going on? Any suggestions?
 

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whilst he/she is tubbed use 100% holtfreters as a curative then use 50% in the tank water as a preventive.
axolotls are a brackish moderate to hard water animals, although the majority are happy and thrive in just freshwater some experience illnesses and disease due to the lack of salts and minerals, this is addressed by using holfreters in the water, info Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity https://ambystoma.uky.edu/genetic-s...Issues-1-12/archive/Issue 3/09-16brothers.pdf
 
wolfen said:
whilst he/she is tubbed use 100% holtfreters as a curative then use 50% in the tank water as a preventive.
axolotls are a brackish moderate to hard water animals, although the majority are happy and thrive in just freshwater some experience illnesses and disease due to the lack of salts and minerals, this is addressed by using holfreters in the water, info Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity https://ambystoma.uky.edu/genetic-stock-center/newsletters/Older_archive/Issues-1-12/archive/Issue 3/09-16brothers.pdf
Click to expand...
What do you mean by holtfreters? I looked at that link and unsure what exactly you are trying to point out
 
the first link is from axolotl.org which is connected to this forum, the information on how to make and what chemicals to use are at the bottom of the page, the second link is from the axolotl colony which at first describes how their axolotls were house in water with 50% holfreters with 0.1g per ltr magnesium sulphate (as is also mentioned in axolotl.org), on page 3 of 8 it describes the treatment of vorticella infection (gill fungus), on page 7 of 8 it has information on how to make and what chemicals for holfreters.
 
wolfen said:
the first link is from axolotl.org which is connected to this forum, the information on how to make and what chemicals to use are at the bottom of the page, the second link is from the axolotl colony which at first describes how their axolotls were house in water with 50% holfreters with 0.1g per ltr magnesium sulphate (as is also mentioned in axolotl.org), on page 3 of 8 it describes the treatment of vorticella infection (gill fungus), on page 7 of 8 it has information on how to make and what chemicals for holfreters.
Click to expand...
So I am looking to purchase the chemicals to make the holfreters solution but is there a certain kind of calcium chloride I should use (looking on Amazon) and my other question is when I use this in the tank, is it only used when the axolotl shows signs of illness or should I use it regularly with water changes?
 
I don't believe that is a bacterial issue but a fungus issue. You can treat it with black tea baths or methyl blue if it is persistent. If it keeps happening after you have done both of those I would recommend raising the salinity in your tanks to no more than 15%.
 
provided it is calcium chloride it doesn't matter what brand.
holtfreters at 50% is used continually in the tank.
 
wolfen said:
provided it is calcium chloride it doesn't matter what brand.
holtfreters at 50% is used continually in the tank.
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50% meaning amount of aquarium water in tank? I have a 40 gallon breeder that the axolotl main tank is in. Im just confused
 
I've heard good things about holtfreters but I've never used it. I use API Aquarium salt. Make sure its Iodine free.

The equation ive found effective is: 1tsp(1g)=5%. 1tsp per gallon=5%salinity.

For a 40g breeder its a whopping 2.5 cups of salt just to get 5%.

A lot of people are skeptical about using salt in a tank. In my opinion not using salt is a rookie mistake.
 
You just d
looie_808 said:
I've heard good things about holtfreters but I've never used it. I use API Aquarium salt. Make sure its Iodine free.

The equation ive found effective is: 1tsp(1g)=5%. 1tsp per gallon=5%salinity.

For a 40g breeder its a whopping 2.5 cups of salt just to get 5%.

A lot of people are skeptical about using salt in a tank. In my opinion not using salt is a rookie mistake.
Click to expand...
You just dump 2.5 cups of API aquarium salt in the tank and that’s it? When does it get replaced and won’t the axol eat it?
 
When doing a water change I mix it into a 5g bucket and let it completely dissolve before adding the water.

If you bring it up to 5% and you do 25% water changes weekly you only need to replenish it every few weeks.
5-1.2=3.8
3.8-1.2=2.6
etc.

Do you check for GH and KH?
 
Kevinjr0208 said:
You just d

You just dump 2.5 cups of API aquarium salt in the tank and that’s it? When does it get replaced and won’t the axol eat it?
Click to expand...
Im pretty certain you have to let the Holtfreters or salt solution dissolve into the water BEFORE reintroducing and properly acclimating the axolotl back into the water.
 
I just use the API freshwater master test kit…only measures Ph, high range Ph, Ammonia, No2, No3
 
Id recommend getting a gh and kh test for water hardness. Same brand as the master kit but sold separately. Our water is extremely soft which is good for us humans, but poor for Axolotls. Soft water can stress them and make them more susceptible to illnesses and fungus.

kh should be 3-8deg
gh should be 7-14deg.

Seachem Equilibrium will raise your water hardness if needed. Can be mixed along with the salt in a bucket before adding to tank.
 
in the ingredients for holtfreters the measurements are to make 100% holtfreters ie.. 3.46g salt per litre water etc.., 50% would be 1.73g salt per litre etc..
1 US tsp = 5.92g, if your tank is 40 US gallon that is 151.4 litres, so for 50% salt = 261.922g or 44.24tsp or 0.92cup
2.5cup = 4.69g per litre
it is easier to measure powders etc.. by weight rather than size ie.. one tsp of water is 4.92g where as one tsp of salt is 5.92g
 
Last edited:
wolfen said:
in the ingredients for holtfreters the measurements are to make 100% holtfreters ie.. 3.46g salt per litre water etc.., 50% would be 1.73g salt per litre etc..
1 US tsp = 5.92g, if your tank is 40 US gallon that is 151.4 litres, so for 50% salt = 261.922g or 44.24tsp or 0.92cup
2.5cup = 4.69g per litre
it is easier to measure powders etc.. by weight rather than size ie.. one tsp of water is 4.92g where as one tsp of salt is 5.92g
Click to expand...
I’m sorry but I’m not following…I’m having a hard time with all the scientific calculations of everything. If I had a list saying I need “x” amount of whatever ingredient in cups or tbsp or tsp it will make more sense to me. Right now I picked up API Aquarium salt and was going to do 2.5 cups like someone suggested since this holtfreters thing is so confusing. Today when I did the second round of salt baths he shed off all fungus infection
 
I did a 5 in 1 test and the results are as follows:

No3- 0
No2- 0
Ph- 7.0
Kh- 40
Gh-30
 
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