Axolotl might have fungus?

[jackieb]

I posted on here a few weeks ago because my axolotl was injured. He had wounds on his back so I moved him to the fridge. I have been changing his water once a day and now his wounds have this white film on them. I have started giving him salt baths once daily, but I would like to know if this is fungus or if this is skin that is healing or if it is something else. The white seems to be growing and I noticed a tiny speck on his gills now so I'm thinking it might be fungus. What else should I be doing besides giving him salt baths daily? I'm new at owning an axolotl, and I don't really have the money to properly care for him. I'm sort of just trying to keep him alive and as healthy as possible until I can find someone who can properly care for him. I love my axolotl but it was a mistake to get him without knowing anything about axolotls. (He's also not really eating right now but idk if that's from being in the fridge or not). If anyone could help me at all I would really appreciate it.

 

[Charlotl]

I am new to axolotls myself but the replies to your other post mentioned that the salt baths could be very bad for him. They suggested a tea bath instead since they are supposed to help with both bacterial and fungal infections. Have you tried taking that advice yet?

 

[jackieb]

No, I have not tried that yet. After I posted and everyone said how the salt might be bad for him, I kind of wanted to give his skin a break. Obviously that was a mistake because now I'm fairly certain he has a full blown fungal infection. I think it's spreading and I'm not sure if I should be doing tea baths or salt baths. Everything I've read has suggested that salt baths are best for fungal infections and that tea baths are good for minor skin issues. and I'm fairly certain it is a severe fungal infection, but I can't be 100% sure.

Do you think I should switch to tea? I'm just honestly really lost about all of this. I'm afraid to kill him so I don't want to do anything drastic but I just don't know what to do. After I stopped the salt baths he seemed to be doing so much better but then a few days ago his wounds got fluffy and white.

 

[layna]

Could you post some up to date pictures, both close up and futher away?

We will be able to help more if we can see how its progressed, the stuff that looks to be fungal as you say might just be lots of dead skin coming off which could appear fungal like.

If thats the case then a tea bath will help, you can just pop a cold cup of tea (no milk, just a tea bag in water) into the tank and it will help sooth your axies skin once it starts healing your axie will be a lot better

 

[jackieb]

The 2nd photo I posted was taken today, but I'll take a few more. Thank you so much

 

[jackieb]

Okay, so I'm including photos of the wounds with the fungus(?) on them. Also included a photo of the suspicious gill. Maybe you can help me with what to do? I'm a little desperate.

 

[Charlotl]

From what I have gathered on the sticky post about fridging it is already a drastic measure since it causes stress with changing water temp and slows healing... A week or so ago I had some similar looking stringy white stuff all over the tank (probably not the same since none was on my axie). I looked on this site and all the fungus I found IDed were fuzzy or poofy and not stringy like the stuff in your new picture looks.

Edit: Nevermind. Didn't see your new close up pictures. They don't look like the stuff I had at all.

 

[CJ1981]

It does look like fungus, I'm on a tablet and the pictures don't blow up very big sadly.

I would consider taking him out of the fridge. Fridging slows their metabolism and as a result stunts their healing abilities.

A cool, dark location with clean dechlorinated water is probably your best bet. He will need salt baths. Follow the tutorial you have been linked to.

Keep offering him food, he will eat if hungry.

If you are able I may consider a trip to the vet.

Your axie has the ability to recover from this but it will take time.

Good luck.

 

[jackieb]

I figured it would be important to give an update about my axolotl. Thank you all for the input. I was able to keep him alive long enough to find another owner who was a bit more experienced. I decided that she would be able to give him the care he needed. It breaks my heart to give him away, but she has told me that he is already doing better. She has agreed to keep me up to date on his condition. I should have done more research before I got him, but I am so happy to have gotten him out of that pet store where he was housed with other fish & pebbles. Even though he was injured and sick in my care, I now believe he has a chance to thrive. I appreciate all the support I got from everyone on this website. I don't think he would have survived without the input I got here.