Illness/Sickness: Brain damage caused by improper chemicals

[beckyg]

Hi,
I'm hoping someone here might have some insight. I have an axolotl that was exposed long term (a couple years) to incorrect chemicals in his tank. Ammonia and Nitrate was too high and used too much Prime due to math errors. He eats and poops, and that's it. His skin is fine and he's a healthy weight. He's frills were fried, but some of that is regrowing (albeit super slowly). He's lost his ability to swim and seems to have other neurological damage such as difficulty swallowing. We've seen the vet, but they had no real answers.
We have corrected all the tank issues and it's been about 6 months, but haven't seen much improvement - we have seen a tiny amount, such as slightly more responsive to our presence, but that's about all.
If anyone has experience with an axolotl with chemical brain damage, could you tell me if they ever get better? If they do, generally how long does it take? I know they can regenerate some brain cells, but generally that's from a mechanical injury, not chemical.
I'd honestly just like to know if I should continue to hope or if I should just get him euthanized since his quality of life is severely diminished.
Thanks in advance.

 

[wolfen]

adult axolotls tend to mainly walk rather than swim (they are very poor swimmers to begin with) with swimming being used only to go to the surface or when they are having a bit of crazy time at night.
how is his activity at night? axolotls are mostly nocturnal and spend the majority of time sleeping/resting during the day with only the flick of gills being a sign of life.
a low level of salinity helps treat the affects of ammonia whilst reducing the absorption of nitrites, methylene blue is used to treat nitrite/nitrate toxicosis, any brain damage due to toxicosis will be from lack of oxygen (nitrites/nitrates prevent/reduce the bloods ability to carry oxygen).
the max published axolotls tolerance for nitrates is 110ppm although this is based on tiger salamander which have lower tolerances (due to very high nitrates being a sign of poor husbandry axolotls actual tolerance isn't known or hasn't been published although generally accepted as 110ppm).
for optimal healing optimal water conditions are required, ensure water parameters are good, temperature is low ie.. 15°c/59°f, water heavily oxygenated, add 2g/l non-iodised salt or if kh/gh low add 50% holtfreters plus 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate (salt seems to help gill growth as well well as general health benefits, axolotls require minerals for good health), feed a varied balanced diet including eyed food ie.. shrimp, fish etc..
unless he is unable to feed himself there is always a chance of recovery.

 

[beckyg]

adult axolotls tend to mainly walk rather than swim (they are very poor swimmers to begin with) with swimming being used only to go to the surface or when they are having a bit of crazy time at night.
how is his activity at night? axolotls are mostly nocturnal and spend the majority of time sleeping/resting during the day with only the flick of gills being a sign of life.
a low level of salinity helps treat the affects of ammonia whilst reducing the absorption of nitrites, methylene blue is used to treat nitrite/nitrate toxicosis, any brain damage due to toxicosis will be from lack of oxygen (nitrites/nitrates prevent/reduce the bloods ability to carry oxygen).
the max published axolotls tolerance for nitrates is 110ppm although this is based on tiger salamander which have lower tolerances (due to very high nitrates being a sign of poor husbandry axolotls actual tolerance isn't known or hasn't been published although generally accepted as 110ppm).
for optimal healing optimal water conditions are required, ensure water parameters are good, temperature is low ie.. 15°c/59°f, water heavily oxygenated, add 2g/l non-iodised salt or if kh/gh low add 50% holtfreters plus 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate (salt seems to help gill growth as well well as general health benefits, axolotls require minerals for good health), feed a varied balanced diet including eyed food ie.. shrimp, fish etc..
unless he is unable to feed himself there is always a chance of recovery.

It's not that he doesn't swim, it's that he can't. If you lift him up, he just falls like he's a piece of driftwood.
He has to be assisted in his feeding. He doesn't go after food since he can't really move. He does suck up food if it's presented directly in front of him. Even then, he only probably gets about 2/3rds of it because of his difficulty in swallowing and it tires him out. Feeding him worms is impossible now since he lacks the swallowing strength. He sucks them up, but they either slither their way out of his mouth or gill slits. I feed him frozen mysis and brine shrimp and supplement with pellets. I know pellets aren't great, but there's a limited amount of things he can eat. I've tried tiny pieces of fresh shrimp and scallops, but I often find it discarded (probably spit up) around him.
We do have an air stone going 24/7, but maybe I'll get a bigger one. We have a water chiller set to 63°f. I'm assuming we should lower that?
I think we'll try the methylene blue. I thought that was just for fungus, but if it treats the toxicosis, we'll give it a go. How often should I use it?
Thanks for all your help!

 

[wolfen]

axolotls heal better at colder temperatures so reducing temperature will help.
methylene blue treatment for toxicosis is the same as fungal treatment, 10-15 mins bath half fish dose ie.. pale blue colour similar to 0ppm nitrite test.

 

[beckyg]

axolotls heal better at colder temperatures so reducing temperature will help.
methylene blue treatment for toxicosis is the same as fungal treatment, 10-15 mins bath half fish dose ie.. pale blue colour similar to 0ppm nitrite test.

Excellent, thank you. I have ordered the methylene blue and it should arrive tomorrow.

 

[beckyg]

Oh yes, how often should I give him the baths? Every day until he's better?

 

[wolfen]

every day until improvement/better.

 

[beckyg]

Thank you so much! Even just lowering the temp from 63°f to 59°f has already made a difference.

 

[beckyg]

I've been giving the baths since Oct 1st. There's been a tiny bit of improvement, but not much.