Illness/Sickness: Gills turning white and deteriorating on one side - Please Help!

[Essenger]

I've had two axolotls, one wildtype, one leucistic for two years now, I recently had to move to a new apartment and ended up having to swap a little over 50% of the water (over a week) in their 30 gallon tank due to complications during the move. I bought a new filter, treated the tap water for ammonia and nitrates and verified the levels are good (much better than previously) and I'm having trouble getting them to eat now. The wildtype (very underweight right now) will eat occasional carnivore pellets and snap at worms but my leucistic (currently either very fat or bloated) runs away from food and for a while was spending a lot of time closer to the surface.

But all of a sudden her gills on one side of her face are deteriorating and flaking off and look very bad. The gills on the other side look very healthy. She's also developed a few
very small discolorings on her mouth and nostril that look like human cold sores.

My wildtype seems to be suffering no similar symptoms other than being underweight.

 

[Essenger]

Update, I finally got the wildtype to eat a worm today but the worm slightly touched the gills of my leucistic and her decaying gill on that side started bleeding profusely for a couple minutes and had me really scared. I was going to fridge her but the bleeding stopped, and I'm really lost on how to care for her so she will heal properly.

 

[Hayleyy]

When you set up the new filter did you cycle it with the old filter media? Test the levels and post them. It is possible your cycle crashed in the move.
What temperature is the water at the moment?

 

[Essenger]

The filter stopped working during the move, I had to buy a new one and the old cartridges didn't fit so it's possible the cycle crashed. Levels are looking a little better but still a little rough.

Ammonia: 1.2
NO3: 30
NO2: 0.3
PH: 6.5
KH: 40
GH: 180

I did introduce some ghost shrimp into the tank recently and some of their water accidentally went in with them, which probably wasn't good. I'm thinking maybe it introduced some sort of disease? But I really want to figure out what exactly is going on with her, I can't tell if it's a fungal infection or something else entirely. Here's an updated picture.
My wildtype is still looks and acts completely normal.

 

[Hayleyy]

I'm hoping someone with more experience can jump in and help.
Looks like it did crash, but is going through the cycle again. Keep up with water changes to drop ammonia and nitrite. I would say to keep your leucy in a separate container with daily water changes so you can monitor progress and ensure there is nothing harmful. I can't tell if it is fungal or not, it's not fluffy like the usual fungus. You can try a salt bath and see if there is any change.
Out of interest have you noticed any aggression between the two axolotls? Maybe your wildtype attacked the gills and now they have an infection?

 

[Essenger]

I don't think he attacked her, pretty sure she cut her gill with how sensitive it is, neither of them have been aggressive aside from the occasional tussle over a worm. Leucistic is now in a tub, and it definitely looks fungal now. Will be starting salt baths tomorrow to see how she does.

 

[Hayleyy]

Keep us updated on any changes!

 

[Petersgirl]

I think in this case it is likely to do with the ammonia spike. Leucistics and albinos always seem to feel the water parameter issues first, which is why your WT isn't reacting the same way.


If the leucy's gills are free of fungus but sore, you can add tea to the water daily to help the skin on the gills heal and prevent bacterial infections. Just be sure to change the water in the tub daily and if you're struggling with temp in the tub you can add ice cubes. I'd also advise waiting until you no longer need to do salt baths, because the tea might stop the salt from working as effectively.

 

[Essenger]

I started salt baths two days ago. The fungus seems to continue its course, her gills on the left side are completely gone now. No harm on the right side though. Hopefully the baths will start their work on the fungus soon

 

[Hayleyy]

The tea bath might be an option if the salt hasn't done anything? When I use salt baths I usually see results quite quickly, but I am always lucky enough to catch it immediately. Maybe something like this will take longer.

 

[ShrimpShepherd]

Yikes those water conditions are frightening for me at least. I'd toss in some hornworts and use seachem PRIME and or dose your water with a nitrifying kickstart pouch.

 

[cRAse4AXELOTLES!]

I think I’m having the same problem but it’s not bad yet at least not as bad. It’s just one side has kind of gotten smaller and it’s starting to go a bit black but just like dots and I really hope your leucitic feels better :3

 

[cRAse4AXELOTLES!]

The teabags really helped For me