Salt Baths

[andrew]

Um can someone explain saltbaths to me? How do you move them around? Just grab them? Also do you was them off after you take them out of the salt? Thanks alot!!!!!

 

[sharn]

ok well i fill up a shallow bucket thing with enough water to cover them. i use tank water because then theres no temp change which will stress them out. i use two tablespoons of salt to a litre. i use a large jug thing i have for them and sorta guide them into it that way they dont have to be taken out of the water and i find it super hard to hold onto them cuz man do they wiggle! some people use nets i suppose. no you dont have to wash them off after just make sure they go back into salt free water (their tank) because salt will burn them if its concentrated too much or theyre in it for too long

 

[cynthia]

Sharn that salt solution seems too strong to me, perhaps you typoed?

Axolotl.org says:
Holtfreter's solution in higher than normal concentrations is also effective against Columnaris, as is the use of a salt bath. Place the animal in a salt bath for about 10 minutes once or twice a day. A salt bath is prepared using 2-3 teaspoons of salt (table salt, cooking salt, or iodized salt, but not "low" or "low-sodium" salt) per litre/two pints. Don't leave the Axolotl in the salt bath for more than 15 minutes each time, because the salt will start to damage the Axolotl's skin and particularly its gills. Of course, this is all useless if the animal is still under stress when put back in its aquarium (strong-flowing water, high water temperature, bad water quality, etc....).

I have used 2 teaspoons of salt to 2 litres of water for missing limbs that look like they may have fungus starting on them with great success.


Andrew- have you read http://www.axolotl.org
yet? lots of info there. I would use a soft net large enough to capture the axolotl in rather than using my hands. A long time ago I was moving 5 - 6 inch size axolotls to new containers by catching them with my hands and my finger nails cut one of them very badly because it struggled. My nails are always kept very short it was just one of those things. The axolotl healed but I have never used my hands again to catch one.

 

[sharn]

yeah woops sorry! i havent done in in so long (thankfully) yes thats the one 2-3 teaspoons per litre. sorry the cold weather over here must have slowed my brain down haha

 

[andrew]

Can you re-use the salt water or should you get new evertime? Thanks

 

[cynthia]

I mix up fresh each time and wash and dry the container between uses.