Sick Axolotl

[axolotl.mommy]

Hi all! I'm a new axolotl owner. I work in a lab and adopted one through the lab. I've had Agnes for about 2 months and she has been on a diet of worms and pellets, intermixed. She last ate a worm two days ago, and her levels then were all 0s for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. Her pH was at a 7.4 last Friday. Tuesday night, she looked impacted. I checked her levels and all were 0 again except her pH, which was about 8.8. I did a water change but yesterday morning her skin looked almost burned. I took her out and put her in a salt bath and immediately into the fridge after. Now she's lethargic and barely moving at all. I also noticed red spots on her skin and her gills have white spots. I'll attach pictures. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. I only want to do right by my girl!

 

[wolfen]

what is your tap water ph, water ph at 8.8 is caustic and can't be used for axolotls, if the ph keeps going high whilst your tap water is normal means that there could be something leaching into the water.
use 50% holfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate in the water, info here.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity if ingredients can't be sourced straight away (the lab should be using either holtfreters or steinberg's so might be able to get from them) use 2g/l non-iodised salt, this is to make the water more comfortable whilst healing as well as ward away any fungal infections that may follow.
your nitrates are a concern and shouldn't be zero, how long has the tank been running/cycled.

 

[axolotl.mommy]

what is your tap water ph, water ph at 8.8 is caustic and can't be used for axolotls, if the ph keeps going high whilst your tap water is normal means that there could be something leaching into the water.
use 50% holfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate in the water, info here.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity if ingredients can't be sourced straight away (the lab should be using either holtfreters or steinberg's so might be able to get from them) use 2g/l non-iodised salt, this is to make the water more comfortable whilst healing as well as ward away any fungal infections that may follow.
your nitrates are a concern and shouldn't be zero, how long has the tank been running/cycled.

I'm not sure what the tap water pH is (I live in a city so it's probably not great). I did have rocks in her tank for a few weeks but took them out after I saw dirt accumulating under them. The tank has been running for almost 6 weeks.

 

[wolfen]

the nitrogen compound levels aren't right, because axolotls urinate as well as defecate even with spot cleaning ammonia is being produced so should register either in the toxic forms.. ammonia/nitrites or the non toxic form.. nitrates, for all three to be zero is strange, unless either there is a large amounts of plants, 100% water changes taking place or special media/filtration methods are used, it might be worthwhile re-testing.
to test if the tanks nitrogen cycle is working correctly add 2ppm ammonia chloride to the water and check 24hrs later, the ammonia should be zero as well as the nitrites and the nitrates should be between 5ppm and 10ppm, keep your axolotl tubbed until sure the tank is running right.
if the tap water is higher than 8ph then it might be worth using ro and using holtfreters to supplement the salts/minerals.

 

[axolotl.mommy]

the nitrogen compound levels aren't right, because axolotls urinate as well as defecate even with spot cleaning ammonia is being produced so should register either in the toxic forms.. ammonia/nitrites or the non toxic form.. nitrates, for all three to be zero is strange, unless either there is a large amounts of plants, 100% water changes taking place or special media/filtration methods are used, it might be worthwhile re-testing.
to test if the tanks nitrogen cycle is working correctly add 2ppm ammonia chloride to the water and check 24hrs later, the ammonia should be zero as well as the nitrites and the nitrates should be between 5ppm and 10ppm, keep your axolotl tubbed until sure the tank is running right.
if the tap water is higher than 8ph then it might be worth using ro and using holtfreters to supplement the salts/minerals.

Thank you for the information and help!

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Don't put her in the fridge unless it's a matter of life or death. The lower temperature can lower organ function so it will be lethargic getting out. Don't do a salt bath unless there is fungus. Tea baths are better in treating ammonia burns.

 

[Annpertuset]

I'm new to axolotls...I put Indian Almond leaves in with my axies...I read it lowers water pH plus it has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

 

[wolfen]

if almond/catappa leaves are reducing ph then you have low kh which is not ideal for axolotls, almond leaves give off beneficial tannins which are helpful to axolotls but the leaves need to be removed once they start breaking down as they then start adding to the bio-load.
most fungal issues etc.. can be dealt with in the tank by increasing the waters salinity without the need for salt bath, methyline blue and acriflavine as well as potassium permanganate have to be baths as the chemicals can disrupt the bio-logical filtration, black tea can be used in the tank at one tea bag per ten litre.
fridging allows the axolotls metabolism to slow down and allows them to heal but it can cause organ shutdown which is why it should be a last resort.

 

[Annpertuset]

I live in the city...my water is very hard and high pH. My newest axolotl was sick 2 weeks after I got him... apparently he was ill when I got him..the vet said it can take up to 6 weeks for these guys to show signs of being ill....he has little worms that caused bacterial infections...he's on topical meds with salt baths twice daily.....I figured the Indian almond leaves should help with the bacterial infections plus he's in a hospital tank...the leaves give him a place to hide

 

[Autistic Catholic]

How's the little guy doing, OP?

 

[axolotl.mommy]

How's the little guy doing, OP?

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! Unfortunately, Agnes passed away last week, two days after we noticed her skin issues. I wish I had known about the water contamination possibility sooner, so I could've done more, but going forward, I plan to have more axolotls and will definitely be more educated the second time around. Thank you all again!

 

[wolfen]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! Unfortunately, Agnes passed away last week, two days after we noticed her skin issues. I wish I had known about the water contamination possibility sooner, so I could've done more, but going forward, I plan to have more axolotls and will definitely be more educated the second time around. Thank you all again!

sorry for your loss

 

[axolotl.mommy]

sorry for your loss

Thank you