Illness/Sickness: Skin Peeling Off! Help!!!

[DVO]

My Axolotl, Toothless, has his skin peeling off! I took him out of the tank and isolated him and started the freezing and salt bath treatment yesterday. I did let the filter sit for about 8 weeks. After I took Toothless out, I changed it yesterday and cycled 50% of my 35 gal tanks water as well as added in a generous ammount of Tetra Stress Coat. He's less then a year old (approx 10 months)
Please help me!!!!

 

[Skudo09]

Stop the salt baths as they will be irritating his skin further. I don't know what you mean by freezing treatment?

Did you take readings of the parameters before changing the water? What is the temperature in the tank? Was the tank cycled? How have you cleaned the filter? I apologise for the load of questions but the more information we have the easier it will be to help.

For now, I would keep him in a tub of cool, clean, dechlorinated water and change 100% of the water daily. You could offer a black tea bath to help soothe the skin.

 

[auntiejude]

Looks like ammonia burn to me. When you say you let the filter sit for 8 weeks did you active cycle it or just leave it running?
He looks very skinny too.
And in all honesty I wouldn't hold your breath - the legs curled under like that are a very bad sign.

 

[Otterwoman]

I was going to say also that he looks thin.

 

[DVO]

Stop the salt baths as they will be irritating his skin further. I don't know what you mean by freezing treatment?

Did you take readings of the parameters before changing the water? What is the temperature in the tank? Was the tank cycled? How have you cleaned the filter? I apologise for the load of questions but the more information we have the easier it will be to help.

For now, I would keep him in a tub of cool, clean, dechlorinated water and change 100% of the water daily. You could offer a black tea bath to help soothe the skin.

He is isolated and in my fridge for now in filtered water. I washed out the filter machine with warm water and put a new clean filter in. I changed out 50% of the water and added declorinator. Should I put him back in the tank or just keep him isolated until his skin in completely healed? What is a black tea bath?

 

[DVO]

Looks like ammonia burn to me. When you say you let the filter sit for 8 weeks did you active cycle it or just leave it running?
He looks very skinny too.
And in all honesty I wouldn't hold your breath - the legs curled under like that are a very bad sign.

I kept it running and cycled about 20% on the 2nd week and neglicted to do any changes. If he survives I'm defiantly not going to neglect his tank care

 

[DVO]

I was going to say also that he looks thin.

He is getting very thin. It's very much concerning. He usually eats small roses that I put in his tank.

 

[Skudo09]

I suspect this resulted from poor water quality. By washing the filter media you will have crashed the tank's cycle (unless you used dechlorinated water). Also, just letting the tank sit for a while doesn't establish a cycle. I have below a couple of links that may explain better what I am referring to in regards to tank cycling. It is an important process to understand when keeping any aquatic life. Unfortunately shops don't tell people about cycling and give out poor advice. I would hazard a guess if they did tell people about cycling, they would not sell fish or aquatic life to many as at first it can be s bit daunting or confusing. Of course this comes to the detriment of the animal.

Scales Tails Wings and Things, What is Aquarium Cycling? How to Cycle your Tank

Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling

For now though, to aid in recovery I would continue to keep in a separate tub so you can monitor him more closely. Be sure to keep changing 100% of the water in the tub daily so it may be easier to keep a pre-prepared tub next to his tub you can transfer to and then refill the first tub ready for the next day. I have added below a guide on how to do a black tea bath. You will need to scroll down to see it.

Caudata Culture Articles - Illness Part 2

Has others have said he is on the skinny side. The fish are not sufficient as a staple diet. I would recommend some earthworms. Make sure though they are from a source where no chemicals (eg. Fertilisers or pesticides) have been used. Given he is quite skinny and needs more nourishment I would remove him from the fridge and just keep him somewhere cool as he will be unlikely to eat in the fridge.

 

[HitmanSougo13]

Judging by the threads, it seems you are new to cycled water. The good news if you can let your tank cycle but your axie cannot be in it. Also do not give any more salt baths as it thins their skin and burns it.

Be aware that fridging slows down their metabolism. You probably want your guy to fatten up. I would keep it in a small sick tub but make sure the temperature is under 18-19c and change the water every day in the sick tub with declorinated water. I cannot tell if your axie has an infection or not from the pics so basically if the axie looks like it is growing some furry fuzzy stuff then let us know. I am hesitant to give you advice on antibiotic treatment due to this being new to you. Please keep us posted. I would like to know you understand the difference between cycled water and uncycled water before giving further advice.

Basically, do not put your axie into the main tank until the water has been cycled. Take care.

 

[HitmanSougo13]

He is isolated and in my fridge for now in filtered water. I washed out the filter machine with warm water and put a new clean filter in. I changed out 50% of the water and added declorinator. Should I put him back in the tank or just keep him isolated until his skin in completely healed? What is a black tea bath?

I kept it running and cycled about 20% on the 2nd week and neglicted to do any changes. If he survives I'm defiantly not going to neglect his tank care

Hmm did you just imply your water is clearly not cycled water and now you are using the same water for the axie in the fridge? You need fresh declorinated water in the little tub ASAP my friend.