Safe and Unsafe Chemical Aquarium Treatments

 

There are many chemical treatments out there for aquarists, which are safe for fish, but are toxic and deadly to axolotls. This list is from www.axolotl.org, not written by me, but I will add my own two cents with products I have used. Salamanders (axolotls are a salamander) absorb chemicals through their skin, and are highly sensitive to it. That is why a cycled tank is so important for an axolotl.

Not all treatments can be used. Things like CO2 for plants, or algae boosters are not safe to use. Here is a list of known or tested products:

 

 

Please note: A name in brackets is a known company that manufactures the product. A dash is followed by an explanation of the toxicity.

 

List 1: Unsafe and “Toxic” Products

• Sterazin (Waterlife) - contains malachite green and possibly other toxins.

• Cuprazin (Waterlife) - probably contains copper sulphate and other toxic cuprous compounds.

• Protozin (Waterlife) - I’ve known people to use this without killing animals, but neither I nor the manufacturer think it’s safe to use with amphibians. I suspect it contains cuprous compounds although the manufacturer won’t tell me.

• Clout (Manufacturer unknown) - contains malachite green.

• "Rid-rot" (Tetra) - Company states it’s unsafe for amphibians but people have used it with no apparent ill effects.

• Anything containing malachite green.

 

Other things you shouldn't use are:

pH buffers, algae growth increasers, any fish remedies. I've met a girl whose mother put tetra product in the axolotl tank, and the gills feathers came out like plucking a bird. They just burned right out. Do not put your axolotl at risk by using these products.

 

 

List 2: Safe or Relatively Safe Products

• Myxazin (Waterlife) - I and others I know have used this without any problems and Waterlife reports that it doesn’t think it has any problems for amphibians, but they recommended a half dosage to me, which is what I use.

• "The Complete Remedy" (Manufacturer unknown) - seems to only contain sodium chlorite.

• Mercurochrome (see section on wounds).

• Nitrofura-G (Aquatronics).

• Maracyn (Mardel Labs) - contains the antibiotic erythromycin.

• "Sulfa-bath" (Tetra).

• Methylene blue - non-toxic in low dosages.Half the dosage used for fish, and best off as a soak bath, rather than put into the tank water

• Furan-2 (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) - good all around anti-bacterial medication - highly recommended.

• Melafix (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) - effective against external open sores only. 

• Panacur - at low dosage levels - effective against internal parasites, specifically roundworms.

• Flagyl, also known as metronidazole - Used at a lower dosage than for reptiles, it appears to be safe for use as an anti-parasitic treatment in food (inject it into a waxworm or other convenient food). It also stimulates appetite

 

 

From my own personal experience, it is important to make sure you use the proper type of treatment for the problem. Things like methylene blue should be used for fungal infections, to keep fungus and bacteria at bay. It is also useful for ammonia poisoning/burning, but is most effectively used as a soak bath. Simlarly, salt baths should only be used for definite cases of visible fungus, as it irritates an axolotl who does not need it.