Silly Axolotls
Treating Axolotl Illnesses
Here's a quick run down of different ways to respond to different health problems and issues faced by axolotl owners.
The first thing any owner should do with a sick animal is remove it from the tank, and isolate it from other tank mates. This helps eliminate spreading of the disease, as well as further sickness if the tank conditions are to blame. It also allows for constant monitoring.
Fridging is effective, because, unlike in other animals, it slows down the metabolism, but seems to speed up (or at least, not slow down) healing.
All advice is what I have gathered in my personal experience, or taken from www.axolotl.org/health.htm
Fungus
Covered in detail here, salt baths are the easiest, and best way to deal with fungus. Isolate, fridge, salt bath for a week, assess, continue for another week if necessary. Only severe cases should continue past two weeks, and should be less frequent.
Other options include:
Methylene blue baths at half the recommended dosage
Fluid Retention
Fluid retention is a symptom of something seriously wrong, not a disease themselves. Finding the underlying cause is most important.
A build up of fluid is usually, but not always, fatal. It differs from bloating in the case that the axolotl does not float. It can occur from heart damage, kidney problems, nutritional deficiencies and sometimes just old age. A vet can be called upon to drain the fluid, but in many cases, it builds up again. An axolotl with fluid retention can grow insanely large. Figuring out the source of the problem is your best bet for saving your axolotl, and a vet's assistance is quite necessary.
Salt baths are a good treatment if the underlying cause cannot be distinguished.
External Sores and Open Wounds
Axolotls are very good at healing on their own, so if it is just a small wound, leave them to it, but keep an eye on them, as well as ensuring their water quality is perfect. If it is a large open wound or sore, it can be treated with furan-2, or melafix, both at half recommended dosage.
Furan-2 is a powder that can be added to the aquarium, but is best used in a hospital tank as it reacts with the carbon in filters.
If the wound gets a fungal infection, then you need to treat the fungus first.
Others
Taken directly from www.axolotl.org
"Red Leg" is one the most common diseases that axolotls can suffer. It is septicemic,meaning it can be widespread in the body because it is carried by the blood. Common symptoms are red patches on the limbs and parts of the body.
Salmonella is also known in axolotls and it is almost impossible to eliminate from effected animals as it becomes resident in the digestive tract.
Treatment for most bacterial problems is best left to an expert, but the hobbyist has some means at his or her disposal. Obviously, changing the water is a good idea, but 100% Holtfreter's solution can also help to reduce bacterial numbers in the water and to aid osmo-regulation in effected animals. Antibiotics can be used in axolotls and the the most reliable form of antibiotic delivery is by injection, but this should usually be left to an expert.
Floating
Floating both is and isn't a problem with axolotls. Axolotls float plenty on their own, and certain foods or certain axies are more prone to causing air bubbles in the guts, which causes floating. Generally, a good rule of thumb of whether it is serious or not is this:
Can the axolotl return to the bottom if frightened?
Does he float back up against his will?
Is he floating constantly, or just does it every now and then, some days, some hours of the day?
If the floating is 24/7, and your axie is showing signs of stress by not being able to stop, then it is likely caused by something serious. If it is only occassional, whether several times a day, or only several a week, it is probably caused by eating air bubbles, or a build up of gas cause it needs to poop.
Bloating is a build up of gas in your axolotl, causing them to float. Usually caused by an intestinal blockage. The best course of action is fridging, halting feeding, and waiting for it to pass.
Eaten Gravel & Constipation
The only course of action for this is to remove the axolotl from the tank, put it in the fridge, and halt feeding until it passes. Constipation can be caused from eating aquarium gravel, or a block up of food. Adult axolotls digest a lot slower, so daily feeding can cause them to get constipated.
Most rocks can be passed by your axolotl, but some can cause death, and this is why small rocks.gravel is not safe for axolotl tanks.
Ammonia/ High chemical content Poisoning
First step is to remove the axolotl to a hospital tank/tub, where it can have fresh, clean water changes daily. The skin will be very sore, so tea baths can be done, or almond leaves added to the tank. The tannins relax the axolotl, and soothe the skin. Indian Almond Leaves are known for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Tea baths should be done using pure natural black tea, with no added flavours/perfumes etc.
If problems persist, there are other methods but an expert should be consulted to determine the problem before correct treatment can be decided upon.
The stress of this can cause infections to spring up and these must be treated accordingly. Furan-2 at half dose is a good place to start.
High levels of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate can be lethal in just a few days. A cycled tank is very important, and if in-cycling, ammonia and nitrite levels should not go over 1ppm, and nitrate shouldn't sit much higher than 40ppm.