NOTE:AQUARIUM FISH REMEDIES CAN BE DEADLY TO YOUR AXOLOTL! Consult an expert first. Axolotls absorb chemicals through their skin and fish remedies can poison. Copper or manganese should be avoided. Malachite green is toxic. Methylene blue is safe for axolotls but use the minimum dose.

Please note: The recommendation of salt therapies below need to be carefully applied. Damage to gills is highly probable if the Axolotl is not monitored carefully with the times suggested.

The health of an Axolotl is dependent upon how it is treated by its owner. Please see TANK SETUP for good captive conditions. If an Axolotl is cared for under these conditions it is unlikely disease or injury will occur. If ill health does occur the below is some assistance to help solve the issue.
Logically, stressed axolotls will easily fall sick. Water flow (filter runs to powerful) and water temperature over 24 degrees Celsius, sudden temperature fluctuations, bad water conditions (inadequate water changes, Ammonia or nitrite from lack of biological filtration), or tap water not treated properly are common causes of stress. Parasites and other tank mates such as fish (not recommended) are other causes.

Stressed Axolotl

Axolotls, stressed by high flow water, show it by curling their gills forward. A definite sign of stress is a curled tail or curled tail end.

Fluid Disorders, Genetic and Nutritional Problems

• Fluid build- up (edema and ascites)
• abnormal cell growth (tumors)
These can be attributed to genetic abnormalities and letting nature take its course is the only thing to be done. Fluid build up caused by heart damage, kidney problems, nutritional issues and old age can be drained by a Vet. But build up usually occurs again.
Feed your Axolotl a variety of Carnivorous foods helps prevent nutritional problems that often lead to bacterial or fungal diseases. Make sure all food is bought from a pet store or reliable source to make sure there hasn’t been any contact with pesticides or other diseases. Avoid live feeder fish, they are usually known to carry disease and parasites. Trout worms, frozen blood worms, frozen tubifex (not as nutritionally balanced), white worms and grindal worms as treat only (fatty), or axolotl pellets. We feed our adults a mixture of blood worms and trout worms.

Wounds and Physical Damage

• loss of gill, limb tail
As long as the wound does not become infected they heal and regrow well. Separate the animal into it’s own clean, cool water. Use 2 teaspoons of salt in 2 litres of water to help curb infection. Axolotls heal faster in lower temperatures (5 – 15 degrees Celsius). Feed well.

Bacterial and Fungal Problems

• Aeromonas hydrophila, most common (red leg bacteria, Red patches on the limbs and body)
• Proteus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mima and Alcaligenes
• Salmonella, hard to eliminate
Contact an expert to solve these issues in most part but you can help by changing the water and use 2 teaspoons of salt in 2 litres of water. Antibiotics can be used by injection by a Vet.
• Chondrococcus Columnaris (white fungus), loss of appetite, sluggish covered in white patches
You can help by changing the water and placing the axolotl in a salt (table salt, cooking salt, or iodized salt, but not “low” or “low-sodium” salt) bath 10 minutes a day (use 2 – 3 teaspoons of salt in 1 litres of water). The salt will damage the Axolotl’s skin and gills so no more than 10 minutes. Make sure the common stresses are not present.
• Saprolegnia, treated similar to Columnaris. Tap water needs to have chloramine in it and this can be used as treatment. Bathe or immerse the wounds/axolotl in water for a few minutes each day.
Isolating the axolotl is a must in all cases to stop the spread to any others.
The University of Manitoba (posted on the Urodeles newsgroup and also the former Indiana University Axolotl Colony) used Nitrofura-G, a compound of Furazolidine, methylene blue and potassium dichromate, to treat skin infections, minor fungal problems, gill fuzz, red sores, and skin irritations. They say it is available from aquarium stores. They use it in the recommended dosage of the manufacturer and find that animals improve dramatically over three doses. Furazolidine is an anti-microsporidal (somewhat effective against protozoans and fungi). Methylene blue is a generally toxic chemical that is toxic to most organisms to some degree. I’m unsure about the toxicity of potassium dichromate.

Parasites

• Hexamite, Opalina, and ciliates
Treat with fllagyl (metronidazole) (500mg per 100 g of food for 3 or 4 feedings)
• Trichodina and Costia (cause axolotl Skin Mucus)
Treat with mercurochrome or salt baths (as above).

Safe and UnsafeTreatments

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.

Safe or Some What 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.
• Furan-2 (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) – good all around anti-bacterial medication – highly recommended.
• Melafix (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) – effective against external sores.
• 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 wax worm or other convenient food). It also stimulates appetite.