Treat What Ails Them!
The very first thing you should do when an axolotl is in distress is remove it from its tank and place it in a tub with cool, fresh, ideal water. Keep it isolated like this in low light until you have treated its ailment. A distressed axolotl has a tail curling towards its head, and isn't exercising or eating as it normally does.
Please note that I am not an axolotl veterinarian or specialist. I've raised them for 6 years, but I am not the all-knowing axolotl guru. If your axolotl is in distress and I do not cover a remedy, or my remedy is not working, you need to take them to a specialist or seek help from professional online breeders.
Please note that I am not an axolotl veterinarian or specialist. I've raised them for 6 years, but I am not the all-knowing axolotl guru. If your axolotl is in distress and I do not cover a remedy, or my remedy is not working, you need to take them to a specialist or seek help from professional online breeders.
Floating: Axolotls have gills, but they also have lungs. More often than not, if your axolotl is floating, it's because they felt like exploring and swallowed some air to float around. However, if combined with other stress factors, floating could be a sign of distress. If you're worried about your axolotl floating, check these factors: Is your water quality ideal? Is your axolotl eating? Is your axolotl pooping regularly? Is there enough oxygen in your water?
Gill Damage: Your axolotl can lose its gills a few ways. The most obvious is by somebody biting it off. Other axolotls or fish may bite an axolotl's gills off. Do not house other species with axolotls for this reason. Axolotls can also lose their gills if their water quality is poor. The ammonia levels in the water can burn the frills off of an axolotl's gills. To help axolotls heal you can put almond leaves in their water, or do tea baths with pure, unscented tea. The tannins in the tea or almond leaves with help relax and heal the axolotl. Do not worry, your axolotl can still breath!
Cuts and Bites: Bites, cuts, and missing limbs are common axolotl injuries. Luckily, axolotls are a rare species that can regenerate their limbs. Some have been known to regenerate parts of their brains! So, don't fret too much. Cuts or abrasions will heal within a couple of weeks, and limbs will grow back in a couple months. Having ideal water will help them heal their wounds faster. You can also buy almond leaves and put them in your tank. Do your best to prevent them by keeping sharp things/edges out of the tank, feeding your axolotls often enough, and keeping ideal water quality.
Fungus: Fungus is a puffy white cloud that appears most often on axolotl's gills, eyes, or legs. It is more likely to appear on wounds, or occur when you have poor water quality. Help prevent fungus by maintaining ideal water quality, and check for it every week (if not more often). To get rid of fungus, give your axolotl a salt bath. The process may need to be repeated to fully rid your axolotl of the fungus. It is also okay to give them a salt bath when you discover a new injury, to help prevent it from growing fungus.
Slime Coat Damage: An axolotl's slime coat is the slippery substance that you feel when you try to pick it up. This coat helps protect them against harmful bacteria or fungus, and keeps them moist. Therefor, it is a huge red flag when you see issues with their slime coats. A damaged slime coat looks like a white sheen on the surface of your axolotl. If the slime coat is white, check and adjust your water quality. The slime coat should fix itself if all water conditions are correct. If not, seek a specialist.
Ammonia/Chemical Burns: This kind of damage only happens when there are extreme levels of ammonia or high concentrations of chemicals in the water. High levels of ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite can be lethal in just a couple days. So it's important to check your water quality at least once a week, and more often if you notice signs of distress. If this ever happens to you, quarantine it in a bin with fresh, cool, dechlorinated water ASAP. Do not give it a salt bath, as its skin is currently damaged and salt baths will burn it more. Instead, give it a tea bath, or put an almond leaf in its water. If the issue persists past a few days, you need to seek a specialist.
Bacterial Infections: Poor water quality or, infected food, can lead to skin infections such as Proteus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mima, and Alcaligenes. Help prevent them by keeping your tank clean, quarantining any new organisms you introduce, and look for them to allow early treatment. These infections need to be treated right away, and should be treated by a professional. If you are not able to find a professional, you can do a couple things. You can refrigerate them until you can find help. You can also buy some medications online, but make sure they treat the bacterial infection, such as Holtfreter's solution.