Diseases
Although Axolotls are a hardy animal poor living conditions for a period of time will lead to diseases and other illnesses. Poor water conditions and stress are the most common to cause illness to your Axolotl. Some problems can be resolved with a simple salt bath, tea bath, Melafix ect, some may need medical attention by a specialized vet which can be expensive. Here are some common problems a hobbyist may come across.
Signs Of Stress
Most common signs of stress is curved tail and forward gills. When talking about curved tails we are not talking about barley curved we are talking about noticeably curved tails which is known to look like a hook. The gills on an axolotl are suppose to tilt back to stay upright, when the Axolotls gills curve forward like a C you know there is something stressing the Axolotl out. Another sign of stress is when your Axolotl ignores food for a couple of meals
Nutritional Deficiency
Like all live creatures including ourselves Nutrition is key. You should try to feed you Axolotl nothing but the best foods Available. It's always a good idea to vary the food options for your pets. The Ideal food for an Axolotl would be a earthworm because of its nutritional value; Protein 62.2%, Fat 17.7%, Calcium 1.72%, Phosphorous 0.90%. Sometimes nutritional problems can lead to physical ones. Symptoms are usually not noticeable until it is to late, such things include liver failure, weakened immune system, kidney failure, fluid disorder ect. If you do notice a nutritional problem change their diet immediately.
Parasites
Parasites in general can be a very tricky case to get rid of especially if internal. Most parasites require meds from a vet to resolve. Parasites can come from a number of things from imported plants to infected food. Parasites need to be treated differently depending on the parasite. Some symptoms can be puking, discoloration, loss of appetite and abnormal behavior.
Fungal Infection
Fungal infection can infect anywhere from the eye, leg and gills. Fungal infection usually look like a cotton fluff or ball. Best at home remedy for a fungal infection would be a salt bath. Fungal infection is probably most common. Causes of fungal infection can be long period of high water temperature or poor water quality.
Bacterial infection
Unfortunately there is not much study on bacterial or virus causes problems. One bacterial infection that we do know of would be whats commonly called Red Leg (Aeromonas hydrophila). This type of disease is carried by blood cells so it can very easily be spread across the body and is also very contagious among the species. Symptoms of this particular disease is red patches on the skin. Some other Infections that could be caught are Proteus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mima, and Alcaligenes. Although bacterial diseases are more on the rare side for the common hobbyist owned Axolotls to caught a unless the water quality is extremely poor or the food was infected with the infection they are not impossible to caught and immediate medical attention should be taken.
Safe Medication/Remedies You Can Purchase At Local Pet Shop's
Signs Of Stress
Most common signs of stress is curved tail and forward gills. When talking about curved tails we are not talking about barley curved we are talking about noticeably curved tails which is known to look like a hook. The gills on an axolotl are suppose to tilt back to stay upright, when the Axolotls gills curve forward like a C you know there is something stressing the Axolotl out. Another sign of stress is when your Axolotl ignores food for a couple of meals
Nutritional Deficiency
Like all live creatures including ourselves Nutrition is key. You should try to feed you Axolotl nothing but the best foods Available. It's always a good idea to vary the food options for your pets. The Ideal food for an Axolotl would be a earthworm because of its nutritional value; Protein 62.2%, Fat 17.7%, Calcium 1.72%, Phosphorous 0.90%. Sometimes nutritional problems can lead to physical ones. Symptoms are usually not noticeable until it is to late, such things include liver failure, weakened immune system, kidney failure, fluid disorder ect. If you do notice a nutritional problem change their diet immediately.
Parasites
Parasites in general can be a very tricky case to get rid of especially if internal. Most parasites require meds from a vet to resolve. Parasites can come from a number of things from imported plants to infected food. Parasites need to be treated differently depending on the parasite. Some symptoms can be puking, discoloration, loss of appetite and abnormal behavior.
Fungal Infection
Fungal infection can infect anywhere from the eye, leg and gills. Fungal infection usually look like a cotton fluff or ball. Best at home remedy for a fungal infection would be a salt bath. Fungal infection is probably most common. Causes of fungal infection can be long period of high water temperature or poor water quality.
Bacterial infection
Unfortunately there is not much study on bacterial or virus causes problems. One bacterial infection that we do know of would be whats commonly called Red Leg (Aeromonas hydrophila). This type of disease is carried by blood cells so it can very easily be spread across the body and is also very contagious among the species. Symptoms of this particular disease is red patches on the skin. Some other Infections that could be caught are Proteus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mima, and Alcaligenes. Although bacterial diseases are more on the rare side for the common hobbyist owned Axolotls to caught a unless the water quality is extremely poor or the food was infected with the infection they are not impossible to caught and immediate medical attention should be taken.
Safe Medication/Remedies You Can Purchase At Local Pet Shop's
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