What is a salt bath for Axolotl?
A salt bath is a treatment option for sick Axolotl with a fungal infection. To treat the infection, the Axolotl is placed in salt water for several hours to days or for a shorter period of time in high concentration salt water.
Benefits of a salt bath for axolotls
- Inhibits the growth of fungi, especially Saprolegnia sp. (cotton fungus)
- Inhibits the growth of external parasites, like Ichthyobodo necatrix (Costia) and Trichodina
- Helps with the recovery of fungus infections
When are salt baths a good treatment option for Axolotls?
A salt bath is especially helpful against fungal infections. Fungal infections can be recognized by white, fluffy or flaky skin lesions, also the gills and eggs can be affected by the fungus. Fungal infections often result from injuries or infect open wounds.
The most common fungal infection in axolotls is an infection with Saprolegnia sp. also called cotton mold or water mold. Infection with Saprolegnia can be easily identified by the “cotton-like” appearance of the fungus, with its white and grey filaments.
A salt bath can also help against external parasites, such as Ichthyobodo necatrix (Costia) and Trichodina.
Ichthyobodo necatrix formally known as Costia are among the flagellates and are especially common in axolotls that have been kept with fish, where the parasite attacks the skin and gills of the axolotl. Costia feeds mainly on dead cells and healthy animals can usually fight off an infection on their own without any problems. However, weakened animals may experience rapid reproduction of the parasite.
Trichodina belongs to the ciliates, which infect the skin and gill filaments of the axolotl. Again, fish are often the carriers. The ciliates feed on particles in the water, and they scrape the skin of the axolotl with hooks on their underside, thus damaging it. The small wounds can cause secondary infections with bacteria. Most often, animals show little to no symptoms, except for pale changes in their skin or bulbous clusters of the parasite. However, in weaker animals, rapid proliferation of the parasite can occur.
Naturally you should keep in mind that a salt bath is not a cure-all and you should only use it if your Axolotl really needs it, otherwise it can have negative effects.
There are two different ways to treat your Axolotl with a salt bath, an intensive salt bath and a long-term salt bath.
Intensive salt bath
In the intensive salt bath, the axolotl remains in the salt water for only 15 to 20 minutes, but the salt concentration is significantly higher than in the long-term salt bath. Approximately one teaspoon of non-iodized is used per liter of water (one teaspoon per 0,3 gallons). An intensive salt bath should only be done 2 to a maximum of 3 times a day, otherwise the skin of the axolotl will dry out too much or may get damaged. Also, an intensive salt bath should not be used on open wounds. It is best to treat your Axolotl with only one intensive salt bath for a few days and observe whether this already brings an improvement.
Long-term Salt Bath
In a long-term salt bath, one teaspoon of non-iodized salt is mixed into 10 to 50 liters of water (one teaspoon per 2,5 to 13 gallons). Due to the lower salt concentration in the water, the axolotl can remain in the salt bath for a longer period of time. The bath should be renewed daily and the axolotl can stay in the salt bath for a few days even after the symptoms have subsided. The salt bath should be renewed regularly, preferably daily, and can be done for up to 5 to 7 days.
The salt must always be non-iodized, otherwise it can cause metamorphosis, which is generally life-shortening for axolotls and can quickly lead to death in weakened animals.
How to give your axolotl a salt bath?
Step 1: Prepare the salt bath
After you decided whether you want to use an intensive or a long-term salt bath, you should prepare it. It is important to use non-iodine salt and to make sure that the temperature of the salt bath and the aquarium water is similar.
The salt bath should be prepared in a separate container, e.g. the quarantine tank.
Step 2: Put your Axolotl in the salt bath
You can capture your axolotl carefully with your hands or a close-meshed fish net and put it into the salt bath.
Remember to set an alarm clock so that your axolotl doesn’t stay too long in the salt bath. If the axolotl stays too long in the salt bath it can lead to skin and gill damage, as well as bleeding, especially if the axolotl stays too long in the intensive salt bath.
Step 3: after the salt bath
When the salt bath is finished, put your Axolotl back into its tank. The tank the Axolotl is in during its salt bath should be cleaned thoroughly after each bath to prevent the Axolotl from re-infecting itself with any residue in the tank.
Conclusion
A salt bath is a simple and effective treatment for fungal infections and ectoparasites and can help your Axolotl to recover quickly.
Another treatment option for a sick or injured axolotl is “Fridging”, you can read how that works here.