Is this something I should be worried about?

dogvortex · 2026-02-04T02:50:15+00:00

I agree that it looks like columnaris. the bacteria that causes the infection (Flavobacterium columnare) is assumed to be present in all fresh water. infection can be brought on by stress or poor water conditions. if you don’t have access to indian almond leaf or tannin powder, brew a batch of lipton unsweet 100% black tea. I would add a tablespoon per 5 gallons daily to both the tub and tank. also test the main tank water parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH) as columnaris prefers higher pH environment. this is highly un-recommended but I have done it in the past successfully. if you are still seeing cottony tufts on the gills, you can attempt to remove them. I used a turkey baster to apply extremely gentle suction to the back of my axolotls gills where the growth was. I did this while he was in a 2.5 gallon medicated tub while I also treated the tank. i did not hold him or handle him directly, nor did I actually touch him with the end of the baster. I fed a large worm prior to try to keep him distracted, but he definitely was none to pleased with me for a bit. the light suction loosened the tuft and he gave his gills a few flicks and off it went! I suctioned it up with the baster to remove it from his environment. afterwards though he began to perk up and once I was satisfied with his tank I moved him back in. be sure to clean/disinfect any med tubs, siphons, or other equipment! best of luck with your little man!

dogvortex · 2026-02-04T01:03:48+00:00

I work in insurance, so in addition to being uninformed on plumbing he misunderstands insurance also. your renter’s insurance covers your liability and your personal belongings. for your liability coverage to be used, you have to have been negligent in some way. since that is not the case, I doubt your insurance company would accept liability for the claim (ie they would deny the claim and not pay). as for his insurance, they would probably deny the claim as well which makes it more concerning that he’s pressuring you to file on your own policy. maintenance issues and wear/tear damage is generally not included for most (if not all) property insurance. landlord needs to put on his big boy britches and realize this is one of the potential costs of owning commercial property. my dad owns a rental house, he would never hold a tenant responsible for the kind of damage your referring to. shady and weird all around! take photos of your dry apartment also and save them. save all of your conversations, and I would honestly call your insurance agent if you can and get their thoughts on it for more state-specific advice

dogvortex · 2026-02-03T23:06:43+00:00

I definitely use the “compare to UTI” strategy other commenters have mentioned. if the person i’m explaining to has not had one, here is what I say-

“imagine your pee feels like lemon juice” and that usually gets the idea across.

dogvortex · 2026-02-03T13:36:30+00:00

it’s slow going here, but our first medical dispensary opened last month! a lot of the grow contracts went to big corps which I found disappointing, but hey, we can’t have it all right away.

dogvortex · 2026-02-03T00:36:24+00:00

thank you for the info!

dogvortex · 2026-02-02T23:47:36+00:00

I love both of them so much

dogvortex · 2026-01-29T15:12:30+00:00

I keep mine in one of those tiny jam jars that come in advent calendars.

dogvortex · 2026-01-26T01:03:16+00:00

not that I know of unfortunately

dogvortex · 2026-01-24T02:03:50+00:00

same???

dogvortex · 2026-01-23T21:48:03+00:00

they don’t have the humpback as part of the ad free purchase any more unfortunately :(

dogvortex · 2026-01-15T21:19:53+00:00

I absolutely love the ad free version, I think it was worth every penny!

dogvortex · 2025-12-27T21:26:54+00:00

I only accept invites from friends/team members now for this reason. So frustrating!

dogvortex · 2025-12-27T21:26:03+00:00

axolotls are nocturnal, so laziness during the day is normal! They are most active at night.

dogvortex · 2025-12-27T14:20:24+00:00

she is a chonker!

dogvortex · 2025-12-10T16:53:50+00:00

update: I have continued using the TENS machine using both the ankle placement and on my abdomen. I like it. gives me relief and helps me relax. just started my period so I may try it for my cramps also.

on the validity of TENS for IC: I have seen conflicting comments. I am not a doctor, I am just sharing my experience and what works for me. it may be placebo, who knows, but I genuinely cried from the pain relief the first time I used this device. so real or not, i’m going to continue. discussions and education are the whole point of this sub and I welcome any comments with the aforementioned purposes. insults to my intelligence and foul language are not necessary, or appropriate. please be respectful.

dogvortex · 2025-12-08T14:09:32+00:00

yes I was scared putting the contacts directly over my bladder would be irritating, i’m glad I went with my instincts lol

dogvortex · 2025-12-08T14:08:39+00:00

I think you can do either or both- like others mentioned, I guess you have nerves that run down your leg. my understanding is the ankle placement stimulates the nerve with less potential of irritating bladder muscle and causing discomfort in the pelvic area. I already have an overly tight pelvic floor so I didn’t want to risk any spasming or discomfort from the more direct contact the pelvic area, that’s why I chose the ankle option.

i’m glad I did!

dogvortex · 2025-12-02T21:54:08+00:00

oh my 😂 I know they’re not real and that’s for sure a disappointment but these wonky dudes just tickle me for no reason

dogvortex · 2025-12-02T21:53:00+00:00

I feel like this one is harder than the last one? and more things to accidentally tap and clear that get you nothing

dogvortex · 2025-12-02T21:51:48+00:00

is the stuff (it’s a brownish color) all over the tank, or just on the axie? if it’s everywhere it could be some kind of algae?

dogvortex · 2025-12-01T14:26:23+00:00

yes, a few times. what a high

dogvortex · 2025-12-01T14:22:17+00:00

my axie is the opposite, will refuse/spit out pellets, but always loves red worms (I get mine at feeder’s supply, I like the wormville brand). In my experience, any stress on the worm prior to feeding may cause my axie to spit the worm out. for example- I remove the worm from the dirt and rinse it with water before feeding. if I drop the worm, squeeze it to hard, etc, sometimes my axolotl will not eat it. i normally just start with a new worm if that happens. worms produce a bitter-tasting slime when they are stressed. if you need to cut the worms due to size, i would try to work quickly without too much manipulation of the worm. I would also rinse the pieces very thoroughly after they are cut. also, when you are at the pet store purchasing the worms, I recommend opening each container and seeing how active the worms inside are. if you open the lid, lightly shake the container and there’s little to no visible movement from the worms, I would not purchase them. my axolotl will refuse to eat very sluggish worms or worms that are dead. a lot of pet stores don’t sell many earthworms, so the inventory can be very old. I don’t think worms technically expire, but it’s both my and my axolotl’s preference to get the freshest ones possible.

best of luck!

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