Axolotl-Safe Chemicals and Medication

Remember, your axolotl is an amphibian. This means chemicals and medications that work wonders for your aquarium fish may not work at all — or worse, may be very toxic to them. Below is a list of unsafe and safe products. Most of the safe medications and chemicals can be purchased in our marketplace.

Unsafe

Avoid anything that contains copper, malachite green, or sulphur, and any product not specifically recommended for amphibians.

• Sterazin (Waterlife) — contains malachite green and possibly other toxins.
• Cuprazin (Waterlife) — likely contains copper sulphate and other toxic cuprous compounds.
• Protozin (Waterlife) — some keepers have used this without apparent harm, but neither the manufacturer nor most keepers recommend it for amphibians. It’s suspected to contain cuprous compounds, though the manufacturer won’t confirm this.
• Clout (manufacturer unknown) — contains malachite green.
• “Rid-Rot” (Tetra) — the company states it’s unsafe for amphibians, though some keepers report using it without apparent ill effects.

Safe

• Myxazin (Waterlife) — used without reported problems; Waterlife believes it poses no issue for amphibians, but recommends a half dose.
• “The Complete Remedy” (manufacturer unknown) — appears to contain only sodium chlorite.
• Mercurochrome
• Nitrofura-G (Aquatronics)
• Maracyn (Mardel Labs) — contains the antibiotic erythromycin.
• “Sulfa-Bath” (Tetra)
• Methylene blue — non-toxic at low dosages.
• Furan-2 (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) — a 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 (metronidazole) — used at a lower dosage than for reptiles, it appears safe as an anti-parasitic treatment when given in food (e.g. injected into a waxworm or other convenient food item). It also stimulates appetite.

Source: axolotl.org — Health