Hillo! New to forum and worried :o(

[twiglet9]

Hoping there will be someone who can offer me some advice. The female of my two 12 month old axolotls is refusing food (even her favourite, prawns!). The stones in the tank are larger than marbles, so Sybil can't have swallowed one. However, her mouth is slightly open and her tail's in the stress position.

Yesterday she took a sliver of prawn, but then spat it out. She's very listless and not swimming about her tank as usual. I've had the water tested and it's fine. Temperature is 20 degrees. Her friend, Mauel, is perfectly happy and munching on anything as usual.

I've read about fridging axies, but anxious.

Any help welcomed

K

[Julia]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Would you be able to post a photo of Sybil and her tank ? If the marble is a regular sized marble, then it is possible for her to accidentally try to eat it. ..I wonder if she has it in her mouth?

[Cloudy]

You'd be surprised of the size of stone axolotls can eat.
Click Me

Ignore the size of their mouth, anything as big as or smaller than the HEAD will fit in their mouth.
Fridging solves a lot of stress related problems. More Clicking

If the stones are as big as, smaller than your axie's head, it's likely one has been swallowed, but a picture of you enclosure, axolotl, and both would be very helpful.

[twiglet9]

Right ho! Will get camera and try to upload some pictures.

Thank you

K

[twiglet9]

Have put a couple of pics up. Hope they're visible - not quite the techno wizard I'm afraid. Sybil does not love the camera, nor does she share Ms Moss' cheekbones, but I've tried my best (

[Cloudy]

It does look like a few of those stones are small enough to be eaten, No-one can know for sure with an x-ray or actually seeing it in there.

However, her mouth is slightly open and her tail's in the stress position.

That does sound like an axie trying to eat something too big for it though, and If it's not that i'm at a slight loss, so hopefully someone else may know for sure.

[Neo]

It does sound like she has swallowed something she doesn't usually swallow. The photos will help. :)

Best of luck

[twiglet9]

Have been brave and put Sybil in the fridge. Manuel is sulking and wondering where she's gone. Fingers crossed that whatever she's swallowed comes out (

Thanks for your help

K

[twiglet9]

Saw lovely vet today. Sybil has an odoema in her lower jaw. She's in 'hospital' til Monday having a mixture of injected and oral antibiotics. Having a word with the man upstairs.

xkx

[rick]

I hope all goes well, keep us updated.

[Cloudy]

that would make sense, the swelling would make it far more difficult to eat than usual.
please keep us updated =]
all the best.