Illness/Sickness: Young Axolotl Has Been Floating, Getting Better, And Then Floating Again? :(

[Lady Axolotl]

Hi, this is my first post on this site, and I'm sad to say it's not a happy one

I raised four leucistic axolotls from eggs I purchased from ebay, they're now around 8 months old I think and so far have had no real health problems.

A few weeks ago though I noticed one of them began to float against his will, on his side, at the top of the tank. Since then I've tried feeding him, separating him from the others, and keeping him in shallow water. I've not yet tried fridging him as I have no idea how to go about it really. I suspected it to be a case of an air bubble being stuck in his stomach, but as it has gone away a few times and keeps coming back I'm starting to wonder what I can do?

Currently he's at the top on his side again, trying to reach the bottom of the tank. Just wondering what everyone suggests could help, and if it involves fridging him, how I should go about it.

Many thanks.

[Eric]

Do you happen to know the tank parameters? (ammonia, nitrate, nitrites). Could you also provide a description of their enclosure including size of the tank, substrate, diet, filtration and also the temperature they are kept at?

[Lady Axolotl]

Sadly I don't have a water-testing kit (really need to get on that actually) so I don't know the parameters. It's a 60 litre tank and the substrate is sand. They have a filter (which I worry can be too powerful at times even on the lowest setting as it blows them around a bit - I have turned it off while the sick axolotl is in with the others as it seems to disturb him a lot, I know this can't be kept like that though). I feed them mostly on frozen (and sometimes live) bloodworms. Kept at about 18 degrees room temp.

Is there anything you can suggest?

[Eric]

How large and they and how frequent do you do water changes?

And how large (what % of the water) are these changes?

[Lady Axolotl]

I do around 20% every couple of weeks, but it does tend to vary a bit because the water appears relatively clean most of the time. Do you think that could have something to do with it?

[Grace]

If their tank isn't cycled yet it could have a lot to do with it. Ammonia spikes could be making your little one float. You need to get a kit and check ammonia! Until you can check the water you may want to do daily 20% water changes.

You can also attach a sponge to the outflow of the filter... usually this helps a lot with strong flow! I have done it before. just a quick fix because you will need to have the filter on to have the tank cycle.

[Lady Axolotl]

Ah okay, I'll get a test kit for ammonia ASAP, and keep up with the water changes while leaving the filter on. It's just strange though how it seems to have only affected one of them, the others have always seemed fine!

I've moved him into a separate tank for the moment, as he seems to be pretty swollen and still floating I'm just trying to keep it as cool as possible... will keep you updated!

[kirsty]

Where can I get one of these water testing kits, I've had my Axies for 8 months now and they have been healthy the whole time but after reading some posts on here think it would be a good investment on my next pay day and wondered what people recommended?

[Kaysie]

The API Master test kit is a good one. Most people purchase theirs on line, so google it and shop around and see who has the best deal!

[mewsie]

Originally Posted by Kaysie

The API Master test kit is a good one. Most people purchase theirs on line, so google it and shop around and see who has the best deal!

Agreed, thats the kit I use, Kirsty. Got it off eBay for £20, money well worth spent for the piece of mind, and knowing exactly whats going on in the tank!

[Lady Axolotl]

I'm watching an ammonia testing kit on ebay, but I heard from a friend that I can take a water sample to my local aquarium garden centre and they'd test it for free, so I might try that!

Also, the little axolotl who's not been well (whom I've now named 'Bambino') is looking better again! Fingers crossed he stays that way this time...

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Kaysie

The API Master test kit is a good one. Most people purchase theirs on line, so google it and shop around and see who has the best deal!

Oooo! I saw this at PetSmart and decided it looked good. Good to know i can safely add it to the list... except it's $32ish there so I will shop around :)