to late to help!!

i think my poor axie is in serious trouble,
the first 2 photos shows what it passed this morning, it actually looks like a group of dividing cells, the whole thing is fatter than it is across.
the second photo shows its condition now.
this is the malnourished wild type that aquired from a so called reputable shop, i purchased it in the hope i might have been able to do something to help, but it looks like i was to late.

Oh I wish I could help ! I hope some one else knows whats going on with your poor little axolotl..I breifly wondered from your last photo if it could be some sort of parasite, but then again I really have no idea. The first batch looked jelly like ( hence my previous comment) but with an even closer look it looks like soem sort of mucus..do you have any idea what sex this little one is as my only other suggestion is some sort of egg laying problem. I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed someone will recognise this and help you. Julia

impossible to tell what sex it as so malnourished her is a photo from friday

Sorry, I can't help you neither 'cause I never saw something like this before (although I'm keeping axolotls for some years now...)
At the last photo it looks really skinny and the gills seem to be short but the quality of the photo is too bad to make any diagnosis or suggestions.

Looks like mucus to me. In extreme starvation the gut can produce an excess fo mucus and perhaps that was what was passed. Is this little dude taking food? If so I would opt for one very small meal a day for a week or so and then gradually increase over a few months. While cooling is also recommended for stress releif, I would keep him warmer as it will help maintain his appetite. Good luck and keep us posted.

Is it a tape worm?

no, unfortunately i think she is pushing her gut out, what ever that was she passed has obviously stained her.

Please let us know how she's doing.

she is still holding her own at the moment.
she is in the fridge as i have no idea what else to do, and from what i can gather by the lack of response to my thread, neither does anyone else.
she is just wasting away before my eyes.

Is their a vet near you?

This must be horrible for you, but I suspect you are doing every thing possible for this little axolotl. I would have put it some where cool in clean water and offer food, that way you can clearly see what goes in and what comes out. I beleive its in the best hands of some one who knows how to care for their pets..at least with you its standing some chance of survival.

Hi Frances,

It is possibly an intestinal prolapse which is literally pooing out the gut. Its rare in humans and I have not heard of it in axies but thats not to say it can't happen.

I would be in touch with the Zoo or University or a specialist. Is there a vet you can go to. It looks to me like something that requires urgent attention.

Fridging may be two sided. It will as suggested by others slow her metabolism and help her destress. The otherside is that, as mentioned previously, axies require less food in colder temperatures like the fridge. So if she is malnourished she will need to eat. There in lies the "Catch 22".

I believe T.L.C. provides the best results when dealing with any animals, humans included and the rest is ultimately out of our control. Your axie is lucky to have you. One of the other English breeders or keepers may know of a good vet.

Good Luck

Oh poor thing

My axie has the same problem!!!

Hello!!!

I'm very happy to know that somene's axie has the same problem as mine, because now I have someone to talk about it, and we may help each other to pass this sad situation.
But Eva (her name) isn't skinny...her belly is huge (even without eating for a long time)!
And she's pooing the same gelatinous and white thing.

Just like you, I also don't know what to do...I'm VERY upset with this situation.

Eva spent the whole last week in the fridge, and today I putted her back to her tank (now with a bare floor, because she may have swallowed some gravel...I don't know).

She looks healthy and beautyful...her gills are very red, as always...but her belly is huge and her anus is more oppened up than it normally is...and her anus is also looking a bit reddish.

Here's my thread, with Eva's situation explained:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50963

I hope we can help each other...and I also hope that BOTH of our axies will be okay soon!
Luís Henrique

digger said:

i think my poor axie is in serious trouble,
the first 2 photos shows what it passed this morning, it actually looks like a group of dividing cells, the whole thing is fatter than it is across.
the second photo shows its condition now.
this is the malnourished wild type that aquired from a so called reputable shop, i purchased it in the hope i might have been able to do something to help, but it looks like i was to late.

Click to expand...

hi luis
i personally think from reading your other thread that your poor axie definately has gravel stuck.
the easiest thing for her is to return her to the fridge as this will limit the amount of stress she feels due to her discomfort.
as for her size, this could also be due to gravel, if she had swallowed some and continued to eat it would cause her to bloat.
another thing i would suggest as far as temperature of tank is concerned is that you stop using blocks of ice and try to purchase a chiller or fan, the temperature fluctuations are to great with ice and this could also stress her out.
ideally she should be in the coolest part of the house, if you have a window open near her to cause a draught this would also help you could still keep curtains closed as billowing curtains would also circulate cooler air.
i do hope she will pass what ever is causing her problems soon, and will keep you upto date with my little one who seems to be holding on for now.
by the way female axies carry eggs wether they are with males or not the males just need to lay the spermatore and her pick it up to fertalize them.
good luck for the future.