Is my axolotl dead?

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Tammycn

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How can you tell if an axolotl is dead? Mine has been very ill. I've been giving him salt baths and cleaned the tank, but he is limp and motionless, floating at the top of the tank. A couple of hours ago his gills were moving so I thought he was still alive, but they're not anymore. I want to know how to tell because I would like to bury him, but not if he's still alive. I know other people have said that their axolotls were at the bottom of the tank, some with their hands clasped together.
 
I don't mean to be gross, because I had a salamander I wasn't sure was dead. So I just left it and watched to see if it started rotting. Or smell. As soon as that starts you know it's dead.
 
I would poke it a few times.
 
Pain stimulus is the most reliable method of checking - pinch their tail between your fingers - if they wriggle they're still with you, if not then probably not.

They also tend to have their mouth and cloaca open once they have died.

My sympathies if he has passed away.
 
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