Walking lopsided..

S

sherri

Guest
My axie Axelina has been walking strangely lopsided for the last 5 days. Whole of her left side is lot lower, especially her head. She doesn't seem to be able to/ want to, to straighten her head to be even. Also her tummy is a lot bigger on the left side. She is eating normally, but doesn't swim. She walks, but not that much,maybe it's painful to her? Her water temperature is 18C, and all water stats fine.What could be causing this? Any idea?
Thanks millions in advance for your replies

(Message edited by sherrisixxx on August 21, 2006)
 
Hmmz. Well my axie did that after she swallowed gravel. Do you have gravel in your tank. Ur axie has to poop it out IF its that.
 
Hi Lorie, no I don't have gravel, and she is pooping normally.

She is actually worse now, am quite worried. She seems to have problems with her balance, and often falls onto her side. She can get up easily, and continue to walk with her head so down to the left side, that her gills are touching the sand. And then she falls to her side again....She has tried to get up to swim, but doesn't manage to lift herself to swimming position.
I have been searching on the internet, and it seems that often this sort of thing in humans is associated to viral/bacterial problem in ears. Should I try to give her some antibiotics? If so, which one/ how much? Help!

Oh yes, I bought some live eartworms from a aquarium shop last week. Would it be possible that these worms may have had some bacteria in them? Just a thought

(Message edited by sherrisixxx on August 23, 2006)
 
Help!!
Shall I give her some antibiotics? Which ones?
Or shall I put her in the fridge to rest??
Help!
 
Hope she get's better! Did she do this before you fed her the worms?
 
Charles hi. No, I have never seen her like this before. It started a few days after I gave her some live worms. She keeps falling to her side all the time, like she is very drunk or something. But only to the left side.

HELP!
 
I'm not sure what is wrong, maybe it was something in the worms. Have you called the place were you got the worms from and ask them were the worms came from and what the worms were kept in?
 
you may have to take her to a vet. An ear infection does sound logical. In the meantime, mabey if you lower the water so that she can reach the top while on the bottom it might be less stressful for her. Sorry I cant be more help!
sad.gif
 
Thanks all. There isn't any vets in London that know about axies. The last time she was ill I took her her to a vet who claimed to be a specialist in reptiles, ambhibians etc, and he gave her some medicine that nearly killed her!! Huh, So yesterday I went to a pet shop, one of the guys who works there used to breed axies. Even he had never heard of this problem. But he said it may be swim bladder disease or internal bacteria, but that was just a guess. Anyway, he gave me some antibiotic medicine, which he claimed was safe for axies. I haven't started it yet, as I want to clear that it is definately safe for axies. It's called:
Maker: Interpet. Aquarium Treatment 9. Anti Internal Bacteria. Cures diseases with symptoms such as bacterial gillrot, dropsy, ulcers and septicaemia. It also says it is harmless to filters and all speces of fish and plants. But not to be used on Mormyrids.
It doesn't have the name of the chemical it is made of. Has anybody ever used this?
 
Sheri, I've never heard of an inner ear infection with axolotls. The anatomy is not the same as with humans. I would not treat her with the above antibiotics unless you knew what it was and if there is a bacterial infection. I would follow the recommendation on the Axolotl page here. I think if you do salt baths (with same temp water as the tank)that may help. Any bacterial infection would bring on noticable signs listed on the site. Shallow water works well with lunged caudates, not necessarily gilled ones. The important thing to do is quarantine, and reduce stress. Make sure the tank temps are not fluctuating. I say this because in the summer tanks temps can change if someone turns down the A/C or if the tank is in a room with many south facing windows. This and poor water quality can cause stress. Take a sample to the pet shop and run the battery of tests to it.
A blockage could also be the cause since there can be lots of soil/dirt in earth worms. This is a wait and see. I'm hoping with rest, she will pass what in her and she will snap back to her normal self. Keep up posted.
 
Thanks Al, very good advice. My tank has a water cooler, so her temp is kept at 18C. I have done all the water tests, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 30, PH 7,5-8. The rest I don't remember from memory, but they were all normal.I have put a quilt over her tank to stop sun light coming in too much, so she can rest. Am starting to think she may have air or something trapped on one side of her tummy, so starting tummy massages. She seemed a lot happier yesterday, she came to 'talk' (= look at me) many times, and was curios about her surroundings, and she only fell to her side twice. She is actually being very clever, she balances herself by holding her tail on the right side for added weight, so she won't fall so easily to her left side. It often amazes me how smart she is, when she wants to be! Anyway, she does seem a bit better, her head is bit less tilted as well. Hope she continues to improve!! I'll keep you posted.
If anybody has any more suggestions, lemme know!
 
Axolotls don't have ears, so I'm not betting it's an ear infection.

Just let her rest and relax; I'm sure she'll continue to improve. They're good healers.
 
Thanks everybody. Update: For the last few days I have given her 1 tummy massage and 1 salt bath per day. But she hates them so much she goes mental, and is like a sky rocket, going around in her tank at very high speed and sometimes ending up landing on her back, and just staying there with her tummy and feet up. Am stopping the tummy massages for now, as she seems so stressed, and doesn't eat much. (Very unusual, as she is usually very greedy).Will continue with once a day salt baths for now. She didn't fall at all yesterday, but then again, she didn't walk much.
I hope my little darling gets better very soon. I am so worried about her, as don't know what's wrong, and if she is in pain
sad.gif
 
Oh yes, and I mainly feed her axolotl pellets and blood worms. Is that sufficient nutrition for her, or could she be lacking in some important mineral/vitamin? The lack of which may cause her these symptoms? Just a thought
 
A new update: Her walking is a lot better, but she has developed fungus on her tail and gill, arrrgh! I think the reason maybe cos she was so stressed with the massages and salt baths. So yesterday I started twice a day Methylene Blue baths with her, as the saltbath dont seem to be helping. Methylene Blue usually works well and quick with her.Fingers crossed...Especially as am not at home to look after her! I had a pre-booked holiday to see my family in my native country. So one of the girls I share an apartment with has promised to look after Axelina...I hope she does very well! Am so worried.
 
Look for parasites on her left gills.It is possible if parasites with food attack gills.See through the magnifying glass or a magnifying glass.
Sherri do you now polish men-i don't now english language.I can help you,but in polish language.
I have the same with my one axi.
I am not able for you to write it english.Meybe in Polish and for you somebody will translate.
 
Put 2g/l (no jodid) salt to the tank.Don't feed.
Do yoy have only Axelina in tank,?

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Sherri on Saturday 02 September 2006 - 20:15 (#POST105085):</font>

I had a pre-booked holiday to see my family in my native country. So one of the girls I share an apartment with has promised to look after Axelina.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>This is not good idea now.Look after someboby.
 
Thanks Beata and Lorie. Axelina is nearly back to health now, am sooo glad! Fungus is gone, and she walks nearly straight! She doesn't swim yet, or walk that much, but she comes out to eat, and is social. I love her so much!
Ps. Beata, I don't know anybody Polish, sorry
 
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