Help, another deadly looking air bubble (prolapse?)

Have had my axolotl - Axel (yeah I know) for over a year and has been healthy up till now. A child's xmas toy was left on top of the tank which I think may have caused the problem. The toy (pictured) was a cardboard thing that you add some special liquid to and it sprouts a feather-type garden. No ingredients were listed on the box. I think it has leaked into the tank. About a week later Axels insides were protruding out his backside (pictured) same as the post of Dane 25/12/2005 'Deadly Looking Air Bubble'. I have put him into the fridge yesterday because I gather from the forum that seems the first option suggested when axolotls get sick. Also, we had record hot temperatures around that time which also seems to be a very common problem after reading previous posts. What next? If necessary to euthanase, would the freezer be a humane option?

Freezing is not a acceptable method of euthanasia

see http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/euthanasia.shtml

What is the pH in the tank? If that product had leaked into the tank, you will see a very large change in the pH.

Ed

I'll go out on a limb and say your decorative gravel may be a contributing factor in the prolapse.

Thanks for the quick replies. Never tested the pH and have thoroughly cleaned the tank and changed the water since the prolapse appeared. Got the gravel on the advice of the acquarium as they said anything smaller would be swallowed by the axolotl. Do you recommend sand? Is changing the gravel going to help with the current problem? What would you do?

I'm getting very worried about him and wonder if it would be kinder to euthanase if nobody knows of a successful cure.

You need to contact a vet. Severe prolapses are usually a surgical emergency.

Ed

Anything smaller than the axolotl's head can be swallowed by the axolotl. You want something either small enough to remain suspended in the intestinal tract (like sand), or big enough to not be swallowed. Changing the gravel will help to prevent future prolapses, but once an axolotl has a prolapse, they're more suseptible.

Got Axel back from the vet yesterday. (specialist exotic species in Waterloo, Sydney. Cost $90+) They have pushed the prolapse back in with a bit of KY jelly and a cotton bud. Vet said that it might be due to end stage parasitic disease but I'm not convinced. He was very well and healthy up until the day the prolapse happened and the protruding organs were very healthy. The vet also admitted she know nothing about 'fish' but there was nobody else there that day! I tend to agree with Joan S (who suggested decorative gravel as a contributing factor) as I heard back from Dane who had the axolotl with prolapse back in December. His died but the other one in the tank passed lots of stones shortly after. Needless to say I have changed the substrate to very large pebbles (pet shop recommended as my undergravel filter wouldn't deal with sand). I am giving him anti-bacterial baths and anti-parasite medication just in case. I have also added non-iodised salt to the tank on vets advice. He still hasn't eaten so that will be the big test. Do you recommend a particular food that may be a bit easier for him to pass? Thanks heaps for the advice Edward and Joan and keep your fingers crossed for Axel's full recovery.