Whats up?

I have been very reluctant to post in the axie forum, because as many of you know, i seem to get attacked.

I have decided to ask for people opinions on what is wrong, i have gone though many things and nothing has worked... so here goes...

I have a wild type axie called Kish. She is around one year old and up until now has had no problems and live with two others.

For the past two months she hasn't eaten, well not what i would say eaten.. she has had on piece of meat and a mouth full of pellets.

I have offered many things.. meat, pellets, bloodworms, and even earthworms! But not a thing.. She will willing 'nose' the food as if to say humm tasty but will not take a bite.

The tank she shares with the other 2 has no problems, the water quailty is fine (as many of you know im always keeping an eye on it) temps have been high here at the moment, but due to my new cooling kit has not gone higer than 21c.. i can noramlly keep it down at 16 with them going.

The other 2 in her tank are fine.. eatening like pigs as normal.

There are a few things i have spotted.. she looks fat as if she is carrying eggs. She is not bloated. I have also noticed she has a curled tail, but neither have the other 2, so tere is no reason for it to be curling, due to stress. Water flow is very low.. and there gills only move with they decide they want to sit on/under the filter out let.

She has a slight discharge out of her but which is white.. this is a simlar sympton of what Spunky had.

I am very reluctant to remove her from the main tank... As im sure most of you would surgest.. but them temps are stable in there tank as well as the awater quaility, and in this weather I have no where to keep her from boiling..

I had been thinking it may have been do with her being so full of eggs.. maybe she wants to get rid of them? I dont currently have a male to try this theroy out on.

I really am stumped. I have posted pictures below for you to take a look at.

I'm really sorry to have to say this but if you have any opinions of how i keep my animals or any other nasty comments please keep it to yourself. I would just like to see what people think and if there is anything i can do to help her..

Thanks

Kim - that looks like it is possibly prolapse. I did a search on it here in the forums and found that it is caused by straining through egg-laying or large quantities of poo, or calcium deficiency

The only reason I would separate her from the rest is to see if she is capable of having a bowel movement. She looks a bit extra puffy to me aside from what could be eggs. If she has been straining to have a poo that may have caused it.

Do a search on prolapse there is lots of info in the forums. Some cleared on their own some needed a vets assistance.

I don't know much but I know with some of my other animals whenver there is certain vitamin defiencies that it can cause bloating. It seems like that may not all be eggs. This also wouldn't necessarilly affect the others because some animals are more affected by certain vitamin deficiencies.

Kim, is there any way you could get her to the vet? Do you have a vet or know a vet that could help you? I noticed in the picture her bum is a big extended, I can see it under her tail in the 3rd picture, perhaps she really is constipated and maybe that is why there is dishcharge and her bum is big. I really hope you can help her, as I know how stressful it must be for you! Please let us know if you can figure out what is going on and help her, you have support on this site

Kim Puff --

I'd get her to the vet as soon as possible if this looks like what happened to Spunky. Kish looks a little bloated to me, because when my girls were gravid, they never looked that big.

Good luck and I hope Kish gets better.

Thats definitely bigger than normal for a female axie. I would say she is bloated - does her belly feel hard or soft? If hard, do you have gravel - could be a factor. If soft, could unfortunately be fluid retention - indicative of organ failure. I also would separate her - keep her in the fridge maybe if the temps are too high. Keep an eye on her.

Thanks guys for your responses...

I dont have any gravel in my tank, as this is what i thought when my other axie became bloated.

Her belly is soft, i had a bit of a prod when i took those pictures.

Sadly enough the great vet i used when Spunky was ill has now left. I have looked but there are no specialists around here that have even heard of axies... 'what did you say?? an ax-a-what?'

I have to say that her getting bloated has been very gradual, that is why to me she may not seem as fat.. Though spunky became, bloated over 3 days and died..

I was looking at the idea of a prolapse as her cloaca is slightly enlarged.. but nothing like what they nomally look like..

I've left her in the tank for today.. so i can think of somethings to do.. i have my boyfriend looking into the idea of using on of the mini fridges.. as i cant put her in my main fridge right now..

Once again, thanks every for your imput.. please keep it coming if you think of anything else.

Kim, I'm going out on a limb taking a guess at this, but could it possibly be that she is just exteremely overweight? I was in a walmart store in Utah once, and they had a bunch of paddle tailed newts in the tank. all of them looked really healthy, except for one that looked like Jabba the Hut he was so overweight (Jabba the hut from starwars) He was so overweight that he could hardly swim, the skin around his eyes was also had a lot of fat in it, covering his eyes a bit, and he had a double chin. He ate very well, though he was very, very overweight. I wanted to take him home so bad because I was so worried for him. I know I'm not suppost to do this, but I was also a lot younger at the time and didn't respect store rules when it came to helping animals. I reached into the tank because the poor thing somehow ended up on it's back and was struggling to correct it's self. I helped it back on it's feet, and to this day I wonder about the poor thing. Could she be overwieght because of the animal meat you give her? I have heard a great deal that animal meat like chicken or beef will cause problems, maybe this is why she has stopped eating. I have never personally fed my Axolotls these sorts of meats. I really hope you can find a vet for her. I know how frustrating it must be for you. I am not sure what Prolapse is, but I hope things will improve. Good luck to you!

I think maybe you should take her out of the tank and try and see if you can possibly make room for her in your fridge, because it might be stressing her out worse to keep her in the tank with the other Axies. When animals are sick, they want to be alone, or at least this is my experience with critters.

Rheann,
There staple is worms.. i have only offered her meat in hope she would start eating.

She not over weight... she hasnt eaten for 2 months.. and wasnt great eater before that... only eating half of what the other two pigs would eat.

I cant do anything right now as im at work... i'm working on a idea with one of the mini fridges, but if that doesnt work yes she will be going in the main fridge (we have alot of stuff in the fridge that will be going out of it tonight)

I have seen mini fridges where they are so small they look just like a little box. I hope you can find one I know that the little ones don't cost too much, and I've known a few college students to really like them Sorry about guessing she might be overweight, I don't have much experience with Axolotls yet as I have of recently started my hobby. Could you try and do an internet search for Vetranarians? Maybe a vet in another part of the country can help you if you email them pictures of what is happening to your axie, they might be able to tell what is going on just by seeing the pictures and recommend what to do for you, or reccommend a vet that is near to you that you were unable to find. I have tried to find good vets where I live for my cats and Geckos for regular check ups, and I have yet to find one that will do check ups on Axolotls, they don't knwo what they are. Please let us know if she improves as many of us here are worried for her.

Ok.. so i got the mini fridge today.. it just big enough to fit a tub just the right size in it.. i'm leaveing it on over tonight to see what temp it stays at.. as it normally reduces it either by 16 or 26 degrees below room temp.. so i cam home at 7 and turned it on left it with a mug of water and a thermometer. Its now 11.30 and the temp is 11c.. better than the 18 in there tank right now.

I'm going to wait until first thing to put her in... so i can check what the temp is in there before i put her in for the day.

Her cloaca seem to have swollen more sadly

Kim - Please keep us posted. I hope she improves.

Well I don't have much experience in health care for axolotls, but I do know stuff about farm animals. I know cows can sometimes get so bloated (because of their ruminant digestive system though) that a hole has to be cut in their stomach to let the gas escape or they will die. Does your axie feel like it is filled with gas or like it is extremely swollen (more fleshy feeling). But I took a second look at it and it does look like your axie is about to prolapse which can be cause by lots of things..

Up date..

Her cloaca hasnt gotten any bigger than last night...

Shes now in the mini fridge which went down to 9c last night... My windows are open and my curtains are closed.. this is to try and keep my room temp down..

Do you know how noisy one of these fridges is? Sounds like extreme computer cooling!

I tried feeling her belly this morning... feels just like the other axies.. but i can tell shes in pain.. she troed to get out the way when i do it.. unlike the other 2 that are quite happy.. they seem to almost enjoy been touched...

I found the only thing to do in cases of cloacal prolapse is put her in the fridge and hope for the best. When my axie Steve had a prolapse I emailed Indiana University Axolotl Colony and this is what they suggested.
It's unfortunate that vet is no longer around, I know how frustrating it is when no-one even knows what an axie is, let alone how to treat it.
I hope Kish improves, bets wishes and good luck

Ok.. another update..

Shes been in the fridge for 24 hours now.. When i open her box up she seems quite active, but still not interested in food.. her belly seems to have enlarged a bit more.. but she still quite hapy sitting at the bottom of the tub.. she not floating and isnt having any problems..

Im going to take her out later and let her warm up a bit.. change her half her water, and offer her a worm or 2.. if nothing she will go back in again.. I was thinking of doing a salt bath but seeing as there are no signs of external injuries im not sure if it would even be worth it..

On other news... Im converting everyone to axie madness around here.. not only has a close frind got a axies because of me (some i rasied) my boyfriend got one last night.. totally his choice of course!

Poor little thing has been sat in a tank for 8 weeks with clawed frogs.. he has a leg missing and not many gills... they said hes 8 weeks old tho. i know for a fact he more like 3 months. I'll see if i can sort some pictures out. He's a strange pale wildtype, but has a completly see through belly right now.. no pigment at all. Skinny too.. fed him when we got home, he ate loads which is good..

Anyway.. if you guys have got anymore thoughts on Kish please share them...

Lisa> i might take some more photos of her tonight and send them to Indiana University Axolotl Colony and see what they think.. though they are moving right now, so im not sure if the answer will come too late.. what email address did u email?

Thanks again guys..

in the third pic up the top dose here front leg look like it has been bitten or is it just food. i hope all go's well

Nathan, she hasnt been bitten. As she has got bigger her skin has got lighter in places.. this is one of them..

hmm i wonder what that is from, has her leg swollen up too or are they usually like that?