Hi all. I am a mum who is playing doctor to my son's axie. We have had him for about seven years & he is not looking too good. He was floating sideways in the tank, gulping air & generally looking like he was dead in he tank.
I thought it was dirty water (it had been ages since I'd cleaned his tank), so I cleaned out the whole tank (didn't know you weren't supposed to do that - it's how I've always done it - lol!), and he didn't improve. He seemed to swim around madly for a few hours but then he reverted to floating & gulping again. He also doesn't seem to be able to get to the bottom of the tank.
After reading the posts, I put him in a container in the fridge. Well today I was sure that he was dead but just to check I picked him up & he moved his feeler things on his head slightly & took a gulp of air.
Does anyone know what I should do???? Not sure how long to leave him in the fridge for - he's been in since last night now. I think that his problem (from reading the posts) may be that he's either swallowed one of the blue gravel rocks - btw - had NO idea (after SEVEN years that they weren't supposed to be on rocks), or may have an infection of some kind.
I have also never checked the water temp, or tested for the nitrates etc in seven years. After reading all these posts, I'm actually surprised how he's managed to live so long!
Really need some help - he's lived for so long now & I don't like to see him suffering.
I thought it was dirty water (it had been ages since I'd cleaned his tank), so I cleaned out the whole tank (didn't know you weren't supposed to do that - it's how I've always done it - lol!), and he didn't improve. He seemed to swim around madly for a few hours but then he reverted to floating & gulping again. He also doesn't seem to be able to get to the bottom of the tank.
After reading the posts, I put him in a container in the fridge. Well today I was sure that he was dead but just to check I picked him up & he moved his feeler things on his head slightly & took a gulp of air.
Does anyone know what I should do???? Not sure how long to leave him in the fridge for - he's been in since last night now. I think that his problem (from reading the posts) may be that he's either swallowed one of the blue gravel rocks - btw - had NO idea (after SEVEN years that they weren't supposed to be on rocks), or may have an infection of some kind.
I have also never checked the water temp, or tested for the nitrates etc in seven years. After reading all these posts, I'm actually surprised how he's managed to live so long!
Really need some help - he's lived for so long now & I don't like to see him suffering.