Floating Axolotl

I've got a axolotl that is 2 inches long, about 4 months old. Seems perfectly healthy in most respects, it's just been floating on it side for about the last two weeks. It eats fine. I feed it blood worms every night and it gobbles them up. I figured it just swallowed an air bubble. I've had babies swallow air before and can usually get it to burp it up by feeding it in shallow water but this guy just won't burp. It eats and poops everyday. It just looks so uncomfortable floating sideways. I keep it in shallow water so if can touch the ground and get to the food. I'm keeping it in a plastic container (on of those Glad resealable container,no top). Since I keep so little water in it I change the majority of the water every day. If I put any more water in the container it just floats at the top and can't get to its food.

Could it be something else beside a swallowed bubble?

Thanks Ron

If he was mine, I'd probably starve him for a few days - to see if this helps him pass what ever it is that's causing him to float on his side.

I'm no expert though mate, I'm sure someone else will have better advice. Cheers, Phil

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking about also putting it in the frig for a few days also. I don't feed them when I put them in the frig.

Thanks Ron

The fridge is good. But if it's eating and pooping daily, I doubt it's an air bubble. It could be a cyst or something, fluid filled, causing it to float. It would be hard to say without a photograph.

I've been trying to get a pic but the macro on my camera isn't good enough to get a good pic. It's only 2 inches long. There isn't any lump in it. Its body shape actually looks prety normal other than its back half floating. He's in the fridge and he's pooped a few times but is still floating.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ron

One of my juvies had the same symptoms.. floating on a side, but eating fine.
I thought he would die, but still I isolated it. After about a week it began swimming normally again.
I think that as long as it eats and poops, chances of recovery are good.

Danny, when you isolated him, how much water did you keep him in? Was it deep or just enough to cover him? I was keeping mine in just enough water to cover it so it was easy for it to reach the food. When I kept it in deeper water it would have such a hard time swimming to the bottom to get the food.

Thanks
Ron

I took it out of the fridge and today put it into a container with deep water. It was floating until I put some worms in there and then it started swimming down and eating. I'll see if it continues to stay submerged.

Thanks

Ron