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Lumpy side.

theblondie616

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Hi guys, I'm new to the site. I was wondering if some one could help me. I've had my axolotl for about a week now and he has developed 3 lumps in his side. I gave him pellets for the first time the day before yesterday and he ate 6. Could that be it? He's about 9cm long and his sides are still clearish. Also I'm having trouble keeping the
Ammonia levels down. I had the tank for two weeks before I put my axolotl in. Could it still be cycling and having Ammonia highs? I'm doing a 20% water change every day. Also he wouldn't eat yesterday and hardly moved. I was worried he wasn't pooing as well but he had one last night and 3 today. He seems a bit better now.

Info.
70 letter tank
White fine sand
19c
Fake plants
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Ammonia was 0.55 today but I do 20% changes every day
Filter on lowest setting. Hangs off the back of the tank but I have prevented the water from plunging back into the tank.

One more thing. After I treat the water how long till its safe to put in the tank?
Any help would be great guys. I didn't think I would worry so much over a white slug with legs.
Thanx
 

Kenneth

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What kind of pelletes were they and what is the tank temp? I think the sand may be helping with the beneficial bacteria, but you may want to think of a moss ball or two. And are you POSITIVE the filter does not stress him? (look for gill movement when he's just sitting there).

I generally treat the water then let it sit for a day (though many have different methods, you may want to wait for someone else to chime in). I realize its hard to do this when youre in the process of daily changes, but two buckets solves this.
 

Kenneth

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So did you cycle the tank with an ammonia source in it? Did you just have the filter going and the sand in the tank during this process? And as a side note, the ammonia spikes sometimes during the cycle, I cycled with my axie in it and just tried to not let it get above .5, if i saw it at 1 I did a 30% water change (little more than usual). Plus, two weeks may not be enough time, it could still be in the ammonia phase.
 

theblondie616

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Thanx for the fast reply guys. I added nutrafin for the first 3 days that I had my tank. One gill seems to be curling forward but its hard to tell his tail is straight though. He fans his gills every now and then. If I get a new filter will I have to cycle the tank agen? Also is more than one water change a day ok? Agen thanx guys
 

theblondie616

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Quick update, he's moving around more but he's still off his food.
Ammonia is still high at 0.25 will this kill him? Moss ball is the way to go then?
 

theblondie616

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Update. He ate a worm today, that can't be a bad thing. Any answers to my above questions are very welcome.
 

Johan

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Very good to read he ate today :) how are the 'lumps' looking now?

To lower ammonia, you could try to add some quick growing cold water plants, like E. densa (waterweed).

When you replace a filter, you probably want to use some or all of the sponges from the old filter in the new filter.
Also do not change too much water at the same time when doing this, as the bacteria live in the filters and the aquarium water. Do you have an internal or external filter?

As long as you ammonia level is too high you can do daily water changes, you might do higher percentages depending on how high the ammonia level is.

Don't forget that if you take out too much water every day, the bacteria have no chance to do their work and cycling will take longer.

Good luck with all!
 

theblondie616

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Thax for the reply. Lumps seem to be going down a lot. Gills seem better to. Must of been the pellets. One thing I did notice is that his tail membrane was sort of ruffled when I came back from work. He was attacking the air stone at the time, it straightened as soon as he stopped. My filter hangs off the back of my tank. I have the tanks water level close to where the filterd water trickles back into the tank. I them have half a plastic bottle fixed in under that to stop the water plunging into the tank. That sound ok? Also how long can an ammonia spike last? Thanx
 

theblondie616

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Looking agen I think his tail membrane is still a little ruffled. The tail its self is straight though
 

Johan

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Hi, he could have gotten stressed by the air stone, I'm not sure, does it create a lot of movement in the water? Maybe it would be best to take it out or set it much slower?

I know that colder water contains more oxygen than warmer water and movement of the top layer of the water helps too for oxygen. The filter outlet height sounds good, if your filter has a pipe that you can turn, you could also try to let the water hit a window first if you want it to go slower.

If the lump is going down than it probably are the pellets indeed :)
How long a ammonia spike can last, I think that depends a lot but I guess about a week or two?

Kind regards!
 

Kenneth

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Also I don't think I read this anywhere: How big is he? The pellets are more visible in their tummy the smaller they are, ammonia at .25 will not kill him just stay vigilant with the daily roughly 20% water changes.

For the tail being ruffled: Was he more active when you saw this? Mine gets a ruffled tail every night when she swims around, I heard the ruffled tail can be a sign of increased activity, and it seems to always be the case with mine. I have 2 moss balls because they're easy to take care of, and they get the job done. I also have one small java fern plant, but I like to think the moss balls gather more bb, though I am no expert
 

Kenneth

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Sorry i just read the 9 cm part, I apologize lol. I mean I relate ammonia to smoke in a room, you would not want a lot of it in there, you'll always be uncomfortable with it there, but the key is to keep it low while cycling with your axie in there.
 

theblondie616

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Thanx for the help guys. All sorted now. Ammonia is still a little high but I plan to get some plants tomorrow.
 
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