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Question: Axolotl hiccuping for 5days!

Mindy

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My Axolotl is approx 3months old. Hind legs have not fully grown yet. I put him in a tank with sand and large pebbles. I saw him eat sand and took him out immediately. Took all the sand out. Completely rinsed out the tank in the bath so no grains were left. I put him back in and seems happy enough but since eating the sand he's hiccuping all the time. To the extent that he lifts off the floor of the tank! I just want to check that the fella is ok as up until then he didn't hiccup.
(Water treated and no ammonia and have done 50% water change today).
 

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FX1C

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That's how they eat :D

Mine 'pop' when they suck in their food.
Hopefully that's all yours is doing :)

Are you testing the water in your tank? Thanks to the big rinse out - you've reset your nitrogen cycle & will need to be very careful to test the water & do daily water changes.

What are you feeding the hiccuping lotl & how often?

Keep an eye on it & let us know how it goes :)



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FX1C

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With a lotl that size you'd be better off keep him in a bare bottomed tank - that way the food can't hide away - & leftover food & poop wastes (which cause big problems during cycling) can be removed easily a couple of times a day :)



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Mindy

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Hi Nikki.
Thanks for reply. It's bloodworm and Brine shrimp. The food is put in a small jar that he's eating from. I can see the food in its belly. I am able to pick the jar up once eaten so its not scattered everywhere. I just put him in the tank. The jar is put on the bare bit of the tank. But if you think it will be better to be bare then I will remove everything as I don't want anything to happen to him.
I had no choice but to remove all the water as that was the only way to get every grain of sand out of the tank. But yeah, I have a test kit that I use for my tropical tanks. So i will keep an eye on the nitrogen cycle. I love my little fella. He raises his head when he sees me put my hand in. Every bit of advice is very helpful. X
 

FX1C

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Sounds like everything you're doing is great :D hopefully the hiccups clear up soon - they're such funny quirky little creatures!

Feeding jars are such an awesome way to feed - I haven't used one for a while, but I might have to reintroduce one so I can put some sand in the bottom of my tank again :) bare bottom for an OCD clean freak is a lot of work :rolleyes: lol



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Mindy

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Thank you so much. I felt the Axolotl was struggling to walk so put some pebbles in and two volcanic rocks that have Anubias Nana growing on them, a plant basically! He is fine now. I sat and watched him for the most of a day and you were right he hiccups when he's eating and shortly after but then ok the rest of the day. I would really like to say thanks because I got so worried. I only got an Axolotl once I understood tropical fish. You might think that's weird but I gained knowledge of water chemistry and ammonia because up until then I had no clue about the nitrogen cycle. Your advice really helped and made me feel better. Very much appreciated.
 
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