On the Feb 1 2019 I took in a mistreated albino axolotl named Lemonade. A friend's younger brother bought him while still in high school but now he is staying at the dorms for college. Poor Lemonade was not being taken care of so I asked if I could have him. I've never owned an axolotl but I did my research and got things all set up before I brought him home.
He pooped the night I got him so I decided to feed him a couple pre-soaked shrimp pellets. He ate them just fine. Last night I bought some earth worms and he happily ate the two I offered. If he's eating I feel he is okay but he just looks rather rough.
He is in a 10gal for the moment. It has pool filter sand as a substrate, 2 hides and a few plastic plants. Temperature has been steady at ~68F. I seeded the HOB filter with media from my other tanks but I'm still doing daily 25% water changes just in case. Checked the ammonia last night and there was 0.
He was in a nasty half filled 10gal tank with a carbon bubbler, another air stone and without a running filter. For some reason there was also a heater but the water temp was ~69F. I tested for ammonia and nitrates in the old tank and while there was no ammonia it was at the highest reading for nitrates. I could see lots of poo and left over blood worms in the tank. I asked what they have been feeding him so far and it seems an entire block of frozen blood worms was the answer. I believe he is 2-3 years old.
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54967&stc=1&d=1549221227
His tail is not normal. Looks to be broken
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54968&stc=1&d=1549221227
This is him today, do his gills look normal?
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54969&stc=1&d=1549221227
I know very well he should be in a larger tank, 20gal long preferably but for now the 10gal will have to do. I plan to feed earth worms, culled fry, frozen shrimp, and cherry shrimp. If possible, can he also be fed pre-soaked carnivore pellets?
How often should I be feeding him and how much? Does his body condition look okay? What about his gills? Anything I can do about the tail?
He pooped the night I got him so I decided to feed him a couple pre-soaked shrimp pellets. He ate them just fine. Last night I bought some earth worms and he happily ate the two I offered. If he's eating I feel he is okay but he just looks rather rough.
He is in a 10gal for the moment. It has pool filter sand as a substrate, 2 hides and a few plastic plants. Temperature has been steady at ~68F. I seeded the HOB filter with media from my other tanks but I'm still doing daily 25% water changes just in case. Checked the ammonia last night and there was 0.
He was in a nasty half filled 10gal tank with a carbon bubbler, another air stone and without a running filter. For some reason there was also a heater but the water temp was ~69F. I tested for ammonia and nitrates in the old tank and while there was no ammonia it was at the highest reading for nitrates. I could see lots of poo and left over blood worms in the tank. I asked what they have been feeding him so far and it seems an entire block of frozen blood worms was the answer. I believe he is 2-3 years old.
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54967&stc=1&d=1549221227
His tail is not normal. Looks to be broken
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54968&stc=1&d=1549221227
This is him today, do his gills look normal?
https://www.caudata.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54969&stc=1&d=1549221227
I know very well he should be in a larger tank, 20gal long preferably but for now the 10gal will have to do. I plan to feed earth worms, culled fry, frozen shrimp, and cherry shrimp. If possible, can he also be fed pre-soaked carnivore pellets?
How often should I be feeding him and how much? Does his body condition look okay? What about his gills? Anything I can do about the tail?