landonewts
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- Aug 29, 2007
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- Location
- Portland, Oregon
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I got a wildtype GFP axolotl from a pet store last week. He’s around 7” long, so I reckon about 6 months old? He’s currently in a temporary 10 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sized filter that was already “seeded” with bacteria from being in another tank. I keep his area as dark as possible while he settles, but there is some light in the room. The plan was to let him settle before joining my other male axie (8 months old, around 9” long) in a new larger tank. I also wanted to watch him for signs of illness or stress.
My new guy seemed fine until today. Over the past week he’s eaten a couple of pellets and an earthworm. But today he won’t eat, and I noticed the tip of his tail is curved. When I started taking photos, I noticed some white stuff like small bits of cottage cheese on his left side near his front and back legs. His gills are laid back along his neck, not up or forward. He seems stressed and has been swimming around the tank, digging at the bottom as if trying to get out. He was so active that some of the fungus fell off as he wiggled around. When he’s not swimming around like crazy he is motionless with his nose pressed against the bottom of the tank. This is all new as of today. He’s been pretty quiet before.
I’ve been doing 30-50% water changes with Prime conditioned water, temp is around 61 degrees (F) and the water values are good - no ammonia, no nitrites, nitrates around 20ppm, ph around 7.6
There were 3 or 4 tiny minnows in his tank, about 1/2” in length or smaller, and I have removed those. They were the type that were in his tank at the pet store. They seemed healthy enough, but I felt it best to remove all wild cards from the setup.
I know people use methods like fridging and tea baths to treat axolotls, and I am doing my research on what best to do. My plan is to watch him and keep testing the water. I’m also going to try adding in some almond leaves. I don’t want to cause him any undue stress, but I am worried of course.
I will post some photos in this thread. Obviously any guidance you all have would be great. Thank you.
My new guy seemed fine until today. Over the past week he’s eaten a couple of pellets and an earthworm. But today he won’t eat, and I noticed the tip of his tail is curved. When I started taking photos, I noticed some white stuff like small bits of cottage cheese on his left side near his front and back legs. His gills are laid back along his neck, not up or forward. He seems stressed and has been swimming around the tank, digging at the bottom as if trying to get out. He was so active that some of the fungus fell off as he wiggled around. When he’s not swimming around like crazy he is motionless with his nose pressed against the bottom of the tank. This is all new as of today. He’s been pretty quiet before.
I’ve been doing 30-50% water changes with Prime conditioned water, temp is around 61 degrees (F) and the water values are good - no ammonia, no nitrites, nitrates around 20ppm, ph around 7.6
There were 3 or 4 tiny minnows in his tank, about 1/2” in length or smaller, and I have removed those. They were the type that were in his tank at the pet store. They seemed healthy enough, but I felt it best to remove all wild cards from the setup.
I know people use methods like fridging and tea baths to treat axolotls, and I am doing my research on what best to do. My plan is to watch him and keep testing the water. I’m also going to try adding in some almond leaves. I don’t want to cause him any undue stress, but I am worried of course.
I will post some photos in this thread. Obviously any guidance you all have would be great. Thank you.