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Axolotl curled tail? Maybe temperature problem?

Ollieouting

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Hey guys, first time axolotl owner here and i was wondering if you guys could help me out? My baby xochi's been in her 20gal for a month now and in the last few days she's started showing signs of having a curled tail tip. The water parameters are:

0ppm ammonia
0ppm nitrites
10ppm nitrates

but since i live in australia cooling the tank has been a bit of an issue so the tank's been sitting at 19-20 degrees (66-68 fahrenheit) since i got her even with the use of an aquarium fan going 24/7. She's been eating pretty well up until last week as well, mostly bloodworms and small red wigglers, but in the last week she's been eating her food and then vomiting it back up an hour or two later. I'm starting to get really concerned, so i was wondering if you guys had any ideas or suggestions as to what's wrong? her gills look normal and frilly. she's also just gone through the taxing ordeal of growing back THREE of her legs.

here's a photo of her tail (and her amazing regrown legs)
https://66.media.tumblr.com/b826590.../1913a1d4f7b14b3f354e3f45f7f1d27743531091.jpg

i feel i should mention that she's australian born and bred and all the pet shops who sell axolotls (including specialist shops) and even a few vets have told me that those temperature parameters should be completely fine for an axolotl that's been bred generationally to live in it, but i'd love a second (or tenth haha) opinion from you guys.
 

Life of Aquatic

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Red wigglers are known to secrete a toxin which causes whatever is eating them to experience a foul taste. I’d suggest switching to night crawlers as they don’t have any toxins. And maybe leave all lights within the area off and lower your filter flow. And maybe decrease the water level so that it’s easier for your Axolotl to go up for air
 

Ollieouting

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I've been soaking the red wigglers in water before freezing them to get rid of the taste and she's been eating them happily only to throw them back up a couple hours later. My lights are always dim and she has plenty of hides that she knows of but rarely used, and she seems to like the flow from my sponge filters enough to constantly sit right next to/on top of them? She doesn't seem to have a problem with air either because she's always on the bottom of the tank or next to her filter. I'm just not sure what's been stressing her into curling her tail in the last few days specifically :///
 

Tye

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Your temp and water parameters seem fine. The temperatures are a bit high, but as long as it's under 75F/24C it won't be dangerous. I don't have access to a chiller and running my fans in the summer can only cool the tank to around 68F, and after two summers that hasn't caused any immediate issues. I just have to clean the tank more frequently.

As far as the regurgitating goes, have you tried varying the amount you feed? You could just be feeding too much or too frequently axies are much like my old tiger salamander, bottomless pits that will just eat and eat. Other than that, you can try to vary the diet, change up the worms, change up the feeding method, time of day (I feed at night), try something live vs frozen.
I don't want to jump and assume impaction, but that could also be a reason for regurgitating meals. .
 

Ollieouting

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i did it guys, i went out and bought a chiller and pump that cost me almost an ENTIRE paycheck but here's hoping it'll give my little baby the care she needs! As far as feeding goes i've tried varying the amount and i feed her a different array of foods and for the most part she seems to have stopped throwing it all back up, even if she's still being pickier than usual. i'm hoping she's just being fussy because she's hot and bothered and in a few hours time she'll be much more comfy ! thanks for your help guys, i'll update this thread if the situation doesn't improve or if some OTHER odd symptom shows up !
 
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