Christopher2389
New member
Hey this is my first post, I've looked all over the forums to find out my problem but it seems different yet similar to many I found. Please forgive the long post I just want to make sure I get all my bases covered
I got my Axolotl (Kirby, cause he/she is an albino so pink and sucks food up ) around October of 2013 as a young ling that just developed its legs, everything was going great for a whole year until in late November I noticed a small problem, his gills started to shrink.
Kirby looked fine though, and I thought it was just a phase as he was great otherwise (a chubby bastard). However over time its gotten a lot worse. Here is a list of problems I have noticed.
. Decreased appetite
. Not many poops (I have noticed a few maybe I just miss some)
. Significant weight loss
. Missing toe tips, red
. Paler Eyes?
. Less movement at times
. Rougher look
. Gills significantly smaller
. Orange tint
. Mouth is often slightly open
I may have forgotten some problems or not noticed. Here are some more details.
Substrate: Super Natural Premium Aquarium Substrate (Sand) (I believe it is fine grain)
Filter & Parts: Aqua Clear 30 Gallon Filter w/ Foam, Activated Carbon and Ammonia Remover
Temperature: 16 - 18 Celsius Usually, Max peeking at 20 - 21 for short periods
Diet: A mix of frozen blood worms & frozen brine shrimp but recently I cut out the brine shrimp to see if it helped, it didn't.
I just did a complete water & substrate change and tried to clean his tank (although idk how great of a job I did) today because I moved his tank to a different spot as I needed more room and got him a proper stand. To do a large water change I have to manually empty water into a bin and take it downstairs and dump it outside, rinse repeat about 8 or more times until empty then I have to fill the bin with the new water from a separate rooms bathtub and use the dechlorinator & water clarifier when its filled.The filter parts I changed just last week and for now Kirby is in a large plastic bin until his tank is ready.
I have used TopFin tap water dechlorinator and water from my bath tub to fill his tank, I don't think I have changed this sense I first got him.
If you need any more details I would be happy to provide them, me and Kirby are buddies...I don't want him to suffer or die, so please any tips and help would be appreciated as I am still not knowledgeable at all. I think it may be a bacterial infection but I'm not sure. Some forums recommend Furan-2 to get rid of it.
I know taking him to a vet would be the best option, however it isn't very doable as I don't know any vets in my area that do aquatic animals let alone Axolotls, I have a very tight schedule and I only have a part time job and have no where near the funds I would need to take him as I have many costs I have to keep up with, but I could still buy things online or from pet stores.
The pictures should go in this order (In Octoberish time 2014, End of November 2014 (2 Pictures), April 18th 2015 (multiple pictures). His tank set up April 18th 2015.
I got my Axolotl (Kirby, cause he/she is an albino so pink and sucks food up ) around October of 2013 as a young ling that just developed its legs, everything was going great for a whole year until in late November I noticed a small problem, his gills started to shrink.
Kirby looked fine though, and I thought it was just a phase as he was great otherwise (a chubby bastard). However over time its gotten a lot worse. Here is a list of problems I have noticed.
. Decreased appetite
. Not many poops (I have noticed a few maybe I just miss some)
. Significant weight loss
. Missing toe tips, red
. Paler Eyes?
. Less movement at times
. Rougher look
. Gills significantly smaller
. Orange tint
. Mouth is often slightly open
I may have forgotten some problems or not noticed. Here are some more details.
Substrate: Super Natural Premium Aquarium Substrate (Sand) (I believe it is fine grain)
Filter & Parts: Aqua Clear 30 Gallon Filter w/ Foam, Activated Carbon and Ammonia Remover
Temperature: 16 - 18 Celsius Usually, Max peeking at 20 - 21 for short periods
Diet: A mix of frozen blood worms & frozen brine shrimp but recently I cut out the brine shrimp to see if it helped, it didn't.
I just did a complete water & substrate change and tried to clean his tank (although idk how great of a job I did) today because I moved his tank to a different spot as I needed more room and got him a proper stand. To do a large water change I have to manually empty water into a bin and take it downstairs and dump it outside, rinse repeat about 8 or more times until empty then I have to fill the bin with the new water from a separate rooms bathtub and use the dechlorinator & water clarifier when its filled.The filter parts I changed just last week and for now Kirby is in a large plastic bin until his tank is ready.
I have used TopFin tap water dechlorinator and water from my bath tub to fill his tank, I don't think I have changed this sense I first got him.
If you need any more details I would be happy to provide them, me and Kirby are buddies...I don't want him to suffer or die, so please any tips and help would be appreciated as I am still not knowledgeable at all. I think it may be a bacterial infection but I'm not sure. Some forums recommend Furan-2 to get rid of it.
I know taking him to a vet would be the best option, however it isn't very doable as I don't know any vets in my area that do aquatic animals let alone Axolotls, I have a very tight schedule and I only have a part time job and have no where near the funds I would need to take him as I have many costs I have to keep up with, but I could still buy things online or from pet stores.
The pictures should go in this order (In Octoberish time 2014, End of November 2014 (2 Pictures), April 18th 2015 (multiple pictures). His tank set up April 18th 2015.