Fridging with questions

Hi, I have had a post up, with some good advice, but have a few more specific questions now, and photos. Bobothy, who is nearly 2, and about 11" to the tip of his tail, has been fridged 6 days after being forund tail floating. In that time, 2 discoveries: he evacauted a pyramidal shell about 8mm across at the widest point; and his tank has shown high nitrate levels.

He has continued pooping, and is currently in 50/50 tank and tap water. We are doing 25% tank changes, and agitating and cleaning the very fine sand in the tank. In the tank set up pic, that is why there is so much debris. Nitrate levels are falling. I had been advised to leave the sand alone, when I first set up the tank, but obviously this advice was incorrect, so the build up of nitrates in here has been substantial. All other parameters are fine. I will also get hold of some aquatic plants.

Over the week, Bobothy has stopped tail floating, but started turning sideways. Neither side of his body is bigger than the other, and he turns both ways. I think this is improving, but it is difficult to be sure until he is back in the tank. He's also trying to 'swim out' through the plastic when I take him out for a daily water change, and it's only then I see the sideways thing, so could it just be from where he is splashing about so frantically ?
Other questions are: should we wait until there is no doubt all floatiness has stopped before transferring him back (assuming tank is ready) ? He has only eaten once this week, is that ok ?

Hope the attached photos work - tank is 60l, and just him in it. It's not easy to see in the photo, but his gills are as they should be. He has always had white speckles, as part of his skin pattern, these are not raised and do not change.

Thank you very much for any responses.

i dont have any further advice on the floating but you might have an easier time with keeping tank levels stable if you used less sand, too much sand can trap gas bubbles or clumps of decomposing gunk, id remove about half the sand if it were me.

KumquatSquats said:

i dont have any further advice on the floating but you might have an easier time with keeping tank levels stable if you used less sand, too much sand can trap gas bubbles or clumps of decomposing gunk, id remove about half the sand if it were me.

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This is a sure bet here! When we first started out Axolotl journey we used sand and it was not ideal at all. Ever since then we do not use any sand and the levels/smell/axolotls are perfect.

I've also heard that if the tank temperature isn't within an ideal range they tend to float/tip to the side but I have never experienced that issue first hand to confirm it's truth.

As usual, check your levels and make sure temp is within range.

Thanks very much, both of you. Will remove most of sand. Floating definitely improving, but is he ok with not eating while being fridged ? It's very hot here at the moment, so I will be giving him perhaps a day longer than he needs in there.

Sarah Jane said:

Thanks very much, both of you. Will remove most of sand. Floating definitely improving, but is he ok with not eating while being fridged ? It's very hot here at the moment, so I will be giving him perhaps a day longer than he needs in there.

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Axolotl most likely will not eat much or any if in the fridge as their metabolism is slowed a lot. The plus side being, their weight loss is also slowed so it shouldn't be an issue. Here is to hoping the cute little bugger gets better!

Suggestively, get a water cooler or at the very least 2 clip on fans to promote evaporation for the tank. These guys need their cool water.

Thank you very much. I usually use fans in the summer, but the cooler sounds like a good idea. I've just been down an internet wormhole, trying to find the best type for a 60 litre tank. Do you use one that you would recommend ?

Sarah Jane said:

Thank you very much. I usually use fans in the summer, but the cooler sounds like a good idea. I've just been down an internet wormhole, trying to find the best type for a 60 litre tank. Do you use one that you would recommend ?

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I would search for a well reviewed peltier chiller for a 30 gallon tank. That will suffice for your 60L tank easily even in high temp climates. I don't have personal recommendations as to which brand is best as I live in a state where it likes to be cold often and in the summer we have the central air conditioner set at 65 and fans on the side of the tank. Sits at 64.2 all day long that way.

Thanks a lot Freshwater Salt. I am doing my research.