laurasplanb
New member
Hi all needing some help for my poorly axie Archimedes. This is an on going problem that only effects her, so im thinking she has some sort of gut infection.
Background
She is 3 and a half, I got her and her sister 3 years ago.
They live in a four ft tank, that is mature, all levels are fine.
Temp is around 16C, as i live in england and its very cool at the minute, so good for axies
I have always used sand so no problems there
they eat salmon pellets and blood worms, once a week.
Yes I do half tank water changes every two weeks, this is fine as there is so much water for them to live in, it doesnt get dirty very quick. and yes I used decloriator stuff.
The Problem
She floats, which im aware is not always a problem when they are doing it for fun, but this is a problem when she can't actually keep her self down on the ground. it happens to her about once a month, it starts by she cant keep her bum down, then the next day she cant get away from the surface, its like she is a helium balloon. she tries to swim down but as soon as she stops to rest she is dragged to the surface again.
What I do
I really distresses her when she cant keep down so I take her out of the tank and put her in an ice cream tub so that there is only enough water for her to stand in, so she can touch the floor and not be stressed, she stays in the ice cream tub until she stops having the floating problem, usually two days, and yes the water levels in the tub are fine, and i change it everyday,
Then recovered she goes back in the tank, all beter, but in a few weeks she is having the floating problem again.
So I think she has a gut infection that calms down and flares up, but she can't seem to kill off the illness completely so when her immune system is down it flares up again.
Im thinking she needs some sort of anti biotic to kill this thing, but in england no vets have a clue about axolotls. what should I do.
Has anyone heard of this problem before?
Does anyone know what treatments are safe for axies?
Anyone in the UK know a good vet?
please help
Laura, Archimedes and Algebra (her sister who never gets the problem)
Background
She is 3 and a half, I got her and her sister 3 years ago.
They live in a four ft tank, that is mature, all levels are fine.
Temp is around 16C, as i live in england and its very cool at the minute, so good for axies
I have always used sand so no problems there
they eat salmon pellets and blood worms, once a week.
Yes I do half tank water changes every two weeks, this is fine as there is so much water for them to live in, it doesnt get dirty very quick. and yes I used decloriator stuff.
The Problem
She floats, which im aware is not always a problem when they are doing it for fun, but this is a problem when she can't actually keep her self down on the ground. it happens to her about once a month, it starts by she cant keep her bum down, then the next day she cant get away from the surface, its like she is a helium balloon. she tries to swim down but as soon as she stops to rest she is dragged to the surface again.
What I do
I really distresses her when she cant keep down so I take her out of the tank and put her in an ice cream tub so that there is only enough water for her to stand in, so she can touch the floor and not be stressed, she stays in the ice cream tub until she stops having the floating problem, usually two days, and yes the water levels in the tub are fine, and i change it everyday,
Then recovered she goes back in the tank, all beter, but in a few weeks she is having the floating problem again.
So I think she has a gut infection that calms down and flares up, but she can't seem to kill off the illness completely so when her immune system is down it flares up again.
Im thinking she needs some sort of anti biotic to kill this thing, but in england no vets have a clue about axolotls. what should I do.
Has anyone heard of this problem before?
Does anyone know what treatments are safe for axies?
Anyone in the UK know a good vet?
please help
Laura, Archimedes and Algebra (her sister who never gets the problem)