PLEASE advise...won't eat, mouth opening...

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Fiona1504

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Fee
Hi,
I had posted earlier about my axie vomiting his food, and I received a couple of helpful replies. Things, I think, are getting worse with him, and I really don't know what to do. I had settled on the theory that perhaps he was just too full ( I was feeding him more than it looks like some people feed theirs, from looking around the forum), and left off for a couple of days.

Yesterday, I tried him with two different wax worms, which he initially took, and tried to get down, but they both ended up on the floor of the tank. It seemed as though he was having trouble swallowing. I tried him again earlier today, and he backed right off the offered worm. Now, he seems to be holding his mouth open somewhat. I also saw him opening and closing his mouth quite wide, as if he was trying to get something out or in, or trying to vomit or burp or something. Nothing was visible in his mouth. It also looks as though the underside of his throat might be kind of puffed up. I'm getting quite concerned. He is housed on sand, so he hasn't eaten rocks. His water parametres are fine, and he looks and behaves much as he always has. PLEASE, if anyone has any ideas, I'd be very appreciative. He's my precious little friend.
 
Hi Fiona, just a few quick questions..
There are no signs of fungus in the tank or on your axolotl?
Is it just him or does he have some tankmates?
How old is your axolotl/how fat is he?
What was he previously fed on before you tried the wax worms?
Thanks,
Stef
 
Hi Stef,

As to the fungus question, I don't think so, but I'm not really sure what to look for. His tank is clean, and I'm pretty particular about the water. What does tank fungus look like? Gilligan himself seems much as he ever did--he's a beautiful, almost glowy white. He's a little chubby, but not what you'd call fat. He's in his tank alone, and he's always loved waxworms before. Butterworms, too. Ditto earthworms in the summer, and he will eat bloodworms from time to time. He really has always preferred live food, though. I'm really at a loss. I think he might have been snouting around in the sand, looking for food a moment ago, but I'm not sure.

Kira, I have a pretty recent photo that I'll post as soon as my husband is around to help me get it off the camera. I'm a technical dummy.
 
Hi Fee,

How long have you had your axolotl? I'm thinking that maybe he swallowed something before you had him on sand, maybe in his previous life? Gravel is also not the only possible culprit - snails, for example, can sometimes cause the same problem of impaction. The way you describe it sounds like he's trying to regurgitate (did I spell that right?) something - but then, that may also just be because that's how you describe it.

Is it possible for you to fridge him? (Are you familiar with that procedure?) Cooling him would slow his metabolism so that he doesn't starve while not taking food. If he is trying to pass something, that would be an enormous help, I think.

-Eva
 
DEar Eva,
I have read about putting axolotls in the fridge here on the site, but I'm not sure of the exact steps to the procedure. Could you tell me precisely what I should do? I've had him for about 6 months, and everything has gone absolutely fine since I first got him as an unwanted baby. Could something have stayed inside his digestive tract for that long? I'll put him in the fridge anyway to buy some time. I do have a vet here in town that handles exotic pets, and I may have to end up trying her--I just don't want to cause any further undue stress to him. If you could let me know about fridging, I'd be so appreciative. I just adore him, and I'm so worried.

Fiona
 
I'm not Eva but I can explain fridging. First you'll want to put the little guy in a container with just enough water to cover his back. You will have to do 100% water changes everyday and also keep the water your going to change with in the fridge as well to avoid temperature shock to the axolotl. To avoid the light from the fridge disturbing him put a tea cloth or any other suitable item over the container. Due to the decreased temps don't be surprised if your axie refuses to eat or doesn't eat as much, this is normal due to decreased metabolism.

Jacq aka Havelock had an axie impacted for 5 months after she switched to sand (if I remember correctly), so I wouldn't think an extra month is too far of a stretch.
 
Who'd have thought that something could stay for that long? Thanks for that, though. I have something to hope for now. Who knows what he might have eaten before I got him. He wasn't well taken care of, that's for sure. One question--how does one catch the axolotl in the tank? He's very shy and doesn't like things looming over him. A net? A little container?
 
Either use a large fish net or herd him to the corner of the tank with a container and catch him that way. About the impaction, I am pretty sure she said it was 5 months but don't hold me to it, either way your right, thats a long time.:eek:
 
Hi Fee,

Sorry I wasn't online to respond quickly - but as you see, there are plenty of people with answers here.

You can catch the axolotl with your hands, a net, or a container.

Hands: Wash your hands and forearms thoroughly, including rinsing off all traces of the soap. I catch an axolotl like this: Splay your hand over the axolotl and place your middle finger in front of its nose (to keep it from moving forward) and hook your first and third fingers around its forelegs. Use your other hand to hook around the back legs and transfer to a waiting container of water. Be forewarned that they are slippery and faster than you think, particularly when you take them out of the water!

Net: No explanation necessary beyond using the biggest net you can find. I always manage to rip the tender skin along the tail with a net, so I don't use them anymore.

Container: Jacq (Havelock) turned me on to this trick. Put a container into the tank and nudge the axolotl towards it, then scoop it out. I recommend then transferring it to a larger container because they can sometimes just out of a smaller one.

Your little one will be fine, you'll see!

-Eva
 
Re: PLEASE advise...won't eat, mouth opening...UPDATES!! HELP!!

Thanks, all of you guys! I caught him really quite easily by herding him into a little container, and then I transferred him to a bigger one for his spell in the fridge. As I got him out, both my husband & I noticed that he was quite puffy looking...I read a bunch about bloat, and now I'm even more concerned. He has been in the fridge all night, and when I checked him this morning, he looked no worse (no better, either, more's the shame) and his mouth was no longer open. He still seems much the same...gills aren't curly, tail is straight, and he's not floating. I'm hoping that all of these are good signs. I'm going to be calling the vet today, and I'm hoping she can see him later, and perhaps give me an idea of what I'm looking at. I checked the water in his tank again last night, and it was perfect, ammonia/nitrite/nitrate-wise. Does anybody know if being puffy & bloated is an automatic death sentence? If there is any hope for him, I'd love to hear it.
 
The only form of bloat that I know of that is usually fatal, but not always, is one that comes on slowly and not overnight. This form of bloat is usually due to organ failure (I think bacteria may cause this as well, I can't ever remember what the second cause is:rolleyes:) and is usually out of your control. Maybe you could post a recent pic and get everyone's opinion.
 
Fee bloat and impaction are two different conditions - bloat is a serious illness and impaction is a mechanical problem that can (and often does) remedy itself. Although impaction can cause the axolotl to bloat in the true sense of the word, the word "bloat" in the amphibian world is used as a name for a specific condition.

In any case, you are doing the right things - axolotl in the fridge (it never hurts and can often help) and a call to the vet. Please do keep us updated on how things proceed, ok?

Thanks and good luck,

-Eva
 
Fee, please let us know what the vet said.

I had a similar problem with 1 of my axies, she couldn't swallow anything big, and spat it out and was sorta gagging, kept her mouth open a lot. She was happy to eat very small bits of food, though. My axies are on sand, and have been for many years, so can't be anything to do with that.

I wish you good luck with your darling
 
Again, thanks everyone--Stef, Kira, Greatwtehunter, Sherri, Eva, etc. Your support, advice and knowledge means a lot. He has an appointment tomorrow afternoon with the specialist vet. I have great faith in her abilities, and, though I have my fingers so so crossed, I'm feeling really bleak and wretched. The puffy, bloated business seems to be such a bad sign. He's not any worse, for which I'm grateful, and he seems to be quite content in his tupperwear container in the fridge. His gills look a little "diminished" (I know that they'll be paler in the cold), but he seems fairly normal. Gills aren't curled, and tail is straight. I'm hoping that these are still good signs. If anybody has anything hopeful to tell me ie, a story of an axie getting better from something like this, I'd love to hear it. I'm grasping at straws. I'll definitely post what the vet says. Send any axie faith-healing this way.:eek:
 
Hello,

Many people keep axolotls on sand without incident, and I've observed them to pass it with waste products. However, I've had a Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) become impacted with sand, yet myself and others have kept that species on sand for decades with no problem whatsoever...perhaps something unique to tht frog's system was at the root...in any event, might be safer to keep your animal in a bare-bottomed enclosure,

good luck, Frank
 
Fiona1504 said:
If anybody has anything hopeful to tell me ie, a story of an axie getting better from something like this, I'd love to hear it.
Click to expand...

Poor Fiona! If your axolotl is suffering from impaction, then never you fear, most axolotls recover from that - afterwards we can laugh about how checking every day for axolotl poo had become a priority in your life. A(nother) word of advice: do not go reading descriptions and looking at photos of sick axolotls. It will only get you into a panic. :rolleyes:

The remote diagnosis of an animal disorder is difficult at best, particularly without pictures. You are very fortunate to have a vet who knows anything about amphibians at all, so you are ahead of the game there. Again, lots of luck to you, and please let us know what the doc says.

-Eva
 
Well, I did say I'd reply with what my vet said & did, so here goes. I'vebeen putting it off, and I'm making it brief, because I'm still in a dreadful state. My poor little sweetheart died on Christmas eve, despite all best efforts. My vet was great, but to no avail. She did x-rays, and a thorough exam, and initially thought a partial blockage was the trouble. We administered electrolytes and laxative for 2 & 1/2 days, but nothing changed. She then thought to try antibiotics, in case an infection was causing his bloat and other symptoms, but the flagyl didn't do anything either. He died, quietly, I guess, on xmas eve morning. I was in pieces, but had to glue it all together for my kids, etc. My vet and I discussed the fact that amphibians are about the most mysterious of any of the animals that we keep as companions, and that, even had he been a reptile, there would have been more things available for us to do. I guess it was just one of those things. I am devastated. I'd love to adopt another, but here in Calgary, there just aren't any to be found. I'll keep my ears open, not that anything could ever replace Gilligan, but they are truly the most enchanting creatures. Thanks again for everything that everybody here offered in the way of help and advice. If I could only have him back again...
 
I am sorry to hear your sad news, and thank you for letting us know. It sounds like you couldn't have done any more to help.
 
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