Constipated axolotl?

iChris

New member
Joined
Oct 29, 2010
Messages
852
Reaction score
24
Points
0
Location
Perth, Western Australia
Country
Australia
Display Name
Chris
I have had my new axolotl for about a week now, and up until a day ago it was eating earthworms like a little pig, but now he has gone off his food, and I have also noted that he seems to not be pooping, as I have not found anything in the tank since I got him.

His diet consists solely of earthworms that I grow myself in my own worm farm.

The tank he came from at the shop was a bare bottom tank, and the tank he is in now is also a bare bottom tank too, with no substrate at all, except for the live plants that live in a container with some fine black sand for them to root in.

the axolotl seems to be a older one, and has the darker tips on the ends of its toes and is fairly large, so I think he may be mature, and that I could be over feeding him somewhat, or do axies take longer to digest food?

If I am over feeding him, and he is not pooping because of this, I assume that a holiday in the fridge for a few days could be in order.
 
Last edited:
If he is adult, you may only need to feed every couple of days. Maybe try alternate days for a bit. Keep him cool and see if anything else changes.
 
An update.

I have started to feed my axie every second day, and he has not made any mess that I can see (his tank is a bare bottom tank) and he has not started floating, nor has he lost his appetite, and is swimming and is as active as ever.

I guess I'm worried that he is a unusually clean animal.

should I try fridging him anyway?
 
I wouldn't

you probably don't see the mess because it has already dissolved, if you look carefully between decorations and such you may find something, or else your axie hasn't pooped yet, which I don't find unusual for an adult since mine only does it about once every 7-10 days... and she is quite normal for an axie!

just keep observing him and feeding as usual
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll keep a eye on my axie.

I have a filter that turns the tanks water over a few times a hour, without making much current, and I am religious when it comes to how clean the tank is. I do see what looks like dirt when I vaccum the tank daily, so I guess that could be it.
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Shane douglas:
    with axolotls would I basically have to keep buying and buying new axolotls to prevent inbred breeding which costs a lot of money??
    +1
    Unlike
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
    +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
    +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
    +1
    Unlike
    Clareclare: Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus... +1
    Back
    Top