Enlarged Belly

PinkSkullCity · Mar 19, 2011

Hi. I have a question. I noticed my axie's belly has gotten bigger. I have river rocks in his tank, and hes never seemed to bother with them. Its not huge just a little more enlarged then normal. He hasnt been eating more then usual and I have been feeding him at the same time. I just recently moved and he was in the car for 16 hours straight but this happened a week after weve been here at our new home. I will upload pics soon. How can you tell if its a rock or not? I shined a light on him and didnt see anything. Also I called a couple vets and they dont even know what axolots are! I dont know where to even take him! Please help. Thanks

animalloversfb · Mar 19, 2011

If the rocks are not bigger than his head, then it could likely be a rock. Keep calling around for an exotic vet - if they are familiar with amphibians, then can probably help or at if least have x-ray equipment, they can find out if its a rock or not. You may have to travel to an exotic vet for it to be removed if it turns out to be a rock. Depending on the size of the rock, fridging can help it either be thrown up or be moved through the system.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 19, 2011

I added pics. I was told by the breeder these rocks were ok so I didnt know. I feel awful now! He hasnt has an issues for 6 months..sigh. I guess I will keep calling vets. Does fridging make them throw up because I doubt he could poop it out lol Maybe so I dont know

Bellabelloo · Mar 20, 2011

It does look like the little one has consumed a stone. I would fridge him . This article is very helpful :-

Axolotl Sanctuary

While he is in the fridge, it would be a good time to get those stones out. Let us know how it goes .

iChris · Mar 20, 2011

he has definitely swallowed one of those pebbles, you can almost see the shape of it inside him. fringing him will help him to pass the stone, either by throwing it up or from the other end, follow the directions given in that article that julia linked you to and cross your fingers.

whilst your axie is in the fridge remove all of those stones and replace with a layer of washed, white play sand.

mewsie · Mar 20, 2011

PinkSkullCity said:
I added pics. I was told by the breeder these rocks were ok so I didnt know. I feel awful now! He hasnt has an issues for 6 months..sigh. I guess I will keep calling vets. Does fridging make them throw up because I doubt he could poop it out lol Maybe so I dont know

You aren't alone! Lots of folks (me included) get told this by pet stores

Poor little one. Fridging is the best thing for now, but finding yourself a local vet that specialises in amphibians and exotic pets now would be wise. If the little guy doesn't manage to poop the stone, you'll be needing that vet.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 20, 2011

Ok first of all how do you rinse the sand? And also how long should I leave him in the fridge before taking him to the vet? Like how long should it take if he can pass the stone? Also I've called 5 different places and nobody knows what they are. I'm freaking out. And everywhere is closed until tomorrow. I'm going to get sand and I will fridge him while I clean it. How do you clean the sand when it gets dirty?

iChris · Mar 20, 2011

the axie waste tends to sit on the top of the sand, were you can easily remove it, with the pebbles you're using, most of the gunk builds up below the rocks and will eventually mess with water quality.

to rinse the sand, fill a bucket a quarter full with the sand, and add a hose pipe to the bottom of the bucket and turn it on, and stir the sand until the water runs clear, it takes time but you'll be glad you did otherwise your tank water will go cloudy.

it depends on your animal, but most will pass a obstruction in a few days, they do this because a axie's metabolism slows down in the cold, and they quickly try to clear out anything in their system because of this, including any obstructions.

I personally would take him to a vet asap, as it is suspected that he has swallowed a stone.

memojo1979 · Mar 20, 2011

And, if you can't get sand, don't panic - a bare bottomed tank will do too. It just looks nicer (in my opinion) with something there.
I rinsed all of my sand in a washing up bowl, a bit at a time + then put the clean sand into a different bowl. It took a lot of rinsing though (+ lots of stirring to remove the dusty / floaty stuff) - if I have a hose, I would've done the bucket trick instead

A turkey baster is a great tool for removing any axie waste / uneaten food from an axie tank too - Wilkinsons sells them for under £1.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 20, 2011

I just went to the pet store and got marine sand for my tank. I have some questions. Do I poke holes for him to breathe in when he's in the fridge? And I don't know how to convert Celsius so how cold can it be because ours is 30 degrees farenheit. Do I just leave her in there until she expels it? Won't she freeze or anything? Should I feed her? Thanks. I'm so worried. I keep calling vets with no avail, but I know it's 400 for the surgery and I couldn't pay that right now. Thanks.

iChris · Mar 20, 2011

I afraid marine sand is a no-no, its usually made from limestone, crushed shells and it can contain salts, etc, depending on were it comes from, put short it can mess with water quality in a freshwater tank, but wait for further opinions from other users on the forum before you proceed using it.

when fridging axies, they may not eat, but you can try to offer food if you wish.

axies can survive in temperatures as low as 5 degrees (celsius) you must also keep another container filled with water that has been treated with a dechlorinating product in the fridge too, and swap him into that container once a day, discard the water in the container he came from and re-fill and treat the water with a dechlorinator and place that container back in the fridge, so the next day the water in the new container is at the same temperature as the other, and you can swap him into that container, and just repeat the process.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 20, 2011

I should clarify. It isn't the "live" ocean sand it's just sand for aquariums. I have her in the fridge now and she's not moving at all and nothing had passed.

animalloversfb · Mar 20, 2011

PinkSkullCity said:
I should clarify. It isn't the "live" ocean sand it's just sand for aquariums. I have her in the fridge now and she's not moving at all and nothing had passed.

Make sure it doesn't state marine sand - there is marine sand that is not live sand and comes in bags just like freshwater aquarium sand. There is also cichlid sand too at most pet stores. Neither marine nor cichlid sand will work for them.

What temperature is your fridge set at? Its possible that its too cold for her.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 20, 2011

Idk how to tell but if it's any warmer our food wont stay good. Its turned down all the way. Also it just says ocean sand on the front and had fish on it. Which sand is the right sand? Also she just pooped in the fridge. Is it a good sign? No pebbles yet though.

Skilly · Mar 21, 2011

I think the sand you got is the same sand I have used. It is not reef sand and is just regular sand and works just fine for axies. It has an orange fish on it right? and some blue design behind the fish... it does say marine sand but it is not it is just the brand name

Morrison · Mar 21, 2011

I've read this so many times on this forum that an axie has a big belly, and that there are rocks (size: axie head or smaller) in the tank. And that the owner says: "But I never see them eating them". Most of the time it still turns out to be a rock. (Because you can't watch your axies 100% of the time)

And I agree with the fridging thing.

Good luck with your axie

PinkSkullCity · Mar 21, 2011

Yes Grace you are right that's what its like. I woke up and there is still no pebble. I don't know how long I should wait before bringing her to the vet, but it's only been 1 day so far. She did go to the bathroom though. Or maybe it was vomit because it looked like her pellets. I've never seen her poop so I'm unsure lol

memojo1979 · Mar 21, 2011

Thanks to some well-timed photography, you can see what axolotl poop usually looks like on this thread - http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...74178-i-just-spotted-something-my-camera.html
However, if it's broken up by a moving axie before you get to it, it kind of looks a bit liike sand or dirt (depending on diet, of course!), or if you have an axie who has stopped eating, there might not be much to poop out, so it might just be little bits.

PinkSkullCity · Mar 21, 2011

Yeah that's whats in my tank in the fridge but I've never seen her poop or anything like that in my tank before. How odd..lol

PinkSkullCity · Mar 22, 2011

So Ive had her in the fridge for almost 3 days. Any advice?

Enlarged Belly

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