Hi all, first post but unfortunately not for good reasons.
I've had my axolotl for at least seven years with no real issues. He (I think, don't know!) lives on his own in a 60L tank with sand. Fed once a day half a cube of blood worms, but I purchased some black shell shrimp today on the advice of a pet store bloke. I only test for pH since if the other chemicals were a problem I would have seen something wrong years ago...Pet store bloke also agreed on this.
Now I've noticed that over the last few days my axolotl has found it difficult to keep on the bottom of the tank. He has in the past had problems sinking but his floating was always horizontal and not a big deal since he tends to enjoy sitting in his trees.. This time, however, it's different - tail up and head down. I've read on this forum about the tail up head down scenario which apparently means the axolotl is compacted. I haven't seen any waste in a while, so I guess this could be the case. There is no gravel in the tank and I have checked the fake plants to ensure none has been bitten off.
This floating business seems to be random. Last night for example he was almost vertical with his head touching the bottom of the tank. I guided him into his PVC pipe house so that he wasn't at such a horrible angle.. He doesn't appear to be stressed as his gills are facing backwards and his tale is not curved.
All day he has looked fine and was comfortably sitting on the bottom of the tank. Just then, I gave him some of the new black shell shrimp and he has started floating head down tail up again. The pet store bloke said to take him off food for a few days which I would like to confirm with everyone here first since I hate not feeding him as food is all he has to look forward to given that it's just him in the tank.
Any ideas given that he floats vertical for a while then manages to stablise himself on the tank floor?
Thanks
I've had my axolotl for at least seven years with no real issues. He (I think, don't know!) lives on his own in a 60L tank with sand. Fed once a day half a cube of blood worms, but I purchased some black shell shrimp today on the advice of a pet store bloke. I only test for pH since if the other chemicals were a problem I would have seen something wrong years ago...Pet store bloke also agreed on this.
Now I've noticed that over the last few days my axolotl has found it difficult to keep on the bottom of the tank. He has in the past had problems sinking but his floating was always horizontal and not a big deal since he tends to enjoy sitting in his trees.. This time, however, it's different - tail up and head down. I've read on this forum about the tail up head down scenario which apparently means the axolotl is compacted. I haven't seen any waste in a while, so I guess this could be the case. There is no gravel in the tank and I have checked the fake plants to ensure none has been bitten off.
This floating business seems to be random. Last night for example he was almost vertical with his head touching the bottom of the tank. I guided him into his PVC pipe house so that he wasn't at such a horrible angle.. He doesn't appear to be stressed as his gills are facing backwards and his tale is not curved.
All day he has looked fine and was comfortably sitting on the bottom of the tank. Just then, I gave him some of the new black shell shrimp and he has started floating head down tail up again. The pet store bloke said to take him off food for a few days which I would like to confirm with everyone here first since I hate not feeding him as food is all he has to look forward to given that it's just him in the tank.
Any ideas given that he floats vertical for a while then manages to stablise himself on the tank floor?
Thanks