Adopted axie boney and not eating

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EbonySparkles

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New axolotl won't eat

I picked up this little guy from a pet store today, they said he'd been eating but could've been stressed by the other two in the tank, I've brought him to my sanctuary for some tlc, I'm wondering if he could be from the same supplier as your two steve? He's not eating mealworms, crickets, earthworms or bloodworms.... Any suggestions to help increase his appetite? And to regenerate his gills? I'm hoping he makes it....

Even my husband who doesn't quite accept my fascination with the axies felt for this guy...

He's so boney, the kids named him Oliver after the orphan!
 

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Oh dear...he's in really rough shape...Might be an idea to try some blackworms- squirt them right in front of his face. Beyond that, keep trying the other foods- maybe if the blackworms work, it might get his appetite going enough to try something else... I'll be crossing my fingers for you and him!
 
Oh good Lord, that fella is emaciated!

You have to get it some food ASAP.
Now; after the stress of moving, it happens that they won't eat for a few days.

Just make sure that he/she is in cold clean water, and that food is available when you're not around. He might eat it when you're not there.

The person you got him from, what exactly did they feed him? Because blood worms don't contain all the nutrients they need...

If he truly won't eat in the end, you may have to try this
 
He came from a petshop, I popped in to pickup some crickets and bloodworm and saw him in the tank, I said I'd take him and give him some TLC, they happily surrendered him to me,

Thank you for link, I think I have no other option but to try it... I fear he is to far gone but my children and I will try! As for black worm I will have to wait until they arrive... I've ordered them online as there isn't anyone close by...

Is there any nutrients I could add to the water for him to soak through his skin? Think aloud...

My heart is breaking for him
 
Have you tried the pellets? In pet stores they are usually just fed on the pellets, he might not even realize that moving worms are food!
 
Yes I did try pellets, they were feeding him crickets, he's in de chlorinated water, with pellets, worms floating around him and a blanket over the top to give him some quiet time, ill change the water daily and hopefully he'll start eating... He seems to be swallowing water as his throat expands and deflates... He is moving around the tank, although seems off balance...
 
He doesn't seem to be doing well. Recently I saw a little axie in that state, his mouth was open and I think he must have died by drowning that night. That little one was boney too, literally. And he wouldn't eat. I had never met one that wasn't able to eat before then. It makes me really sad to see these sorts of pictures.
 
wow that is so sad, pic makes me so mad the petshop let him get in that state... If i was closer i would give u all the earthworms needed to help the poor bugger.. I have heaps here..
 
:eek: oh my gawd that's just awful!

If anyone can get him back to health it's you & the kids :)

If you need blackworms I have some that I could get to you tomorrow - just lets know & I could meet you after work :)

I'll keep my fingers crossed for Oliver as I'm sure everyone here will - please keep us updated on his progress.



<3 >o_o< <3
 
Awww thanks Nicki, ill see how he goes overnight! Hopefully he eats something, my delivery should be here tues... Will stay in touch though... Open to suggestions nurse Nicki? I may need some help with this guy... He has a long road ahead of him!
 
EbonySparkles said:
Awww thanks Nicki, ill see how he goes overnight! Hopefully he eats something, my delivery should be here tues... Will stay in touch though... Open to suggestions nurse Nicki? I may need some help with this guy... He has a long road ahead of him!
Click to expand...

Have you tried shoving a food in its mouth?? or maybe try a fish for this moment only shove it in its mouth , try it , (dont do this alot they get stressed) only for force feeding please dont do it alot.... I hope your delivery pack comes soon and also have you tried live tubifex worms?
 
The poor thing. :(

If you are committed to force feeding, you will need to make up some paste to syringe down him. Ideally, the paste should be as nutritious as possible, and to this end, if you can bring yourself to do it, I would throw some earthworms and bloodworm into a blender to make a mash.

If you are reluctant to use worms (I don't blame you, it isn't pleasant) you can add pellets to the mix rather than the worms. I really feel earthworm is the best option though, as it contains all the nutrition he needs and will be soft going down.

Your local vet may also have some protein formula that they use for force feeding animals (I've used it before to great effect). No harm in asking.

Your local vet should also be able to provide a syringe for you.

Alternatively, you can buy some cat worming paste from the supermarket - the syringe type, not the squeeze tube. Empty out the contents of the syringe, and then sterilize it in boiling water to use for the axolotl.

I have a few syringes which my vet gave me when I had to force feed (under vet guidance) one of my own axolotls. If you would like one, I'm happy to send it out to you. Just private message me your address and I'll send it out by express post tomorrow. (the express post satchel will be ridiculously large, but they're the only size I have :eek:).

Wishing you all the very best, and I hope Oliver pulls through. Crossing all fingers for you.
 
Thanks everyone, he was moving around the tank this afternoon... on the bottom! This is an improvement, he unintentionally gobbled part of an earth worm, I hope it stayed down!

I've changed the water and kept him cool and in the dark, he doesn't move much when I touch him, last night I put a ledge in the small tank as I was worried he would drown, he was rolling side to side and occasionally all the way around, he laid on the ledge and kept lifting his head out of the water quite regularly to gasp for air, I'm happy to see him on the bottom this afternoon

I have a syringe from when I raised bbs for my babies so thank you... Thanks for all the advice, I'm happy to mash whatever he needs!

His hands look like witches fingers... So long and boney... I hope he gains weight soon
 
jeromeetabuzo said:
Have you tried shoving a food in its mouth?? or maybe try a fish for this moment only shove it in its mouth , try it , (dont do this alot they get stressed) only for force feeding please dont do it alot.... I hope your delivery pack comes soon and also have you tried live tubifex worms?
Click to expand...

Please do not 'shove' a fish into his mouth.
 
jeromeetabuzo said:
i have said if he wants to force feed it
Click to expand...

Jerome,
Force feeding is a specialized technique of providing nutrition to animals. You are getting confused. You are giving people dangerous advice, this could harm their axolotl. You have been asked before, on other posts, to not advise people to 'shove' food into an axolotl's mouth. It would be good if you listened to the guidance of other people when they reply to you. This is something that you don't seem to do even though people have tried to kindly provide you guidance.
 
With hubby's help we used a 1ml syringe to feed chopped earth worms to Oliver he spat a little up but help most down, a gentle massage of the throat helped him swallow, all done underwater and in darkness... He's to sick to squirm... It's so sad
 
It's great that he took a bite of food. Has he been able to keep it down? :happy:

I'm crossing all fingers, toes, axolotl gills, dog and cat paws for him!
 
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