I Can't Tell if He's Stressed?

[NevermoreRoses]

Hello, it's my first time posting on here and it is also my first time owning an Axolotl.

He's a 6 month old albino named Poe.

I've had him for 6 days now and have been feeding him mainly on blood worms and meal worms (although he doesn't seem to like meal worms very much).
I've got some Californian black worms with some beef heart coming soon too.

Yesterday I gave him his first ever defrosted prawn (it was supermarket bought and I soaked it in some of his water for a while first.)
He seemed to really like it - well he ate it quickly enough anyway.
However, I did notice he had to regurgitate it a lot. I think I must have given him one that was slightly too big.

He managed to get it all down in the end, but today his gills are pointing up and forward whereas a few days ago they seemed much more relaxed.
I've seen a few people on this site saying that young Axies do sometimes move their gills about but I'm worried that this is prawn related???

The photo I've tried to attach was taken a few minutes ago, so post prawn.

Any help / advice would be appreciated!

 

[NevermoreRoses]

ALSO

here's a photo of him before the prawn.

I looked back on some other photos I have taken and there was a day where he had his gills similar to the way they look now, so I'm hoping it's nothing serious....

 

[Boomsloth]

He doesn't look that stressed to me, but I should say that beefheart and mealworms are not really recommended as a staple diet for axolotls. Also prawns are considered a treat food. Blackworms are okay but at that size I would recommend going for earthworms since that will provide the most balanced nutrition.

 

[NevermoreRoses]

He doesn't look that stressed to me, but I should say that beefheart and mealworms are not really recommended as a staple diet for axolotls. Also prawns are considered a treat food. Blackworms are okay but at that size I would recommend going for earthworms since that will provide the most balanced nutrition.

Thank you for replying!

Oh the prawns will definitely be a treat from now on I just wanted to see if he liked them since he wasn't keen on the meal worms.

I was going to go for the blackworms as his staple with some blood worms now and again and then the beef heart or prawn as a special treat.

I will look into earthworms though, thank you.

And you're sure he looks okay?
I'm so paranoid, I just don't want to hurt him.

 

[Boomsloth]

Thank you for replying!

Oh the prawns will definitely be a treat from now on I just wanted to see if he liked them since he wasn't keen on the meal worms.

I was going to go for the blackworms as his staple with some blood worms now and again and then the beef heart or prawn as a special treat.

I will look into earthworms though, thank you.

And you're sure he looks okay?
I'm so paranoid, I just don't want to hurt him.

Earthworms will always be the healthiest and easiest option for most people. Bloodworms are only recommended for very young juveniles and are not that nutritious.
Idk but i'm pretty sure beefheart is not as easily digested by axies.
and mealworms have hard chitin that can sometimes create problems.

If he is still eating and all you notice is the gills then you shouldn't be too worried.
However always check your water parameters, sometimes any little ammonia/nitrite or a little too much nitrate can cause them to be stressed.

 

[NevermoreRoses]

Earthworms will always be the healthiest and easiest option for most people. Bloodworms are only recommended for very young juveniles and are not that nutritious.
Idk but i'm pretty sure beefheart is not as easily digested by axies.
and mealworms have hard chitin that can sometimes create problems.

If he is still eating and all you notice is the gills then you shouldn't be too worried.
However always check your water parameters, sometimes any little ammonia/nitrite or a little too much nitrate can cause them to be stressed.

Okay, thank you very much.

I've just looked over and noticed he's raised his head up a bit like he's trying to see over a wall. I'm not too worried about this because I am aware that living creatures will occasionally move - but while someone who knows what they're talking about is here (you), it's normal behaviour right?

 

[layna]

In my personal opinion, i wouldnt feed the beef heart at all.
Earthworms are the very best food an axie can get and should be the staple.
Axolotl pellets/salmon pellets come second best with some bloodworm thrown in and for a treat i would feed live cherry shrimp/ghost shrimp/river shrimp and the occasional black worm or wax worm

 

[leandrah]

My Axies hate the meal worms, they never eat them.
I think he looks completely fine.

Just to check, what are your tank parameters? - your PH, Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate?

 

[ThickAsaBrick]

You've hit a beautiful axolotl there. He doesn't look stressed to me but that's what this forum us for. At least half if my posts were panics rather than problems but that how you learn. And I have to say your pictures are great.


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[auntiejude]

Your axie looks fine.
Feed him worms.
Don't feed him prawns or beefheart.
Occasional river shrimp/cherry shrimp, waxworms or maggots, crickets or guppies are OK.
Blackworms and bloodworms are not suitable if he is over 5".

 

[NevermoreRoses]

Gosh! Thanks to everyone that's replied!

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back.

You'll all be happy to hear that Poe's staple diet is now earth worms! Tasty tasty lob worms. He goes nuts for them.

Thanks for complimenting him. I may be biased but I think he's the cutest little axie in the whole world.

I will admit that I currently don't know the water parameters. I know, I know! I should do. I will be taking a water sample to the pet shop on friday so for now I have been closely monitoring Poe himself.

He's looking much more relaxed these days and his gills even seem fluffier!

I will try to attach some photos.

ALSO - if you notice that his tank looks a bit small in the photo it's because it is. I underestimated greatly BUT I am in the process of buying one that's 81cm x 45cm x 30cm so much better for the little guy.

 

[Boomsloth]

I'm glad to hear he's getting earthworms! Make sure when you get the water tested that you ask for ALL your readings, they should give you ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and pH. A lot of times they just say your water is fine without telling you the exact parameters. You could have 30ppm nitrates and that's considered fine. I think it might even be better to just get a liquid test kit so you can always monitor the water immediately. The liquid kits last for years and are the most accurate. That's just my preference, I'm not very trusting of pet shop employees after having to explain what cycling an aquarium was to one whose only job was the fish section.

 

[NevermoreRoses]

I'm glad to hear he's getting earthworms! Make sure when you get the water tested that you ask for ALL your readings, they should give you ammonia/nitrite/nitrate and pH. A lot of times they just say your water is fine without telling you the exact parameters. You could have 30ppm nitrates and that's considered fine. I think it might even be better to just get a liquid test kit so you can always monitor the water immediately. The liquid kits last for years and are the most accurate. That's just my preference, I'm not very trusting of pet shop employees after having to explain what cycling an aquarium was to one whose only job was the fish section.

Hmm thinking about it, I went with my auntie to check her parameters because her fish weren't very happy and all they did was check the colour against a chart. They didn't offer any actual numbers and one of them even said she didn't know what the colours mean. And that was at Pets at Home which is a huge pet shop chain in the UK! Do you know of anywhere I could buy a testing kit?

 

[Boomsloth]

Hmm thinking about it, I went with my auntie to check her parameters because her fish weren't very happy and all they did was check the colour against a chart. They didn't offer any actual numbers and one of them even said she didn't know what the colours mean. And that was at Pets at Home which is a huge pet shop chain in the UK! Do you know of anywhere I could buy a testing kit?

Most pet stores should sell some form of liquid test kit. I use the API master freshwater test kit which seems to be a popular one. Its around $20-25 for me but is good for over 800 tests. Yeah that is the exact problem I have with most pet store testing. It can be inaccurate and if they don't understand the point to it will tell you the water is okay.

 

[NevermoreRoses]

Most pet stores should sell some form of liquid test kit. I use the API master freshwater test kit which seems to be a popular one. Its around $20-25 for me but is good for over 800 tests. Yeah that is the exact problem I have with most pet store testing. It can be inaccurate and if they don't understand the point to it will tell you the water is okay.

Okay thank you, I will certainly look into buying it.
It's quite worrying how little general employees seem to know - at the place I bought Poe from they had mislabelled his tank "axolotil" and when I asked to purchase one they said "what's that? oh you mean the alien?!" Since reading this forum even I could do a better job than some of them.

 

[PocketMiner]

Hi there,

I bought my first axie not so long ago too. This forum is the best place to get help.
I live in Northern Ireland and there are many fish/pet shops that supply water testing kits.
Our local pets at home seem very attentive with adequate knowledge but I always head over to Grosvenor Tropicals,
They are one of the only shops that sell axolotls in NI.

If you are still looking for a water testing kit I would try Dobbies as they have some over here although they seemed quite expensive.

Good luck

 

[NevermoreRoses]

Hi there,

I bought my first axie not so long ago too. This forum is the best place to get help.
I live in Northern Ireland and there are many fish/pet shops that supply water testing kits.
Our local pets at home seem very attentive with adequate knowledge but I always head over to Grosvenor Tropicals,
They are one of the only shops that sell axolotls in NI.

If you are still looking for a water testing kit I would try Dobbies as they have some over here although they seemed quite expensive.

Good luck

This forum has taught me so many things. Poe is definitely still alive because of it.

I live in the Leicestershire area of England and have found that in all 3 Pets at Home's near me, there have been employees with very little knowledge. Of course there's always 1 or 2 fanatical fish experts who work there so I make sure to find those to talk to! Haha.

I've actually never heard of Dobbies but I'm 18 with little real-world experience so that could be why. I'll ask my mother. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks you, good luck to you too!

 

[PocketMiner]

Good. Dobbies is a garden centre chain store, being based in England and having only one in Northern Ireland. They should have a fish section at the back which should have everything you need, our Dobbies store fish section is managed by a fish expert. But all the other employees are probably garden based

Happy to help

 

[NevermoreRoses]

Good. Dobbies is a garden centre chain store, being based in England and having only one in Northern Ireland. They should have a fish section at the back which should have everything you need, our Dobbies store fish section is managed by a fish expert. But all the other employees are probably garden based

Happy to help

Oooh okay thank you.

I'm sort of low on money right now due to buying Poe a new, bigger tank; so for now I may have to get the strip/colour test kit from Wilkinsons.

BUT I will invest in a proper kit soon!