Question: Weak (malnourished?) axie, please advise!

[mmuumi]

Hi All,
I may be freaking out, but better safe than sorry, right? So posting in the Sick section

My new Axie as of yesterday seems extremely fragile and weak.
I got him off a girl who bought him as a toy for kids, and now doesn't have time to look after him. Very sad, don't even want to go there, but the basics are:
- he lived on pebbles which he could easily swallow;
- his water when tested at home showed cycled tank (0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite) yet Nitrate was over the max limit on the API test - it was dark-dark burgundy! the owner said she didn't have time to look after him in the last 2 months, unsure if that means there were no water changes at all.
- i'm unsure of his diet, but judging by the rest - it wasn't much;
- he is about 12-14cm long, so I'd guess he's about 4 to 5 months old?

Now what I'm worried about is that he is very weak, really struggles to walk on his tiny feet - and has troubles swimming up to the surface for air - he does that at a third attempt and then almost falls down. Heartbreaking to see!

What I've done so far:
- put him in clean treated water the minute we got home; re-set his tank with sand and put him in there today - brand new water in the tank;
- gave him Axolotl Pellets yesterday - he ate them immediately, was very hungry - then this morning fed him some frozen (thawed) Axie food (mixture of different worms, shrimp etc, my other axies really thrive on it) - and gave him a little more just now.

What else can I do to help him? Is it normal for such a small axie to be so weak - I guess not? I got mine two guys about the same size as him less than 4 months ago and they were happily swimming and exploring - this baby is Very shy and gets scared easily, and doesn't walk around too much.

If you don't mind having a quick look at the video - that's him walking towards the pellet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gch05O5kIg&feature=youtu.be

Didn't catch the surfacing bit, but it seemed like real struggle for him and he fell right after that.
In the pics - the moss ball next to him is 2.5cm diameter, so that you understand the ratio...

Can I Do Anything Else to Help Him? Is he ok or malnourished? Can it be a swallowed pebble? Should I just calm down?
Thanks

 

[mmuumi]

Didn't catch the surfacing bit, but it seemed like real struggle for him and he fell right after that.

YouTube - him going up for air - that's attempt #4.

Should I lower the water level to make it easier for him to swim up?

 

[auntiejude]

I would lower the water to two inches deeper than he is long so he can surface more easily if he wants to. But you'll need to keep on top of water quality with less water in his tank.

Feed him up - maybe small meals twice a day - and he will get stronger. He doesn't look in bad condition other than skinny, but you've done all the right things in getting him onto suitable substrate and in clean water.

If he's been a 'toy' for kids he may just be frightened of people - chances are the kids poked him, picked him up, teased him etc. He will come to trust you, but I would think he needs to settle in and calm down a bit first.

Good luck with him, and please keep us updated.

 

[mmuumi]

Thank you Auntiejude, I certainly will!!! It does look like he's been a toy - I found kids stickers and stuff among pebbles, his left leg seems to be dislocated - I'd guess he's been taken out of the tank, and lastly the tank was sitting on the kitchen bench right next to the stove - I don't think he was getting the right temperatures either.

Anyways; that's all past - my goal is to give him a great future - and hopefully introduce to my little fatsos in the other tank one day)

How old would you say he is?


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[auntiejude]

Age could be anything from 4 months to several years - you really can't tell just from size. Although I'd guess in those conditions he's probably smaller than other axies the same age who had better living conditions.
Do you know how long the previous owner had him?

 

[mmuumi]

She said the she had him for a year and that he's 2 years old! Honestly - I don't think that's the case. He does look tiiiiiny, tiny everything really! My guys grew up from his size to almost twice the length and 5 times the width in 3-4 months, they honestly look like he can be their kid
also shouldn't they be reaching their adult size by 18 months? And his toes are not dark yet - my golden albino's got his dirty palms - but that happened when he was twice the size of new baby... I'm totally confused now)))))


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[mmuumi]

re size - that's him and my thumb - and my thumb is fairly average girl's thumb


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[auntiejude]

Dark toe tips seem to appear randomly from about 4-5 months, so thats not really an indicator of age, maturity or anything else.

If the previous owner said she had him for a year I would say that was reasonable, since eggs are usually laid in autumn/winter, it means he may have been last winter's brood. If she got him as a juvie and didn't treat him properly he may remain small, but there's a good chance he will grow some more with proper nutrition. I firmly believe that nutrition in the first 6 months is the biggest influence on an axie's adult size, and if he's missed out he may never get much bigger.

I wouldn't worry about his age, as long as he puts on some girth and seems happy :happy:

 

[mmuumi]

So true!!!!))


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[mmuumi]

Autumn/winter - would that be European season? Or any cold season?


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[auntiejude]

Yes - whenever your autumn/winter is! I had eggs from October to January last winter (UK), I know Aussie breeders are in full swing right now. Axies usually respond to a drop in temperature and a certain length of daylight time for breeding.

 

[mmuumi]

So a bit if an update: after 3 days of eating twice a day Babe started coming up for air much easier, can now control his landing instead of falling down; his legs are no longer trembling either!!! Walks around the tank and explores, a different animal to what he was on Monday. And just now - pooped out... a pile of pebbles, the ones he was kept on, a pile size of his head(
I can't stop thanking the Universe that he's getting better and that we found each other - he's such a cutie! <3

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[auntiejude]

Good news!
And that is a very cute picture

 

[mmuumi]

He is so amazing and soooo cute my husband who was ignoring my two Axies and calling them "crocodiles" - he now sits in front of Babe's tank and constantly checks on him and asks me if he's eaten or pooped))) he's warmed up to Axl & Mex too - and all it took was one tiny cute pink baby)


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[lmj65]

I am so glad to hear he is doing better. He must have felt awful with those stones in his gut!

By the way, the picture you posted of him is adorable :happy:

 

[keiko]

That picture is absolutely adorable.

 

[DiscusDream]

Sweet little smile in that pic!! He is happy to be in his new home and feeling better!

 

[mmuumi]

I do hope he's enjoying it, he's very alert now and since passing those stones is MUCH more active I feel there's still a couple more inside - I can see something turquoise still in his belly which is certainly not an organ and he is still oddly shaped, but this shape seems to be moving towards his bum now - hopefully he'll get rid of them all and yes - he smiles - and comes over to the glass when we sit down in front of his tank))


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[mmuumi]

<3 cuteness overload


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[mmuumi]

Second poo since I got him last Monday - 2 more stones! How long can it take him to pass all of them do you think? Anything I can do to help?


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If you look at his belly - there's still something right in the middle weighing him down, maybe another bigger stone?