My axolotl hasn’t eaten in weeks

[BigAl]

Hello there everyone. I have an issue with my axolotl that if anyone had any insight on, would be greatly appreciated.
My 2-3 year old axolotl hasn’t eaten for the past couple of weeks and at this point I’m getting desperate. I’ve since taken him out of his tank and into a separate one and have been giving him salt baths every day for the past couple of days. I tested his water in the main tank and everything seems fine. He would show interest when he sees me bringing some food for him, but when I drop it he mostly doesn’t react, and very rarely when he does snap to catch it he spits it right back out! I feed him on a diet of pellets and occasionally bloodworms. It’s also worth noting there has been little activity when it comes to pooping, but then again he’s had nothing to eat and if he was blocked up he probably would’ve worked it out by now.About a year ago this same thing happened but it was because of a fungal infection which I treated, and I thought this might be the case again as I have no idea what else it could be, and I thought maybe I saw signs of it along his back fin. His tail is also slightly curled, to add to the worry.

I’ve been reading up on issues like this, but finally found it time to post about it to try and get some feedback. Anything would be appreciated - maybe I should try fridging him ? I included a picture of his back fin below for more clarity (also yes, he doesn’t have back feet, but he’s working on them!) Thank you you time and for reading this post.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Stop any type of bath they are stressing him for no issues
Do not Fridge - it slows metabolism

What are the actual parameters in the tank ?
What exactly are you feeding?
What substrate is in the tank?

 

[BigAl]

Hi thanks for replying, the parameters of the tank are as follows:
Temperature varying from between 19-21 (I don’t let it raise about 21)
pH: 6.8
Ammonia: Between 0-0.25ppm
Nitrite:0 ppm
Nitrates: 10-20 ppm
His main diet consists of the pellets attached below, and I sometimes feed him frozen bloodworms. I’ve tried mixing up his diet a couple of times with different pellets but he doesn’t like them at all, and seemed to really enjoy his pellets.
As for the substrate it was sand, but it wasn’t as fine as I wanted so I recently covered it with some finer stuff. I would sometimes catch him eating the less fine stuff when this problem first started, so I thought that maybe upset his stomach/ blocked him up, but this had never been an issue before this point. I covered it after this issue started.
I’ll stop with the baths from now, and will most likely return him to the tank tomorrow.
Again, thanks for your input it’s greatly helpful and appreciative

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Hello there everyone. I have an issue with my axolotl that if anyone had any insight on, would be greatly appreciated.
My 2-3 year old axolotl hasn’t eaten for the past couple of weeks and at this point I’m getting desperate. I’ve since taken him out of his tank and into a separate one and have been giving him salt baths every day for the past couple of days. I tested his water in the main tank and everything seems fine. He would show interest when he sees me bringing some food for him, but when I drop it he mostly doesn’t react, and very rarely when he does snap to catch it he spits it right back out! I feed him on a diet of pellets and occasionally bloodworms. It’s also worth noting there has been little activity when it comes to pooping, but then again he’s had nothing to eat and if he was blocked up he probably would’ve worked it out by now.About a year ago this same thing happened but it was because of a fungal infection which I treated, and I thought this might be the case again as I have no idea what else it could be, and I thought maybe I saw signs of it along his back fin. His tail is also slightly curled, to add to the worry.

I’ve been reading up on issues like this, but finally found it time to post about it to try and get some feedback. Anything would be appreciated - maybe I should try fridging him ? I included a picture of his back fin below for more clarity (also yes, he doesn’t have back feet, but he’s working on them!) Thank you you time and for reading this post.

Yes stop salt baths, they are harmful and should only be used in extreme cases. There is a great article on here how to force feed, and it’s a very gentle way of doing it. If it’s been a couple of weeks, I would do it ASAP.

 

[BigAl]

Yes stop salt baths, they are harmful and should only be used in extreme cases. There is a great article on here how to force feed, and it’s a very gentle way of doing it. If it’s been a couple of weeks, I would do it ASAP.

Do you think you could include a link to this article? At this point I’m willing to try anything to get him back on his feet. Thanks for the feedback

 

[Calgarycoppers]

You need to get your temp to between 15 and 18 degrees - temps over 18 are known to cause issues.

Your pH is too low and needs to be brought up and I suspect your water hardness is low as well they frequently go hand in hand.

Your ammonia should be 0 try adding some beneficial bacteria to give it a boost.

Those pellets are not good quality they are the lowest quality.

I would get Repashy Grub Pie ASAP - its a powder you mix with boiling water andnit makes a thick jello like food that is a go to for sick, picking and even emaciated axolotls. It is the next best food to worms but higher fat and better taste.

I would tub your axolotl with fans blowing across the top of the water to drop the temp.
Change the water twice a day with the coldest water you can.
Offer repashy grub pie or thawed raw salmon pieces. No dry pellets no earthworms.
You can try blackworms as well.

I would make Johns solutions and use at 20% to help any imbalances in your lotl while tubbed and then start using it in your tank as a preventative. I do this with all 10 of my axolotl tanks and every surrender rehab I take in which is over 75 to date.

While hes tubbed I would use thay time to get your tank in better parakeets

Hi thanks for replying, the parameters of the tank are as follows:
Temperature varying from between 19-21 (I don’t let it raise about 21)
pH: 6.8
Ammonia: Between 0-0.25ppm
Nitrite:0 ppm
Nitrates: 10-20 ppm
His main diet consists of the pellets attached below, and I sometimes feed him frozen bloodworms. I’ve tried mixing up his diet a couple of times with different pellets but he doesn’t like them at all, and seemed to really enjoy his pellets.
As for the substrate it was sand, but it wasn’t as fine as I wanted so I recently covered it with some finer stuff. I would sometimes catch him eating the less fine stuff when this problem first started, so I thought that maybe upset his stomach/ blocked him up, but this had never been an issue before this point. I covered it after this issue started.
I’ll stop with the baths from now, and will most likely return him to the tank tomorrow.
Again, thanks for your input it’s greatly helpful and appreciative

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Do you think you could include a link to this article? At this point I’m willing to try anything to get him back on his feet. Thanks for the feedback

I can’t find the link, but I do remember what to do.
1. Crush your pellets and wet them until they are a watery, loose texture.
2. Load turkey baster, or syringe if your baby is younger.
3. Transfer your axie to a tub, and dampen a towel.
4.Grab another person and a rubber spatula.
5. Wrap axie in a towel and have someone hold the towel.
6. Quickly use the rubber spatula to wedge open the axies mouth, and squirt food in.
hope this helps!!
note: DO NOT squeeze the axie, just hold them gently.

 

[BigAl]

You need to get your temp to between 15 and 18 degrees - temps over 18 are known to cause issues.

Your pH is too low and needs to be brought up and I suspect your water hardness is low as well they frequently go hand in hand.

Your ammonia should be 0 try adding some beneficial bacteria to give it a boost.

Those pellets are not good quality they are the lowest quality.

I would get Repashy Grub Pie ASAP - its a powder you mix with boiling water andnit makes a thick jello like food that is a go to for sick, picking and even emaciated axolotls. It is the next best food to worms but higher fat and better taste.

I would tub your axolotl with fans blowing across the top of the water to drop the temp.
Change the water twice a day with the coldest water you can.
Offer repashy grub pie or thawed raw salmon pieces. No dry pellets no earthworms.
You can try blackworms as well.

I would make Johns solutions and use at 20% to help any imbalances in your lotl while tubbed and then start using it in your tank as a preventative. I do this with all 10 of my axolotl tanks and every surrender rehab I take in which is over 75 to date.

While hes tubbed I would use thay time to get your tank in better parakeets

Thank you for all this feedback, I will definitely implement it immediately. Do I buy repashy grub pie reptiles or fish? And also would you mind giving me the recipe for John’s solution, it would be very helpful and I want to make sure I get it right and don’t mess anything more up. Is it alright to put salty solutions like this into tanks? I obviously don’t know as much as you but I heard that it can mess with the filter and don’t want to do something irreversible that may cause damage, just to be on the safe side. Would you know of anywhere I could get better quality pellets? They are the easiest food for me to feed him in my circumstances and want to provide him with as good as he can get I also mistakenly said the pH was 6.8, I meant to say 7.6 so apologises for my mistyping. Also apologises for all these questions - just want to get it right. Once again thanks for the continued feedback.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Thank you for all this feedback, I will definitely implement it immediately. Do I buy repashy grub pie reptiles or fish? And also would you mind giving me the recipe for John’s solution, it would be very helpful and I want to make sure I get it right and don’t mess anything more up. Is it alright to put salty solutions like this into tanks? I obviously don’t know as much as you but I heard that it can mess with the filter and don’t want to do something irreversible that may cause damage, just to be on the safe side. Would you know of anywhere I could get better quality pellets? They are the easiest food for me to feed him in my circumstances and want to provide him with as good as he can get I also mistakenly said the pH was 6.8, I meant to say 7.6 so apologises for my mistyping. Also apologises for all these questions - just want to get it right. Once again thanks for the continued feedback.

That’s okay! We’ve all asked tons of questions on here Invert aquatics sells super good pellets! And, repashy grub pie is my favorite

 

[BigAl]

I can’t find the link, but I do remember what to do.
1. Crush your pellets and wet them until they are a watery, loose texture.
2. Load turkey baster, or syringe if your baby is younger.
3. Transfer your axie to a tub, and dampen a towel.
4.Grab another person and a rubber spatula.
5. Wrap axie in a towel and have someone hold the towel.
6. Quickly use the rubber spatula to wedge open the axies mouth, and squirt food in.
hope this helps!!
note: DO NOT squeeze the axie, just hold them gently.

Many thanks for this, I’ll most likely wait another day or two while I try him with salmon pieces and repashy grub pie, but this will definitly come in handy. Not gonna lie a little nervous about it as my Axie is a jumpy one and isn’t a fan of being handled.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Oh good 7.8 is good

Yes johns and holtfreters do not acutally have that much salt in them by thebtime ypu dose them.

I used to always keep 1 tbsp per 5-10g in all my tanks and switched to johns which adds other elements and actually back off the salt. My filters are all fully cycled no issues.

HHC - Johns Solution by Volume

You can use either the fish or reptile - I personally use the fish version as it holds up a little better.

Pellet wise the ones I have found are higher quality.

Repashy grub pie
Rangen moist sinking pellets
Northfin Jumbo fish 4mm or 6mm
Hikari sinking carnivore
Omega One shrimp pellets

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Many thanks for this, I’ll most likely wait another day or two while I try him with salmon pieces and repashy grub pie, but this will definitly come in handy. Not gonna lie a little nervous about it as my Axie is a jumpy one and isn’t a fan of being handled.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

I have never once forcefed an axolotl - not even my emaciated skin and bone have needed it. They have all started on their own with fatty foods and blackworms.

Many thanks for this, I’ll most likely wait another day or two while I try him with salmon pieces and repashy grub pie, but this will definitly come in handy. Not gonna lie a little nervous about it as my Axie is a jumpy one and isn’t a fan of being handled.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Many thanks for this, I’ll most likely wait another day or two while I try him with salmon pieces and repashy grub pie, but this will definitly come in handy. Not gonna lie a little nervous about it as my Axie is a jumpy one and isn’t a fan of being handled.

I wouldn’t personally use johns, but that’s just because I don’t like the idea of any salt in my lotl tanks. But I know Calagary has had great success with it. So, is basically comes down to opinion. And that’s sounds good! I understand why you wouldn’t want to force feed, since your lotl is jumpy.

 

[BigAl]

Oh good 7.8 is good

Yes johns and holtfreters do not acutally have that much salt in them by thebtime ypu dose them.

I used to always keep 1 tbsp per 5-10g in all my tanks and switched to johns which adds other elements and actually back off the salt. My filters are all fully cycled no issues.

HHC - Johns Solution by Volume

You can use either the fish or reptile - I personally use the fish version as it holds up a little better.

Pellet wise the ones I have found are higher quality.

Repashy grub pie
Rangen moist sinking pellets
Northfin Jumbo fish 4mm or 6mm
Hikari sinking carnivore
Omega One shrimp pellets

Lots of options then! I’m going to purchase the repashy, some new pellets, the components needed for johns and a spatula- just incase it comes down to force feeding. Once again can’t thank yous enough for this

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Its actually science not opinion Bindi

You understand all water has dissolved solids those solids are salts and are highly beneficial.

If you use RO water do you k ow what you add to remineralize it? Holtfreters solution which is the same as the commercial seachem products.

Please dont assume things

I wouldn’t personally use johns, but that’s just because I don’t like the idea of any salt in my lotl tanks. But I know Calagary has had great success with it. So, is basically comes down to opinion. And that’s sounds good! I understand why you wouldn’t want to force feed, since your lotl is jumpy.

 

[BigAl]

Lots of options then! I’m going to purchase the repashy, some new pellets, the components needed for johns and a spatula- just incase it comes down to force feeding. Once again can’t thank yous enough for this

Also the link you sent me mentions what to use per gallon - are these us gallons? If they are it’s ok I can convert them just wanna know to get the proportions rifht

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Yes. US Gallons 1g = 3.78l

Also the link you sent me mentions what to use per gallon - are these us gallons? If they are it’s ok I can convert them just wanna know to get the proportions rifht

 

[BigAl]

Yes. US Gallons 1g = 3.78l

That’s great thanks

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Its actually science not opinion Bindi

You understand all water has dissolved solids those solids are salts and are highly beneficial.

If you use RO water do you k ow what you add to remineralize it? Holtfreters solution which is the same as the commercial seachem products.

Please dont assume things

As I said Calagary, I realize you’ve had great success with it. However, I don’t like the the idea of it and have read several horror stories about it.