Needing advice after axolotl death

[jhorner]

I got an axolotl from my local pet store yesterday. he was alive and swimming around all night, I woke up this morning and he was dead. ): what could I have done differently for next time? I did a lot of research before getting it so I’m pretty bummed out that this happened. I’ve attached pictures of the tank, the ammonia levels in the vile, the test strip, and the temperature of the tank. Looking for any advice of this does not happen again.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

First, I am so so so sorry this happened! 10,000 sympathies.


Second, the ammonia level is way too high. Did you cycle the tank before getting the axolotl? It takes about a month to cycle it and high ammonia is a sign of a uncycled tank. Or, in the case of my axolotl, whenever she pukes, she floods the tank with ammonia, necessitating an immediate water change.

What are you using to test the water? Is that an API fresh water master test kit? I think it says API on the vial, is that true?

Again, super sorry this happened. Perhaps your little buddy was sick to begin with. I've heard and seen some nightmarish things as far as pet stores and axolotls are concerned.

 

[jhorner]

First, I am so so so sorry this happened! 10,000 sympathies.


Second, the ammonia level is way too high. Did you cycle the tank before getting the axolotl? It takes about a month to cycle it and high ammonia is a sign of a uncycled tank. Or, in the case of my axolotl, whenever she pukes, she floods the tank with ammonia, necessitating an immediate water change.

What are you using to test the water? Is that an API fresh water master test kit? I think it says API on the vial, is that true?

Again, super sorry this happened. Perhaps your little buddy was sick to begin with. I've heard and seen some nightmarish things as far as pet stores and axolotls are concerned.

I did but not for a whole month maybe a week or 2.. And Yes API. It wasn’t that high until after the axolotl was in there.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

Yeah, your little buddy produced the ammonia. 2 weeks is a pretty good jump on a cycled tank, 4 is the average I hear, but I don't think adding him, him producing that ammonia, leading to what happened, I don't think that's the cause. I think he was sick ahead of time. I can't see an axolotl producing THAT much ammonia without something happening. Like I said, mine threw up once and SHOT her ammonia up to like 2.0 with the API test. It was my fault, I took her out of her tank to clean it, and I fed her a worm, and rather I only waited like 5 minutes before picking her up and putting her in the tank, and I guess that was too soon after a meal, she puked, big problem.

Again, I am very sorry. I don't think you did anything overtly wrong. Tank looked good, you had a nice sponge filter set up, digital thermometer, the temp was good. If you have your heart set on an axolotl, I would look around for reptile shows or whatever they're called. That's how we got our axolotl 3 years ago. But, I do not know if those are even happening given the pandemic's ongoing complications.

 

[MnGuy]

I’m sorry about your loss. It sounds like your tank was not cycled. You said there the ammonia levels in it “wasn’t that high” before you added the axolotl. There should be zero ammonia in a cycled tank.

I’m not trying to make you feel bad but it’s very important to know what happened here so you can succeed the next time. Please cycle your tank much longer than two weeks and do not add any animal of any kind until ammonia is reading zero for several days. Do not add a new axolotl into the tank right now.

Good luck.