Fluffinmuffins
New member
I have had my axolotl since he was the size of the tip of my finger. Watched him grow and hand fed frozen bloodworms. He grew into a large and beautiful axolotl. Although, a little on the chunky side. He would follow me around his tank upon seeing me, and even swim into my hands. I’m devastated by this loss. I never knew how much this could affect me. Today, I found him upright, against the side of his tank by the sponge filter. Gills completely white. I nudged him and a couple of bubbles were expelled, but I knew he was gone. He had a mucus coming from his body as well. I immediately broke down. I loved this guy so much.
Yesterday, he seemed fine although he wouldn’t take his usual earthworm. The day prior he seemed to gag when trying to feed him as well and refused. Still active enough, pink gills, no curling, and no curled tail. I can’t really recall a single time he ever had curled gills or tail. His tank has been fully cycled for a year with no water parameter issues. I change water regularly (generally 25%, sometimes 40%) and also top off water due to evaporation from the fan I use to keep his tank cool. Fully dechlorinated water was always used. I have two sponge filters running in the tank. Tank temperature is 68 degrees on a regular basis.
I am quite upset at the loss of my axolotl. I’ve had tanks in the past, but never an axie. I buried my little guy just this morning and it was absolutely heartbreaking. What could have caused his sudden passing? There were no signs that there was something wrong, aside from refusing to eat for two days. Being a first time axolotl owner I thought surely if there was something amiss, his gills would curl or his tail, or he would frequently gasp for air at the top of his tank. Something that would give me a hint he wasn’t well. None of these things happened. He had beautiful long gills, no visible fungus or injuries, nothing that would lead me to believe he was going to die so suddenly.
I fed him on frozen bloodworms to start as a baby, then switching to live blackworms until he was large enough to take an earthworm or night crawler. I thought I did everything right. He had a thin layer of sand as substrate. Pooped regularly. He never was one to use hides, but he still had one in the event that he wanted to. His tank is/was 20 gallons. I’m not sure at this point if I will be getting another axolotl. I am heartbroken about this loss. Totally heartbroken. In the event that I do decide to get more aquatic life, should I fully sanitize this tank and the sponge filters and fully re-cycle it? I still have it running, even without my beautiful axie inside. What a terrible loss this has been. I love axolotls, I’m just not sure I want to experience this kind of loss again.
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-40ppm
pH-7.6
Yesterday, he seemed fine although he wouldn’t take his usual earthworm. The day prior he seemed to gag when trying to feed him as well and refused. Still active enough, pink gills, no curling, and no curled tail. I can’t really recall a single time he ever had curled gills or tail. His tank has been fully cycled for a year with no water parameter issues. I change water regularly (generally 25%, sometimes 40%) and also top off water due to evaporation from the fan I use to keep his tank cool. Fully dechlorinated water was always used. I have two sponge filters running in the tank. Tank temperature is 68 degrees on a regular basis.
I am quite upset at the loss of my axolotl. I’ve had tanks in the past, but never an axie. I buried my little guy just this morning and it was absolutely heartbreaking. What could have caused his sudden passing? There were no signs that there was something wrong, aside from refusing to eat for two days. Being a first time axolotl owner I thought surely if there was something amiss, his gills would curl or his tail, or he would frequently gasp for air at the top of his tank. Something that would give me a hint he wasn’t well. None of these things happened. He had beautiful long gills, no visible fungus or injuries, nothing that would lead me to believe he was going to die so suddenly.
I fed him on frozen bloodworms to start as a baby, then switching to live blackworms until he was large enough to take an earthworm or night crawler. I thought I did everything right. He had a thin layer of sand as substrate. Pooped regularly. He never was one to use hides, but he still had one in the event that he wanted to. His tank is/was 20 gallons. I’m not sure at this point if I will be getting another axolotl. I am heartbroken about this loss. Totally heartbroken. In the event that I do decide to get more aquatic life, should I fully sanitize this tank and the sponge filters and fully re-cycle it? I still have it running, even without my beautiful axie inside. What a terrible loss this has been. I love axolotls, I’m just not sure I want to experience this kind of loss again.
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-40ppm
pH-7.6
I’m trying to keep my tank cycled, while I figure out exactly what I want to do. I did thoroughly clean it in the meantime. Losing a pet is never easy. This was just so heartbreaking for me. You don’t realize how much you love them until they are gone. I just always thought I’d have some sign that something was amiss, but you never can predict these things I suppose. I so much appreciate the kind words.