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Deleted member 46984
Guest
I have a really bad/big situation currently going on I am begging for help with I do not know what to do!
SHORT VERSION:
I found out that I had metal that was rusting inside my 55 gallon tank with 3 axolotls inside. During this time, one layed eggs and the eggs were moved with the metal decor to a separate container which it appears the eggs touching the metal have been the ones that did not devolp and the ones way from it seem to be devolping. Once I realized it was metal I removed it and did water changes, but I still have a lot of eggs that have rust color egg sacks all around them and do not know how to protect them or if I can, etc. This is my first time with axolotls giving birth, as well.
DETAILED VERSION:
I had purchased some aquarium items for my axolotl tank from Amazon and made sure the leaves were silk, etc. for their safety. I have 3 axolotls in a 55 gallon tank. I had the decor in there for at least 2-3 weeks and my axolotl happened to lay eggs (for the first time and very unexpectedly) during this time. I retrieved all the eggs and brought most of the decor with them as they were attached to it and I put them in a big container. I checked the water levels on the main tank after this and was shocked to find my cycle had completely crashed. At the time, I assumed it may have been due to the eggs, or the decor being moved, etc. and I did a big water change, which I used API water conditioner and since I was told that it can alter the water readings for 24 hours, I did not test again that day, but as my one axol particularly started to look worse and worse and his gills were quickly deteriorating it appeared, I decided to get all three of them out of there and I tubbed them with a plan of figuring out what was going on with the tank before putting them back inside. This was 2 days ago and in the meantime, I have been noticing that the eggs (some more than others) have this brown substance around their egg sacks and I noticed that the ones that had the most brown on them were all attached to a particular part of the decor and a lot of those are the ones that did not develop and were duds, compared to the rest that were not touching that part of the develop. It finally clicked in my mind that holy sh*t this decor may have metal inside of it. Sure enough, I cut the decor open and there it was - metal-- all through the decor. That is what the brown stuff is/was it was the rust which I know is very toxic to axolotls. I have always used water conditioner, which I hope has helped some with all of this, but when I transported them to their tubs and moved the eggs into new containers, I did not use API and had just decided to start using Prime Seacam instead based off others experiences, so I am all sorts of overwhelmed and have no idea what to do.
The babies are moving around/twitching inside their sacks, just here and there. I can see some have gills and look like they are on the right track, but then again I do not have anything to compare this to as I have never hatched them before.
1) Are my axolotls (the adults) going to die, or is there anything I can do to help them? They are still eating and seem better-ish than before.
2) Are the eggs/babies even going to have a chance anymore?? Should I remove the eggs that have rust around them and/or keep them away from the ones that don't?
3) Should I add API conditioner to the Seacam Prime or will the prime be enough to help with this?
4) What do I do to get my tank back in order so that it is safe? Do I need to do a 100% start over and cycle, continuing them tubbed, or what are my options here?
PLEASE HELP!
SHORT VERSION:
I found out that I had metal that was rusting inside my 55 gallon tank with 3 axolotls inside. During this time, one layed eggs and the eggs were moved with the metal decor to a separate container which it appears the eggs touching the metal have been the ones that did not devolp and the ones way from it seem to be devolping. Once I realized it was metal I removed it and did water changes, but I still have a lot of eggs that have rust color egg sacks all around them and do not know how to protect them or if I can, etc. This is my first time with axolotls giving birth, as well.
DETAILED VERSION:
I had purchased some aquarium items for my axolotl tank from Amazon and made sure the leaves were silk, etc. for their safety. I have 3 axolotls in a 55 gallon tank. I had the decor in there for at least 2-3 weeks and my axolotl happened to lay eggs (for the first time and very unexpectedly) during this time. I retrieved all the eggs and brought most of the decor with them as they were attached to it and I put them in a big container. I checked the water levels on the main tank after this and was shocked to find my cycle had completely crashed. At the time, I assumed it may have been due to the eggs, or the decor being moved, etc. and I did a big water change, which I used API water conditioner and since I was told that it can alter the water readings for 24 hours, I did not test again that day, but as my one axol particularly started to look worse and worse and his gills were quickly deteriorating it appeared, I decided to get all three of them out of there and I tubbed them with a plan of figuring out what was going on with the tank before putting them back inside. This was 2 days ago and in the meantime, I have been noticing that the eggs (some more than others) have this brown substance around their egg sacks and I noticed that the ones that had the most brown on them were all attached to a particular part of the decor and a lot of those are the ones that did not develop and were duds, compared to the rest that were not touching that part of the develop. It finally clicked in my mind that holy sh*t this decor may have metal inside of it. Sure enough, I cut the decor open and there it was - metal-- all through the decor. That is what the brown stuff is/was it was the rust which I know is very toxic to axolotls. I have always used water conditioner, which I hope has helped some with all of this, but when I transported them to their tubs and moved the eggs into new containers, I did not use API and had just decided to start using Prime Seacam instead based off others experiences, so I am all sorts of overwhelmed and have no idea what to do.
The babies are moving around/twitching inside their sacks, just here and there. I can see some have gills and look like they are on the right track, but then again I do not have anything to compare this to as I have never hatched them before.
1) Are my axolotls (the adults) going to die, or is there anything I can do to help them? They are still eating and seem better-ish than before.
2) Are the eggs/babies even going to have a chance anymore?? Should I remove the eggs that have rust around them and/or keep them away from the ones that don't?
3) Should I add API conditioner to the Seacam Prime or will the prime be enough to help with this?
4) What do I do to get my tank back in order so that it is safe? Do I need to do a 100% start over and cycle, continuing them tubbed, or what are my options here?
PLEASE HELP!
. I posted a couple pics of the cuties!
