A little worried...axolotl keeps swimming to the top

[generalbutton]

I know it's normal for them to want to get air every so often, but lately my axie has been starving for it. It goes for air every few minutes which is worrying. I tested everything, but I think my master test kit is faulty. It just says everything is at zero :/ i ordered a new one last night, so hopefull soon I'll actually know.

Also I have a separate kit I got a while before that only tests ammonia, and it says that it's around .25. The tank was cycled before this started happening and the axie has never behaved like this before. Did it crash? Is it some sort of mini cycle?? I have a sponge filter and I did a water change just yesterday. I don't know what to do

 

[cabbysarus]

Are you using the liquid test kits?

 

[Creepella]

I guess your axie's gills look normal?

Maybe you could try adding an air stone to increase the oxygen in the water? I did that in my tanks because they're still cycling and the oxygen helps the bacteria grow faster. Just add a $2 gang valve to your pump to split the air flow.

 

[Swag]

If you're worried then more water changes can't hurt anything. If you haven't then you could rinse your filter media (in the old tank water during a water change, not in tap water) which always helps. Other than that wait it out and see if he stops, maybe he just really likes air.