Abnormal eating behavior, just noticed swollen cloaca?

[KOsika]

Honestly? I wouldn't even know where to get something like that, even if I wanted to. Where do you get bloodworms?

I do have a good update though! I've had a really busy week so I haven't had time to drop in but Steve is finally eating again! He's moving around much more normally and comes up to the front of the tank to see me. He doesn't catch the pellets as they fall like he used to but if I drop on in and leave it, he finds it. Some days he still won't take the food but at least sometimes eating is a good start!

I guess he got sick from all the ammonia in the water. If the tank was partially cycled, then there was probably a lot of nitrite and nitrate too. I didn't check since the water was bloody by the time I thought to check. I should have tested the tap water before I put him in. I trusted that the water here was fine but i was so wrong. I almost cost him his life by not checking and I'm not making that mistake again.

Gonna keep an eye on him to make sure there's no more blood from any lasting injuries but I think he's going to be fine

 

[Genny]

I'm so glad to hear that he's doing better!!

You should get a testing kit to test your water, they last for years (got mine 3 years ago and it's good till 2020 as the bottles all have an expiry) so they're handy to have around in general if you've got aquatic pets.

Unfortunately some places don't have the best tap water for sensitive beings like Axi's, it should be better regulated but that's cheapskates for you :/

I get my bloodworm frozen in a tray a bit like a cross between a blister pack pill packet and an ice cube tray. They come right from my local pet store and are kept in a tiny freezer there. Once bought, i keep them in my freezer and defrost when they feel like a treat You can also get live bloodworm from pet shops dealing with fish sometimes, but the frozen is cheaper, so I only get that for fun if I'm there. Also you've got the added benefit of knowing that if they've been in the freezer for so long, any bacteria or parasites they may have come in contact with ever would be dead. Not that I've ever had a problem feeding them the live stuff or even with any fungus, parasites or bacterial infections! I'm incredibly lucky.