Air Bubbles in Axies?

[lilrubbish]

Hello everyone! I am a nervous new mom to an axolotl named Moonie. I believe she's around 4 inches long, but doesn't look like she's reached sexual maturity yet. Her tank is usually about 70° (I know, it's supposed to be under 70, I've been trying new ways to get it lower). I try to keep it out of sunlight and it's 20 gallons. I have some large rocks at the bottom (they are bigger than her head, but I still plan on taking them out soon). I've had her for about three months now. Please help me figure out what I'm doing wrong.

The first couple of months we had Moonie she was a dream; very active and social, ate LOTS (usually 1-2 whole night crawlers a day), and seemed happy from what I could tell. But the last probably two weeks she's been very slow, lethargic, and not really eating. She might eat one tiny piece of worm every two or three days. She looks very skinny to me. From what I've researched, it seems like she might have air bubbles- she seems "stuck" at the top of her tank all the time, and sometimes will be trying to turn around and barrel roll or something instead. The other day she sank to the bottom on her side and sat there like that for a minute (scaring the crap out of me and my partner) but then got up bobbed back to the top. I don't know what to do. It seems like she'll pass the air bubble after a couple of days, and then get another one later that day. What causes these bubbles? Is there anything I can do to help prevent them? Could it be something else?

Please don't attack me, I promise I'm trying my best and doing all the research I can! Just need some help for my girl

 

[lilrubbish]

Hello everyone! I am a nervous new mom to an axolotl named Moonie. I believe she's around 4 inches long, but doesn't look like she's reached sexual maturity yet. Her tank is usually about 70° (I know, it's supposed to be under 70, I've been trying new ways to get it lower). I try to keep it out of sunlight and it's 20 gallons. I have some large rocks at the bottom (they are bigger than her head, but I still plan on taking them out soon). I've had her for about three months now. Please help me figure out what I'm doing wrong.

The first couple of months we had Moonie she was a dream; very active and social, ate LOTS (usually 1-2 whole night crawlers a day), and seemed happy from what I could tell. But the last probably two weeks she's been very slow, lethargic, and not really eating. She might eat one tiny piece of worm every two or three days. She looks very skinny to me. From what I've researched, it seems like she might have air bubbles- she seems "stuck" at the top of her tank all the time, and sometimes will be trying to turn around and barrel roll or something instead. The other day she sank to the bottom on her side and sat there like that for a minute (scaring the crap out of me and my partner) but then got up bobbed back to the top. I don't know what to do. It seems like she'll pass the air bubble after a couple of days, and then get another one later that day. What causes these bubbles? Is there anything I can do to help prevent them? Could it be something else?

Please don't attack me, I promise I'm trying my best and doing all the research I can! Just need some help for my girl

Oh and I forgot to mention, she's been curling her tail every now and then the past couple of days. Something just doesn't seem right

 

[Murk]

Yeah, this is not a healthy axolotl.
I don't think the problem has to do with air bubbles; the floating is probably just a sign of stress and bad health in general. She's definitely underweight, but loss of appetite can be causes by stress or bad water quality as well.

First things first: water parameters. Do you have any recent ammonia, nitrite and nitrate values?

 

[lilrubbish]

Yeah, this is not a healthy axolotl.
I don't think the problem has to do with air bubbles; the floating is probably just a sign of stress and bad health in general. She's definitely underweight, but loss of appetite can be causes by stress or bad water quality as well.

First things first: water parameters. Do you have any recent ammonia, nitrite and nitrate values?

I've actually found and been in contact with a local pet shop that is knowledgeable on axies and we think it's a fungal infection. My parameters are all good except for my nitrates, which are off the chart high. They sold me some "medicine" that they use for their axolotls (can't remember what it's called, but I guess it turns your water blue?) and instructed me to do daily 25% water changes. Hopefully it works and we'll see improvement!!