Illness/Sickness: Another swelling issue- I'm new with these and really worried!

[GlassKisses]

Okay...I just got two axolotls about 2 weeks ago from a woman at my school who breeds them. I asked her how to tell the difference between boy and girl axolotls because, as a new owner, I have no idea (unfortunately). She said if one of them is a girl it will swell up and lay eggs. But....what do I do if they're both boys? Or what if they're both girls and I think they're boys because they never lay eggs? Do female axolotls lay eggs on their own or do they have to be...pregnant? I'm really confused...
Anyway, back to my original reason for posting this:
One of my axolotls (Reggie) is swelling up. She's not horrible...she's just bigger than she was before. I'm concerned though, because I have no idea why she is swollen. I think I've been feeding them more than they were eating before...but they both eat the same amount and Nikita (my other axolotl) doesn't look swollen at all. Do axolotls get fat? Is that even possible? It could also be that Reggie likes to eat the tank gravel. I frequently see Reggie putting it in his/her mouth and spitting it right back out. My fear is that s/he's swallowed some gravel and hasn't regurgitated it yet, and maybe that's why s/he's swelling up. I also don't know if it could be because s/he's pregnant. But seeing as I don't know the sex of either of them, I don't know if it's even possible for him/her to get pregnant...I don't know if they're both girls or both boys, or what.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can figure out what's wrong? I'm rather scared for Reggie. Nikita seems happy as a clam so I don't think anything is wrong with the water...but poor Reggie =( Please help me if you have any information that could be helpful!!!!!
Feel free to post on here or email me at glass_kisses@hotmail.com It would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!

 

[ianclick]

Hi Mylo and welcome to the site.

Have a look at www.axolotl.org it has lots of information about all things axolotl.

Yes axolotls can get fat, yes axolotls do swell up when they are full of eggs, yes they swell up when they are constipated or have an impaction.

If you have gravel as a substrate then there is an very high chance that your axolotl has ingested some. If it has it will most likely just simply pass it at some stage. Some members have found that placing your axie in the fridge in a tub of dechlorinated water can assist this process. The cooler temperature slows down the axolotls metabolism and helps it to pass a motion.

Which leads me to gravel as a substrate. Because of the risk of ingestion it is suggested to remove gravel and use sand or a bare floor or slate slabs just not gravel or pebbles.

Good Luck

 

[madeve]

Mylo,

I would start by removing the gravel, if it fits in your axies mouth odds are they can swallow it too and that may lead to complications.
It would be easier for us to help you if you could provide the following:
-pictures of your axies
-pictures of your set-up
-your water parameter (pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate)
-your water temperature
If you don't have a water test kit you can usually take a sample to a petshop and they should test it for you.
Also if you haven't already, have a look at www.axolotl.org it has everything you need to know to care for your new pets and answer some of your questions.
Good luck and if you have more questions you can always ask.
Eve

 

[GlassKisses]

Okay...
I will have to see what I can do as far as testing the water goes.
I'll take it to a pet store and get it checked...if they can't do it, I'll buy a kit. Previously I hadn't planned on buying a kit because the woman I recieved the axolotls from said I wouldn't need one as long as I dechlorinated the water and had a good filter, and kept the tank clean. I didn't think it had anything to do with the water though...wouldn't it affect both of my axolotls if something was wrong with the water? Anyway, I'll post that as soon as I find out what it is. I've taken my gold fish out of the tank already...he's been out of the tank since the first day after I put them in it. I found him slamming himself up against Reggie and I was afraid he would hurt her so I set up another tank for him; that couldn't have anything to do with the swelling, could it? I mean...he's not in there anymore and can't pick at her, and the swelling hasn't started until just recently (yesterday).
Here are my axolotls (Reggie is the white one, Nikita is the brownish black one) and their tank [I
hope you can see well enough]:

Obviously, this is the tank:

This is Reggie (Don't know if s/he looks swollen to you, but considering the fact that s/he looked like a stick with a head when I got him/her, she looks like it to me):

These are Reggie and Nikita together. Nikita looks about the same as when I got them....Reggie looks a bit bigger. I realize Reggie isn't hugely swollen, but I'm worried s/he will get that way:

Those are all the pictures I'm providing for now...but, am I freaking out over nothing? Should I be concerned? I don't know what to do. Is it normal to be this paranoid about them when you're new to the care of axolotls?

 

[Jacquie]

Okay...
I will have to see what I can do as far as testing the water goes.

The most important readings are for Ammonia (most important), Nitrite (Important), Nitrate (not important but handy to know as this is the first time the tank is being cycled) and PH (Important).

Ammonia and Nitrite should both read as '0' - anything higher is toxic to an axolotl.

I presume your tank has not yet been cycled?

This article explains cycling:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

If you have any questions regarding cycling, please feel free to ask it can be difficult to grasp.

I didn't think it had anything to do with the water though...wouldn't it affect both of my axolotls if something was wrong with the water?

If there is a water quality issue, it will effect them both, but some axolotls have a stronger constitution than others and can fight off illness better than others.

the swelling hasn't started until just recently (yesterday).

Well, if the axolotl is carrying eggs, she will lay them within 3-48 hours of spawning.

As previously recommended, I would remove that green gravel as soon as possible and replace with sand or leave tank bottom bare.

Suitable sand substrate is 'childrens play sand' as this has been sterilized, pool filter sand, or fresh water aquarium sand. Do not use beach or marine sand. Play sand is the cheapest option, other than leaving bare of course :happy:

By changing the substrate, you will also be able to tell if your axies have ingested gravel as they will start to poop it out and you can see it on the sand and then remove it. Fridging the axolotls is another option to aid them in passing the gravel if they are experiencing difficulty with passing the stones.

You will also need to add some hides to your aquarium so the axies can 'get away from it all' if they need to. The recommended amount of hides is twice the amount of hides per axolotl; ie. two axololts need four hides, three axolotls need six hides, etc. Axolotls don't mind company, but they do need to have 'time out' from one another and hides provide this refuge for them.

Cheers Jacq.

 

[GlassKisses]

Okay, I will replace the gravel with sand as soon as I can. I'm a little afraid to leave the bottom bare, though. For tonight, I think I may put them in a bucket full of cool water. I have other containers they can be kept in for a while until I can do something with the tank. How long would it take for them to either regurgitate or poop out the gravel? Is it like a couple of days or a couple of weeks? I'm taking them both out of the tank right now [I already took Reggie out and I'll be going back for Nikita in a few seconds] I have no idea what I'm going to do with all this gravel or when I'm going to be able to go for sand...but...I really hope this helps. I hope I can get the water tested soon...it might be a few days, seeing as I live outside of town and I have no license. But, I will definately see to this as soon as I can get it done. I was originally going to use sand in the tank but the woman I got my axolotls from said she uses gravel and I didn't need to worry about it. They were kept in gravel before I got them and they were fine...I don't understand why this is happening now...it's kind of weird that Reggie would just randomly swell up like that...if they swallow gravel, does it usually take a while before anything happens to them?
As far as the hides go...I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but I have one in there. I know it's not enough but until now I didn't know I needed more than one. It was just something I put in there until I could actually go and buy them something better to use. It's jsut a glass jar I covered with gravel so it would be dark.... So far, both of them have used it, so I'm guessing they like having a place to hide. As soon as I can I'd like to replace the gravel with sand, and put more plants and hides in there. When I set up their tank I only had $100 so I bought the filter and gravel first. I had all the other stuff from a fish tank I used to have set up. Oh! Speaking of fish...will it ever be safe to put my goldfish back in the larger tank? I think he liked all the extra room, and I feel bad having him in a smaller tank after being in the big one. Once I give the axolotls more places to get away and hide it should be safe, right? Like...you don't think my fish will pick at their gills or hurt them or anything? I'm just wondering, because it's only the one goldfish...

 

[Kerry1968]

Hi there Glasskisses,
Firstly, don't put your goldfish back in with your axies as yes, it WILL bite the axies gills! You must know what voracious appetites goldfish have!
Also I noticed you have what looks like pink coral in your tank? I just wanted to say axolotls skin is very delicate and if this IS coral then it might be a bit too sharp for them.
By the way, to me Reggie doesn't look swollen, just well fed, but I'm a new axie owner too so I may be wrong!
Good luck with sorting the tank out, Kerry.

 

[Jacquie]

Okay, I will replace the gravel with sand as soon as I can. I'm a little afraid to leave the bottom bare, though. For tonight, I think I may put them in a bucket full of cool water.

Hi Mylo,

I would just remove all the gravel and leave the axies in the tank.

They will be fine in a tank with no gravel. I'm not sure why you would be afraid of bare bottom tank? The only negative with a bare bottom tank is it is not visually pleasing. :happy: They are better off in the big tank than a small bucket...

If you do decide to keep the axies in a bucket or smaller container you will need to do 100% water change with dechlorinated water daily - axies release a lot of ammonia and in a confined space it can be deadly.

How long would it take for them to either regurgitate or poop out the gravel? Is it like a couple of days or a couple of weeks?...I was originally going to use sand in the tank but the woman I got my axolotls from said she uses gravel and I didn't need to worry about it. They were kept in gravel before I got them and they were fine...I don't understand why this is happening now...it's kind of weird that Reggie would just randomly swell up like that...if they swallow gravel, does it usually take a while before anything happens to them?

It depends...

It could all come out in a rush of days, weeks, months, have heard of cases where it took two years for the axolotl to pass a gravel stone. As long as your axies are eating well though, just be patient and keep them under observation.

If the axies seem to be having trouble passing the gravel, you can fridge them. There are plenty of threads on fridging procedures.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with all this gravel or when I'm going to be able to go for sand?

Can be used for gardens or Cacti

As I said above, axolotls are perfectly happy with a bare bottom tank.

...but...I really hope this helps. I hope I can get the water tested soon...it might be a few days, seeing as I live outside of town and I have no license. But, I will definately see to this as soon as I can get it done.

That's fine. While your tank is in the process of cycling which can take 1 - 3 months to complete, you will need to do daily 20% water changes to keep Ammonia and Nitrite levels under control. While your axies are living in this water, these partial water changes are ESSENTIAL.

Once cycling is complete, 10-20% water change need only be done once a week.

When you obtain your test kits, test the water each day if you can. When the Ammonia and Nitrite levels read at a consistant '0' and your Nitrate reading is between 10-60 - this indicates the cycle is complete.

As far as the hides go...I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but I have one in there. I know it's not enough but until now I didn't know I needed more than one. It was just something I put in there until I could actually go and buy them something better to use. It's jsut a glass jar I covered with gravel so it would be dark.... So far, both of them have used it, so I'm guessing they like having a place to hide. As soon as I can I'd like to replace the gravel with sand, and put more plants and hides in there. When I set up their tank I only had $100 so I bought the filter and gravel first. I had all the other stuff from a fish tank I used to have set up.

You don't necessarily need to buy hides...

Do you have any plastic garden pots? - you can weigh them down with those large glass rocks (just ensure all rocks in tank are bigger than axie's head) and there you have hides.

Terracotta pots are good as well, or bricks (ensure they are rinsed thoroughly before putting in the tank) - make great hides.

Some use slate slabs to make caves.

Have a look through the gallery - there are a lot of good setups in there.

Oh! Speaking of fish...will it ever be safe to put my goldfish back in the larger tank? I think he liked all the extra room, and I feel bad having him in a smaller tank after being in the big one. Once I give the axolotls more places to get away and hide it should be safe, right? Like...you don't think my fish will pick at their gills or hurt them or anything? I'm just wondering, because it's only the one goldfish...

Not a good idea, I'm sorry. The goldfish can cause a lot of damage to the axolotl's gills - it will bite at them. The axolotl will also look at the goldfish as food - an axolotls general thought process is "It's moving, it's smaller than me and fits in my mouth, YUM!". If the fish is too big, it can also get stuck in the axies mouth which is bad news for both of them.

Cheers Jacq.

 

[GlassKisses]

Okay, I will leave the tank bare on the bottom until I can go get sand or something. I don't really care about the visually pleasing part, I'm more worried about Reggie and Nikita's safety.

As far as using the plastic garden pots or anything...I don't have any. That's why I used the glass jar and covered it with gravel. I was kind of improvising. Hides are pretty cheap at our pet store here, so I think I'll just go buy them a few for the tank. Depending on the kind I buy, it shouldn't be much more expensive than the garden pots.

I liked your idea on what to do with the extra gravel. I might put a little more in Tanek's tank and then give the rest to my younger sister. She likes to garden so I'm sure she'll put it to good use.

Oh, and thank you for the information on cycling. I wasn't aware that I needed to replace 20% of the water everyday. I was aware that I needed to change it, but I wasn't sure how much water I needed to replace or how often.

Hmm...that sucks for Tanek. I guess he'll just have to live with the smaller tank. He's too big for Reggie or Nikita to eat (for now), but I still don't want him picking at either (or both) of them.

Thank you for the information!

P.S.
Sorry, I kind of hop around on the subject when I type.

 

[madeve]

Mylo,
I used to keep my axies on large pebbles (around 3 inches in diameter) but found out that all kinds of uneaten food and axie poo would hide under them and when cleaning my tank I ended up taking more like 40% (the recommended amount in a cycled tank is 20% per week) of my water out trying to get the gunk out.
I now keep them on a bare bottom tank and they don't seem to mind it too much, the only thing is that sometimes when they walk they seem to not be able to "grab" the floor and slip and slide instead (which is kinda cute).
I found that cleaning a bare bottom is much easier as you can see the mess.
Good luck and by the way your axies are really cute.
Eve

 

[GlassKisses]

Hmm...
Well, I am keeping it bare for a while until I can get sand, but perhaps that is best anyway if it's easier to clean, since I'm new at this anyway. I may keep it bare for a week or two to test it out and see if they like it. Thank you ^^