Axie Air Gulps

[Rumoi]

Question for all fellow axolotl lovers (aren't they the cutest?)

My 1 year-old axolotls ( 1 wild, 1 golden albino and 1 golden) have been going up to the surface for air.
I know they do this occasionally, for air, buoyancy, fun and such. I love seeing them do this but, over the past few days I've noticed them doing it much more constantly. It went from a few random times a day to probably once hour.... sometimes even a few times an hour.

My water parameters seem fine, their gills are healthy looking, I have sand and live plants (with a few small guppies for midnight snacks)

The temperature has been a bit warm due to the weather and lack of ac in my house. I've been adding chilled water, and blowing a fan on the surface to help lower it.

What could be causing them to go to the surface so often? Could it be since the water is warmer? Or is it just that (after all this time) the water isn't circulating enough/low on oxygen and needs an air stone added? (currently don't have one since they seemed fine with just the plants.)

 

[Holly12]

Have you actually tested the water parameters? It could be that something is slightly off?

 

[Rumoi]

Yup. Everything seemed to be alright I thought.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate closest to 20 but a little bit darker so probably 20-30.
Ph is a little lower than i prefer at around 6.7/6.8. (Probably due to my driftwood) I've considered adding an air stone to try raise it slightly. I would prefer it to be up around 7-7.5 myself but, I was told this was alright for axies, especially if it isn't fluctuating, so i haven't worried.

 

[Holly12]

Maybe it's just the heat? Do they have a filter? Is it pulling through enough water to agitate the surface and oxygenated the water? You can try adding an air stone. I added one because the surface was going oily from low movement. I'm not aware of air stone changing ph. It's just air. Keep an eye out for curled gills and tails and see what the rest of their behaviour is like for a few days.

 

[Rumoi]

My filter is good, it agitates the surface a little. I also have the fan i use to help cool the water by blowing cool air on the surface.

I heard somewhere that less carbon dioxide can raise ph. So supposedly more aeration (so the air stone) should raise it. Won't know unless i try. Can't hurt anything.

I've kept my eye out and they don't seem to be showing any other stress sign. Gills seem fine, tails seem fine, no heat patches etc.

I'm just not sure if they are gulping air just because, or if I'm missing some problem.

 

[Donna001]

Warm water contains less oxygen that cooler water, so it is possible that in the warmer temperatures they are trying to get more oxygen. Try adding an airstone, which will help increase surface movement which will help to add oxygen to your water.
pH is an indication (but not an absolute value) of water hardness. Water hardness is more important than pH, which can fluctuate without impacting on your water hardness. Whatever you do, do not use any aquatic chemicals (such as API range) to adjust your pH.
Best of luck and please keep us posted on your progress. :happy:

 

[Rumoi]

I never knew that about warm and cold water! Thanks Hopefully I can get the temperature to lower to a better temp again, if not I'll have to look into my options there. (I dislike having to worry that it will rise too high)

I'll try adding an air stone in the morning and hopefully that will make them more comfortable
I try not add anything to my water except the conditioner to remove chlorine. ^_^ from what I've heard most of the additives are designed for fish or plants and not axolotls.