Axie extremely thin and refuses to eat

[GWelsh1]

My axolotl Sprig who's about 2 years old has been having this ongoing problem since January. He's started to refuse food or eats it and throws it all up 30 - 60 minutes later. He's gotten so skinny from it I can see his hip bones. I've been desperately trying to feed him and trying other foods that he would be willing to eat. Originally he would eat pellets and was happy with them until around January when he began to spit them out and refuse to eat them. I've tried salmon, tuna, other kinds of pellets, shrimp (dead and alive), and frozen beef heart. For a little he only ate salmon and he began to poop again and I was hopeful until he spiraled downhill again and refused to eat that. Throughout this mess I tested my water in the tank and at home and realized the nitrates were extremely high even just coming from my home water source. I switched to buying spring water at the store and did water changes often but it didn't help his condition. I then tubbed him and do water changes daily in case it is the water thats the problem. He's been tubbed about a month now and still no improvements. The tank is now dropped down to 20/40 for nitrates and everything else hasn't changed (0 ammonia, 0 nitrate, 7.4/7.6 pH). Even with him tubbed he doesn't eat. He still spits everything out and is extremely skinny. Just today I noticed some of the skin peeling off his toes and I'm devastated. I don't know what to do or what is causing this. Could it be an internal problem? Parasites? He's never been disinterested in food and everywhere I've gotten advice hasn't helped him. He hasn't pooped because he hasn't eaten in so long so I dont know what a vet could do to test if it could be an internal parasite issue. His gills are small and even with daily water changes they haven't changed or grown at all. I'm so upset and need help

 

[wolfen]

have you tried using any other frozen food ie. bloodworm/krill/brine shrimp/mysis/chopped cockle/chopped mussel also chopped cooked peeled prawns.
how is he with earthworms and any live fish.
what is the tap nitrate level?
is the spring water mineral?
what is the water temperature and is there a air-stone in it?
make sure to scrub clean any tubs used to house him to prevent bacteria build up.
use holtfreters solution or modified solution in any water used to house him, info here Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
add a almond/catappa leaf in the tub as it can be beneficial.
can you post a picture of your axolotl and the tank set up.

 

[GWelsh1]

have you tried using any other frozen food ie. bloodworm/krill/brine shrimp/mysis/chopped cockle/chopped mussel also chopped cooked peeled prawns.
how is he with earthworms and any live fish.
what is the tap nitrate level?
is the spring water mineral?
what is the water temperature and is there a air-stone in it?
make sure to scrub clean any tubs used to house him to prevent bacteria build up.
use holtfreters solution or modified solution in any water used to house him, info here Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
add a almond/catappa leaf in the tub as it can be beneficial.
can you post a picture of your axolotl and the tank set up.

I haven’t tried those kinds of frozen foods I’ll have to give them a go. He’s never liked worms but I’ve never tried live fish what kind of fish would they eat? The tap nitrate was at like 40 but I no longer use it. We live on well water and have had ongoing issues with it but I’ve been buying just plain spring water. It doesn’t say anything’s added to it on the label. The tank sits at room temp around 64/66 degrees and it does have an air stone. And once I tubbed him I scrubbed the tank (kept about 1/4 of the original water) and replaced the other 3/4 with new spring water and have been letting it sit and watching it’s parameters which have all been good. Where can you get almond leaves from?

 

[wolfen]

I haven’t tried those kinds of frozen foods I’ll have to give them a go. He’s never liked worms but I’ve never tried live fish what kind of fish would they eat? The tap nitrate was at like 40 but I no longer use it. We live on well water and have had ongoing issues with it but I’ve been buying just plain spring water. It doesn’t say anything’s added to it on the label. The tank sits at room temp around 64/66 degrees and it does have an air stone. And once I tubbed him I scrubbed the tank (kept about 1/4 of the original water) and replaced the other 3/4 with new spring water and have been letting it sit and watching it’s parameters which have all been good. Where can you get almond leaves from?

even at 40ppm the nitrate levels still fall under the safe levels even though they aren't ideal, max tolerant levels are 110ppm. see here for ideal and tolerant levels Water Quality Explained: How It Can Affect Your Axolotl's Health - WSAVA 2015 Congress - VIN
it might be a idea to recycle the tank whilst he isn't in it or at least feed the filter bacteria otherwise without any waste in the tank producing ammonia the filter bacteria will die.
what problems are you experiencing with the well water?. if it is a case of hard water then that would be more ideal then bottled.
see about getting the tank/tub water cooler, more towards 15°c/59°f. colder is always better.
might be an idea to see about some live plants to remove some of the nitrates.
if you can get the kh and gh tested, high kh and gh is good, low being bad, if both are low use holtfreters solution or modified (johns is the easiest but I find 2g salt to be the best level) in any water that contains your axolotl, if both are high just use 2g per litre marine salt in any water that contains your axolotl.
small live bearing fish such as guppies/platys/mollys are ideal food.
make sure the tub contains a air-stone, feed at night, clean in the morning changing the water every 24hrs.
almond leaves can be brought online normally through sites like ebay.