Axie floating

[Dan]

Hi,

I have two axolotls that I have had for six months now, one Charlie a female black axolotl, and Franky a white albino. I have used this site as a guest when I started and found it invaluable.

Problem:

Franky my white albino has not been eating normally, I usually feed them every second day, but he hasnt been eating right for the last week and a half. I had two gold fish in the tank with them but this week i notived one of the gold fish was annoying Franky and must have been stressing him out, so they have been removed but in the last couple of days he has been floating at the top of the water in the evenings and mornings and not moving aroung much, his veins become red sometimes so he looks like he has spider veins all over him. This moring I noticed that his back right foot is very red compared to the rest of him and looks real soar. So what I am wondering is if anyone has any ideas on how to get him better??

Tank detatils:

its a 600x450x450 tank, with white pebbles in the bottom, I have an aquarium chiller (due to past fulgal problems, was installed 3 weeks after axolots) that was set to 18 (goes from 18-19), which I have reduce to 16-17, with a external canister filter with a spray bar fitted, also an air pump. The ph is between 6.5 and 7, the nirite is 0, Nitrate is approx 20mg/L, (trying to get rid of that one).

Anyway I hope someone can give me some advice

cheers

 

[kapo]

Nitrate isn't a problem - it's normal in a cycled tank. Nitrate is only considered a problem if it exceeds 80ppm or mg/L

Have you tested your tank for ammonia?

I'd suggest putting him in a container and fridging him for at least a week; as long as your fridge temperature is 5C or higher.

You can use any foodsafe container with lid that fits him lengthwise. Use dechlorinated water and keep it low, just above his top fin so his feet rest on the bottom and so he doesn't float. Cover with lid, then wrap with dishcloth (to stop temperature and light fluctuations from normal fridge usage); and place in the fridge.

You'll also need to keep a bottle of dechlorinated water in the fridge so that you can do complete daily waterchanges on the container.

The fridge will slow his metabolism down and allow him to "chill" or destress. The fish may very well have been stressing them.

How big are the pebbles? - this may cause another issue (can lead to impaction/blockage leading to at worst an eventual prolapse and subsequent death). Axies can swallow anything smaller than than head and don't necessarily regurgitate it.

 

[Dan]

Thanks,

I just tested the amonia and it reads 0. Do I still try to feed him normally when he I put him in the fridge? The pebles are at biggest 1cm in diameter, I have been thinking of changing it to sand for some time, maybe now would be good. What is the best substrate for them, would you go sand?

 

[MistressOfAxies]

I've just recently replaced my tank with sand due to one of my axolotl's hardly eating & regurgitating now & then. Seems the best thing out. Someone recommended pool filter sand so that's your best bet. Just wash it out in buckets twice over when you get it as it is very murkey.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Dan, I am the no substrate advocate I have four axies in two tanks with a bare floor in both, axies have no trouble with movement and cleaning is a breeze. I also don't have the issues of food and waste getting trapped in the substrate or gas build up in sand.

Whilst I feel you could look at why your axie has stopped eating axies are able to survive for a long time with no food.

You could try a few days in the fridge it helps axies destress and wont harm it.

Good Luck

 

[Dan]

One more question, he still isnt eating, he is in the fridge and it is about seven degrees, so I was wondering if anyone knows wether they usually eat when they are in there, I know that there motabilism slows right down, but I just wish he would eat something as it has been so long, also his foot still looks really soar but he is using it, I will try to post a picture if I get a good one,

any reply will be helpful

 

[Dan]

Here is a photo, I will try to et a better one tomorrow