Axie not eating

Mine eat mostly blood worms ( they like them the best) If he did throw them up might want to wait a day or so to try and feed again.
 
it looks like a poo pellet to me,
at his size it wont hurt for him to go a day without food this might re-stimulate his appetite.
 
Well he's now got fungus, fun fun fun, some patches on his body and at the tips of some of his gills...
 
Just gave him a salt bath and all the fungus came off, it took some gill filaments with it, but was surprised at how easily it feel off.

The poor guys extraordinarily skinny now, his head is about an inch wide and his body is maybe half an inch, or less, you can see all the bones in his legs, right down to the metacarpals. I'm still offering food every day but he won't even look at it, or have a half hearted snap at it, he just ignores it...

I read that fungal infection can cause loss of appetite and stress, could that be what this is?
 
Starting to think Euthanasia would be best for Pendragon. He's sooo thin, and he's completely stopped moving now as well, the only times he's moved is when I've moved him (moving him to salt bath). The fungus came back overnight as expected, but now it's on all his gills and theres patches all over his body, he's obviously stressed, his dorsal fin is shrinking fast as well.
 
Have you put him in the fridge?
 
No where to fridge him, Mum's a textile artists and all the fridges we have have dyes in them, and considering what they can do to people, I don't want to stick an axie in an enclosed space with them. I thought I might try adding icecubes to his tank though...
 
Hi Emma,

75% is too much to change. By removing that much water you are not allowing the tank a chance to cycle properly. Cycling is your tank developing its own collection of healthy bacteria that help to deal with waste and ultimately help control the quality of your water.

Axolotls have a slime coat which acts as a natural protective barrier. It looks as if this is what is coming off your axie rather than skin.

I suggest you put your axie in the fridge for a week or so while you have a look at your tank setup.

I am the advocate for no substrate and as such I say take out the sand get some nice slate slabs and a turkey baster. There are some good photos in the gallery on this site for ideas.

I have slate slabs and bare tank floor and it is really easy to keep clean I have a 160 Litre tank and the appropriate sized filter for a tank with three (soon to be 4) axies. This tank has been cycled for about three months and I still do weekly 20% water changes and have no water problems. I do daily spot cleans with the turkey baster and a thorough weekly clean when I do the water changes. I never clean the plants and only clean the front of the tank so I am sure to always have a healthy bacteria colony.

Hope this helps

Good Luck
 
The tank was cycled before he went in, so the water changes shouldn't have made a difference to the bacteria. Yah am changing over to bare bottom, I didn't realize how much axies pooped, was totally disgusting cleaning the sand off in my other axie tank. I can't see there being a problem with the set up, as Pendragon has the exact same set up as Morpheus, only differences are that Pendragon's sand is blue, Morpheus' is Purple, Pendragon has a glass tank, and Morpheus a plastic tank.

Bacteria congregates in the filter, barely 0.1% percent can be found on plants, glass or substrate, and total water changes will not make a difference to the bacteria colony as long as you keep the media under water at all times. Although I'm a novice with axies, I've kept fish for a long time, and understand basic water chemistry and whats required. The large water changes, I've used before with other amphibians and with fish and have always had fantastic results. My other axie Morpheus gets 75-90% water changes twice a week without a problem.

Okay just cleared the fridge out of dyes, Mum's pissed, since were virtually dumping $300 worth of quality dyes, we've stuffed as much as we can in the other fridge, but a lot is still going to have to be used in the next week or thrown out. The fridge doesn't say what temperature it is, and I couldn't find a thermometer anywhere that went that low, so I've just turned the temperature control up as far as it will go, and added in a couple of bottles of water for water changes,

How often should I be doing water changes? every day? every second day? and should I keep offering him food? or just leave him?
 
I'm sorry to hear he's not doing to well ( love the name) , When he's in the fridge you'll need to do daily water changes . Keep a bottle of dechlorinated water water ready in the fridge for the next water change. I currently have a small axolotl languishing in the fridge ( lost all its tail up to its back legs when he escaped to find dad!he is now known a s the 1/2 axolitlle) , he is in a lidded clear plastic container with a cloth wrapped around to diffuse the light when the kids break into the fridge for goodies. I change the water daily and leave in his case some live food for company. He's left alone till the next water change ... the food is gone and he has then lefty me a small gift in return.
I had been about to suggest using perhaps a cool box as an alternative, but you'll need to keep the ice packs regularly changed ( not in his container but out side) .. :]
 
Hi Emma,

I am interested about where you have gotten your statistics from. Everything I have read and researched would suggest that 75%-90% water changes would be excessive and not recommended. Also 0.1% bacteria on plants substrates and glass sounds a bit random. Surely there would be too many variable factors such as tank size, substrate, numbers of plants and water volume, to be able to accurately calculate the percentage of bacteria growth and suggest a mean.

I don't mean to sound rude or demeaning but fungus is a fairly good indicator that all is not well with the health of your tank. Unless it has been introduced. If you have not already have a look at www.axolotl.org its got heaps of good information.

I don't think you should euthanase your axie. There are many breeders and keepers in your area that would be only too happy to take it off your hands

Buts its only advice its offered freely and yours to take or not.

Good Luck
 
The axie is new, and he's still in his quarantine period, so he could easily have been carrying something... I've only had him for a few weeks.

The large water changes simulate natural environment, most creatures do not live in a pool, thats highly stocked. In the wild the habitats would be sparsely stocked with life and most have fresh water running through all the time, which means their in constantly fresh water. By simulating this it encourages growth, and health. These large water changes also help during quarantine periods, as any bacteria in the water (ie ich, or whitespot) is removed continuously, helping out with the overall health of the animal. If I could I would install a continuous water change system in the tanks, but since I can't I do large water change instead, it's always worked well before, and I've kept quite a few tanks...

I've had a look at axolotls.org, which is where I got the info for salt baths etc off, but it doesn't help with the not eating thing.

I don't know of any breeders or keepers in the Hunter Valley, I've sure advertised enough offering to adopt axies, or take larvae or eggs. No one in my area responded, which is why I bought two adults. If someone is around here, I'd be happy for them to have a look at him, or suggest some medications I can access to help him out...
 
Pendragon died today, he'd been getting slower and slower and much weaker, he still wouldn't eat and even with salt baths, the fungus took over his gills and was beginning to cover his body. At least he isn't in pain anymore.

Just thought I'd let you know
Emma
 
Sorry to hear hope you feel better soon.
 
so sorry, i know its no consulation but you did the best you could for him.
 
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