Axol been floating for weeks. Dont know what else to do!

[BoBo478]

I have began to become very worried about my poor axolotl. He has been floating for quite some time now. It wasnt so bad to start out with, slightly staying close to the top, then he kept having his fin on top of the water and now he is staying rolled on his side at the top all the time. My water parameters are fine, i've been doing frequent water changes(3-4 days), its been eating chopped earth worms and it has been pooping, poop is a solid oval pellet.

First I tried the water changes, then I read and tried gently rubbing its stomach hoping to relieve some gas but i didnt really know what I was doing, then i tried putting it in the fridge for 24 hours, and ive tried going about 4-5 days without feeding to see if clearing his stomach would help and nothing has seemed to help.

substrate is very fine sand
water has been at about 68F
hes about 5 or 6 inches long
he swims when i touch him but can stay at the bottom.
when i feed it, i place it in a small tupperware dish and feed it with tweezers.
there always seems to be a film on the top of the water when he is the tupperware and it has been like that for as long as i can remember. (it might have something to do with the worms when feed?

it shares a 30 gal tank with another axol thats about 3-4 inches long with a divider in the middle. the other axol has been fine but has seemed to stay closer to the top now as well but i think its trying to be close to the other axol. it doesnt seem to have anything forcing it to stay at the top.


Any input would be great because I have run out of ideas.
He is my favorite one and has been growing much faster and eating much more than his other tankmate
=((

 

[hannahll]

Check the water parameters

 

[Alkylhalide]

I agree. Always first check water parameters. It should be the first thing that should be done when something "just doesnt seem right" you may be surprised. And frankly id be happy if it was just a "water issue" its easier to resolve. Just put them in fresh water till you have the tank under control

To me it sounds like it isnt a bubble in his stomach because youd think it'd be out already.

Do you use dechlorinator and let your water stand for 24-48hours? Even the water yyou use in his tub to fee him. I heard not letting the water sit long enough could lead to air bubbles in their stomach.

Do you have aeration in your tank? He may be going to the surface to fill his lungs andforgetting to exhale.

And maybe you just have a "floater". And he literally just cant exhale the air in his lungs

Anyways whatever the reason is, until you figure it out id suggest either lowerin the water in your tank or putting him in a tub of fresh dechlorinated water doing 100% water changes daily. Having the water low enough that he doesnt stress over not being able to touch the ground will help a lot. You dont want him stressed over that as well.

 

[Tigermoth]

This happened to Toothless as I tried him on something else rather than his usual staple a few months ago. it sounds like he could be a bit windy, as with the other advice on tank changes see if a different food might suit him better for example Toothless eats pigs liver as his staple but Ox liver made him gassy, he hates wax wurms but will try a little teeney piece of prawn as a treat.

Axxies can be fine with one thing but not another a bit like what gives you indigestion may not give someone else indigestion even if it is good for you.

Good to know he is pooping well. try introducing a different food as his staple to see if this helps as well.

Signs of discomfort and indigestion is often floating with legs out and reluctant to move. handstands and lack of appetite check his behaviour for a couple of hours or so after feeding (but I don't expect you to stand guard over his tank over the duration) just a whether eye on how he has responded to a feed.

Hope this helps and he's a happy axxie xxx :happy:

 

[snuggly time]

My first thoughts are try feeding him on earthworms to be sure it's not the food. Also make sure your water is dechlorinated and you add the correct amount of dechlorinator into the water.