Axolotl jumped out of tank :(

[Marissa]

Hello,

I'm new here but I had to join and make a post because I'm really worried about my axolotl Freddie. He's a cute little guy but he's really active. 2 days ago I visited family and when I returned to my home the next day I found Freddie on my floor stuck between the wall and my fishtank stand. He somehow escaped my covered tank! I have no idea how long he was on my floor because I was gone for the night. When I moved the stand out of the way, I picked him up and put him back in the tank. He was a little moist but covered in carpet fluff. He floated around at first but then swam/sunk to the bottom. He's not moving much. It looks like his fall injured his tail and face badly. His gills are curled forward and he twitches them sometimes. I've been trying to feed him since I got back yesterday and he didn't react at all when usually he sucks up everything. Today when I tried feeding him he did react but he turned away and then threw up the bloodworms I fed him before I left to visit my family. His tank was fully cycled, in the right temperature, and I tested the water and found no problems with it. What should I do to help Freddie? Please let me know. Any feedback is appreciated!

Marissa

 

[charleybambino]

I think you're doing all you can....he might just need time to recover from the trauma and stress to his body. I would just continue to offer food but don't stress him or yourself....that's about all you can do....good luck.....let us know how he gets on.

 

[Charlotl]

Just so you are aware you should not fridge him. It is something that new owners tend to jump to needlessly but it actually just stresses them out and will make things worse. All you can do is wait and keep trying to feed him. Could you try small chunks of earth worm? Maybe the movement would perk him up for eating.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

That must not have been a fun experience for Freddie. Hopefully, he's learned a painful lesson from it

Axolotls usually survive these things as you have found out by now. Glad to hear Freddie is alive and well to this day. Hopefully, you'll show us a picture of how big he's gotten.