Axolotl on too heavy diet (stones)

[Zarge]

Our ~10cm long axolotl swallowed not one, but 2 head sized stones from the tank. Idea was to change into sand, but the little bugger got to it first as it grew. Axolotl is otherwise fine with the diet he has and nothing seems to be blocked in anyway.
It's just sad to see the poor thing trying to swim as it did earlier as it is much heavier with the stones.
Ofourse we changed to sand immediately after this.
It's been 2 weeks now and the situation is still the same.... Stones are too big to pass through the poor thing.
Anyone know if they can get that size objects out of their system on their own or is that the end of it?
Is there anyway to get it vomit or something?

 

[Jennewt]

Ugh. I don't know of anything you can do but wait and hope the stones pass through.

 

[Zarge]

Doubt headsized stones will come through.. from rearend atleast.
Don't axies have somekind of natural instinct to puke out stuff that dont melt, feel right or so?
I mean, it feels stupid that animal suffers or dies from something this simple. I know we went horribly wrong when there was stones small enough left to pass mouth and feeling very sad now, but surely they could do the same thing in their natural environment too, right?

 

[Samantha]

Ive recently been calling aroud a few vets to find one for my own axolotl. She has hurt her leg and im thinking it might need to be amputated. Poor thing. It was rather difficult finding a vet which has experience with axolotls but there are some that specialise in exotic pets and axolotls fit that category. Its just a matter of talking to the right people and being reffered to the right clinic.

While I was talking to some of the vets that specialise in Axolotls, one mentioned that a vet in their clinic has worked with many axolotls and has even performed surgery to remove stones. If you dont see any results or your axolotl begins to appear stressed this may be something you could consider.

It may prove to be a costly excercise though (im sure to find that out this afternoon when I take my axolotl in for her consult) but in the end it will all be worth it to see my axol happy and pain free again.

 

[kapo]

Zarge, what size is your axie, I may have missed it in reading, my eyes are tired and it's late here (early hours), so apols if I have.

Anyway, our adult axolotls spent just over a 18months pooing out various sized gravel and pebbles, the largest being about 2cm (one of those glass decorative round pebbles)! Previous owners had them on gravel/pebbles. Fridging an axolotl will cause it to vomit/poo but doesn't necessarily mean you'll see the gravel coming out any sooner.

 

[Zarge]

Zarge, what size is your axie, I may have missed it in reading, my eyes are tired and it's late here (early hours), so apols if I have.
Anyway, our adult axolotls spent just over a 18months pooing out various sized gravel and pebbles, the largest being about 2cm (one of those glass decorative round pebbles)! Previous owners had them on gravel/pebbles. Fridging an axolotl will cause it to vomit/poo but doesn't necessarily mean you'll see the gravel coming out any sooner.

Axie is about 11cm long now from head to tail. Its not gravel it swallowed, but round rocks about 1-2cm in diameter in his stomach.. I think

 

[Zarge]

Noticed today that the axie floated for few minutes. Sure looked funny.. then slowly landed.
Guess the rocks are starting to block something or the axie building up gas. Haven't fed him for 3 days now.

 

[Jennewt]

It's not unusual for an axie to float for a short period of time. As long as it goes back down, it's not a sign of a problem. Have you tried to feed him? I think you should continue to offer small amounts of food.

 

[Zarge]

Yea, I fed him yesterday. Still seems ok with the rocks inside. Looks like the situation is bothering us more than it does him.

 

[Zarge]

Update

Situation still the same...
Poor thing looking like my wife.. last few days pregnant.
Guess axie wanted to participate in the project too.

 

[SamAndHarry]

hey my Harry ate 3 big stones and he passed 1 but the other 2 are still in him. its been 2 months now and hes not sick... well now he is but not from the stones i asked the pet store ppl and they said that they just live with them if they are too big to pass.. only some die from it. Harrys are blue and cause hes albino you can see them.

 

[Zarge]

Problem solved

Our axie finally solved the situation by itself. Didn't see the actual process, but I have to guess he puked them out. For this size axie, rocks must have been too big to pass through.
Now he's swimming around in its tank again like he did before.
Had the rocks almost for a month.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Zarge,

Glad to hear the problem is solved. In the future if it ever happens again you could try putting the axie in the fridge for a week or two. I no its sounds weird but the temperature drop slows their metabolism and makes it easier for them to pass impactions.

Golden rule No Pebbles regardless of petshop or other advice.

I have read an almost continuos stream of threads and posts about gravel impaction on this site. Unless the pebbeles are too big for the axie to swallow and im sure you have seen how their mouths and throats distend to at least twice the size as they gulp food. Then use sand or no substrate to be on the safe side.

Best of luck

 

[kapo]

Yes, I definitely agree with Ianclick.

Unfotunately, one of our 4 year old adults died this morning with part of a glass pebble and huge bubble protruding and stringy bit sticking out from her cloaca. She'd been fridged for over a week, bum end was floating so assumed she needed a poo and was keeping her in till it was all done and she was settled again. Bit upsetting considering I thought they had finally cleared their bodies of the pebbles/gravel. I'm now keeping a watchful on the other 3.

 

[digger]

so gald to hear your problem has righted itself.
and very sorry to hear of you loss Kapo,,
a lesson to all i think that even a couple of years down the line these things can still be there waiting to cause problems.
that is why the shop i take mine to make sure they tell everyone ABSOLUTELY NO GRAVEL OR SMALL STONES.

 

[kapo]

This was more to give information than gain sympathy, (though thanks digger it's appeciated ), but as you mentioned "yes things can still happen well after the event"...

 

[Zarge]

Yes, we knew it will swallow rocks smaller than his head, but like I said earlier.. the little bugger beat us to it and found the smallest rocks in thank ofcourse.
Funny thing is.. He cleared the rock out few days after my wife gave birth to our lil girl too. (24.9) Now I'm sure the axie just wanted to play along by having huge tummy too.

And sorry to hear you lost one, Kapo