Axolotl Refuses to Eat

[ClockworkParrot]

I have been having an issue with my male golden and eating. He's gone well over a week now without eating anything and I have noticed him starting to loose weight. Its not a lot of weight now but I am very worried about him.

I keep testing my water and I even took it down to the pet store today to have them test it to make sure my kit wasnt off.

The aquarium people said my water levels as of today were:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20

The temp of my aquarium is at a constant 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

He is showing no sign of stress aside from not eating. There are no spots, no fungus in his gills that I can see, and his behavior hasnt changed.

My female is doing great and eating like a little pig so I dont know what is going on.

The only thing I can think of is a little over three weeks back my nitrate went a little high but not terribly far over the safe line and he has always been very sensitive to changes in water quality so I am good about keeping the levels well and tank clean of all waste. He stopped eating for a few days after that but after a good cleaning and water change went right back to normal for a few days until stopping all together.

I feed them both nightcrawlers every other day and they have always been fat and happy with them. I also have no stones or anything big enough in my tank he could have swallowed. He's never been on gravel.

Does anyone have any idea what it could be or what to look out for?

 

[ClockworkParrot]

I tried to feed him again today and he finally took some interest. He sniffed the nightcrawler and bit it before spitting it out. He tried about three times before backing away from anything I put in front of him.
Im so worried about him and I dont know what could be wrong. I did find some speratomes while cleaning and am wondering if maybe hormones can make them not want to eat. Has anyone had experience with that happening?

 

[Petersgirl]

Hello ClockworkParrot!

Saw your post today and clicked as I'm having similar problems. Your parameters sound fine, and you say that you saw spermatophores not long ago. If the problem has rectified itself now I apologise for the late comment, but there have been reports of males refusing to eat before spawning, so this might explain the problem you have had. I have also had a male that spawned and he ate like a pig all through the spawn, so it can vary from male to male.

Is he eating now? If he isn't, could you try a new food? I've had success in the past by introducing something really irresistible, like cockles (frozen ones can be warmed up with a little boiling water and served), bloodworm, blackworm, a new breed of worm (for example, dendros or tigers) or even waxworms.