Axolotl sick please help

The bottled bacteria for cycling will not instantly cycle your tank. It will take weeks to cycle a tank. It is really important you invest in a liquid test kit for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH so you can monitor your water quality. Even in a cycled tank it is important to test regularly. Read up on cycling and the nitrogen process in aquariums. It is important to understand the process. Basically, aquatic life will produce waste. This waste produces ammonia. Good bacteria will feed on the ammonia and will convert it into nitrite. Then a different type of good bacteria will feed on the nitrite and convert it into nitrate. Nitrate is also harmful but less harmful than ammonia and nitrite (both of which are toxic to aquatic life including axolotls). Nitrate however in high levels can cause toxicity and long term negative effects. Nitrate is removed by conducting water changes. Cycling is the process of building the colonies of each type of good bacteria (I can't remember the names). The tank is considered cycled when the levels of ammonia and nitrite are zero and there is a reading of nitrate (best to keep nitrate below 40ppm). So while the tank is cycling you will see spikes of ammonia and nitrite which are toxic to axolotls and other aquatic life. You need to conduct water changes to ensure these levels do not get too high.
 
Employ occam's razor and assume it is until suggested otherwise? That or take it to a lab.
 
I agree. Drain the tank and get rid of the sand, just to be sure. Then, do daily water changes according to the readings of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates until your tank is cycled (ie you get the readings listed above). Also, you may want to look at changing the filter medium to sponge or ceramic so that you don't have to recycle your tank every time you clean/change your filter medium.
 
They were fine until you added the sand - they reacted in an hour once you added the sand - logic says there was most likely a problem with the sand.
 
Ok so I checked the water. The ph was 9 the nitrites 0 and the nitrates 40. Is it safe to assume it's the sand causing the problem? I went AMD bought the purple crayola play sand which it says is safe for aquariums and terrariums, but someone suggested that I don't use it because it's coloured. It says that they fuse the colour through heat. Its ssupposed to be one of the safest sands for.children. Am I ok to use it? I also bought the API stress coat+ which I'm going to add to their bucket while they're in the fridge. Any other suggestions?

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Is your pH normally that high? 9 seems pretty extreme. As for Crayola play sand, I have not used it, but several people on an aquarium forum I frequent have used it without any issues with leaching. Stress coat + is a nice water conditioner , and the aloe should be good for their slime coat.
 
rachel1 said:
Is your pH normally that high? 9 seems pretty extreme.
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I agree. The range generally considered okay for an axolotl is 6 to 8, though the mid-range (around 7) is ideal. Using PH down is not recommended, however, as this only solves the problem for a short time, then the PH returns to its high levels, thus causing fluctuations that are problematic. On the other hand, as axies prefer hard water to soft, it is probably better too high than too low. Others will no doubt have more info on what (if anything) you need to do about the PH.
 
High pH can be caused by soluble alkaline particles in the sand.
 
They seem to be better after the stress coat+. I'm going to give them tea baths. Should I do it in their bucket while they're in the fridge or should I put them back in the 55 gallon and do it in there? I've replaced the sand, and I think ive got the ph down,(I bought the test strips since the store didn't have the liquid test, but Im having trouble reading them.) I believe it's between 7.5 and 8, but the longer the strips sit the darker they get, so I'm not sure. The white stuff seems to be healed on the body, it's just like the slime is coming off the gills, if that's possible. They seem brighter, but they haven't eaten since which I've heard is possible when they're fridged

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Fridging will slow down their metabolism so they may not eat. Not something to worry about for now. I would be leaving them in their tank, though. Certainly, you can do the tea bath thing in the tank. The normal water changes will gradually remove the tea from the water. Or try Indian almond leaves in the tank.
 
Someone suggested me that the white on their gills is dead tissue. You can see now that the feathery part of their gills had turned white and fallen off. They are back in their tank now, two have eaten so they are getting better. What is the treatment for the gills
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Basically, all you can do is keep their water conditions perfect and let their natural regenerative ability go to work. They should be able to heal themselves, given time and good conditions. Adorable lotls btw.
 
Thanks:) they aren't their usual piggy selves yet but they seem better. I'll be happy once I can get them all to eat. I've been putting the live worms is so they are there when they want them, but I've been removing dead worms before the get eaten:(

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