Axolotl sick?

[Bri the axolotl mom]

Just bought him about 2 weeks and he was being picked by some kois. I took him home (i assume is a he) and i just upgrades him because i had a 10 gallon now he is in a 20. So his gills look not so nice and puffy. Although he is eating and pooping fine. Could it be parasites from bloodwork? I didn't know and when i found out is stopped giving them to him. Now i am doing daily water changes until my tank cycles because every morning ammonia is around .25 ppm all other parameters are 0. We have a RODI system for the water si no hose water or tap. I brought him to save him so i want to do all I can. Water temp is between 68 and 69. Is harder to keep colder than the 10 gallon. We are working on getting a different type of tank to keep it colder. But let me know how you guys see my little guy. I think he is a juvenile.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Hi

Thankyou for saving this baby from the koi

So first lets do water and cycling

For RODI water you NEED to remineralize with Seachem Equilibrium and that will actually make a huge difference in the babies overall health as its the perfect balance for Axolotls.

Is the baby in the tank you are cycling?

If so it is safest to tub the baby so you can cycle with adding ammonia a heater and nitrifying bacteria.

So glad to hear you are testing - its so critical for these little guys.

68-69 degrees is okay - a fan blowing across the top of the water will help you drop it a few more degrees.

This is a young juvenile - I'd guess 4 ish months - fed ideally they grow 1" per month until about 6-7 months old.
Color is a Leucistic.

 

[Bri the axolotl mom]

Thank you so much for the info. Pur filters can also make The purified water for drinking , would that be better?
Also then would you suggest keeping him in a Tupperware with everyday water changes? Until this one finished cycling ? Howlong until it finishes cycling? Also we are trying to find him another 20 gallons that is easier for me to reach and feed him. He will eat of the ground but even thought the sans is very fine I rather not have him eat any. So far he is pooping fine. After I brought him from the store he passes 2 small rocks but not from my tank. From the tank he was in at the store.
Does he look healthy in all? Do you know what the white patches are? They are not fluffy like fungus.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

The patches on his tail if they are shiny are iridophores if they are just flat white may be scar tissue.

Any purified water needs to be remineralized - spring and tap water are the only ones that dont always need to be.

Yes tub him with daily water changes.

To speed up cycling you need to add a heater, test ammonia nitrite and nitrate every 24hrs and dose ammonia back to 4ppm daily until you have 3 days in a row with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite after the 24 hours. then slowly reduce the heat over 2-3 days while feeding 1-2 ppm ammonia to keep bacteria alive.

Products like Seachem stability, Tetra Safestart Plus are all huge in adding the beneficial bacteria to then multiply.

Depending how you cycle it can take a few weeks to 2 months

 

[Bri the axolotl mom]

Thank you, I will look for the 2 brands you told me about and i will keep him in a container for as long as it cycles. Also how do you keep perfect water temperatures while you tub him in a container? Like at night?