Axolotl spazzing out after water change?

[Sylerwin]

My axolotl seems to tweak out after I add water to his tank. I'm careful to make sure the temperature of the new water matches that of his tank, and I pour the water on top of his hide so it doesn't appear to stir up sand.
After advice from others, I stopped treating the water with chemicals and put in some hornwort to my tank to absorb the ammonia. (courtesy of my local botany professor).
I didn't let the water sit for a while, because last week I tested the levels of water straight from the tap, and water after sitting overnight--they were no different.
He shakes his head back and forth, and looks as if he's trying to scratch at his gills with his back foot. (like a dog would scratch it's ear). He's also puffing out water a lot, and going to the surface as if for air.
Am I doing something wrong? This frightens me, I've been struggling with high ammonia in my tank so water changes are necessary, but if this happens every time...

 

[CJ1981]

How do you dechlorinate your water?

 

[wandering]

Did you test it for chlorine and chloramine? That's what you need to remove from fresh water that's going into the tank. Letting water sit overnight should give time for the volatile chlorine to escape into the air, especially if you circulate the standing water with an air stone. Chloramine has to be broken down using a chemical that is put into the water. Does your water supply contain chlorine or chloramine?
Its OK for us to drink a little chlorine, its not OK for an amphibian to be immersed in it. It is likely to cause discomfort and be harmful. By the way, its not usual to test for chlorine, you can smell it coming off if you run the tap fast enough to splash the water. And most of us us a chlorine remover.....
Hope that's helpful.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Sylerwin]

I typically use Top Fin® Water Conditioner - Fish - Sale - PetSmart
But some people have recently (as in yesterday) told me to stop using chemicals in the water, and do everything with plants. This was my first water change without adding the conditioner. It was only a 2 gallon water change, so I wasn't too worried about it.

 

[CJ1981]

Keep using your dechlorinator, even small amounts of chlorine could irritate your Axolotl's skin/gills.

What was the rationale given for stopping the dechlorinator? I have know of many people who keep fish and Axies etc who avoid chemicals for treating illnesses etc but all of them continue to use a dechlorinator

 

[Sylerwin]

I looked at the cities water site, and yes there is chlorine. It doesn't say anything about chloramine though. I'll just assume that there is for now. And in the future, even if I don't treat it chemically, I'll let it sit longer to help it dissipate.
For now, I turned his airstone up in there to help speed up the process of removing chlorine and maybe chloramine.
Thanks guys.

 

[Sylerwin]

I went to find the botany instructor at my college because I wanted to get some java moss. I asked him about reasons for potentially high ammonia, as I've been struggling with it.
I told him everything I was doing: water changes, water conditioner, bacteria supplements...
He said to not add chemicals to the water, that everything can be done with plants. I trust his judgement, as he has his own personal aquatic plant nursery, as well as multiple fish tanks all chemical free, and all thriving.
He sent me home with some hornwort and said that it thrives on ammonia, but will fall apart if there are chemicals in the tank. He is supposed to call me and get some plant goodies for my tank.

 

[esn]

I looked at the cities water site, and yes there is chlorine. It doesn't say anything about chloramine though. I'll just assume that there is for now. And in the future, even if I don't treat it chemically, I'll let it sit longer to help it dissipate.
For now, I turned his airstone up in there to help speed up the process of removing chlorine and maybe chloramine.
Thanks guys.

Please just use dechlorinator. Chloramines will not evaporate out of the water, and if you don't know if the city water has them, just assume that it does. The only chemicals you don't need to use are ph up/down, ammonia clearer, and other chemical products. Chlorine may take up to 24-48 hours to dissipate, and in that time you could be seriously burning your axolotl. Plants will do nothing to remove chlorines from your water. Put treatment in your water as soon as possible.

 

[Sylerwin]

Please just use dechlorinator. Chloramines will not evaporate out of the water, and if you don't know if the city water has them, just assume that it does. The only chemicals you don't need to use are ph up/down, ammonia clearer, and other chemical products. Chlorine may take up to 24-48 hours to dissipate, and in that time you could be seriously burning your axolotl. Plants will do nothing to remove chlorines from your water. Put treatment in your water as soon as possible.

okay, will do.