Illness/Sickness: Axolotl will not eat

Hannahlotl2987

Hannahlotl2987

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Kaneohe, HI
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Ariel
Hi guys,
So normally my GFP leucistic, Odd, is a ravenous eater. In the past week or so he has started to eat less and has now (past 4 days) gone off his food altogether.

I have two other adults all eating fine. Mostly hikari carnivore pellets with treats once in a while (bloodworms, etc.)

Tried feeding all the food in my arsenal.

Parameters: Ammonia=0 Nitrates=0 Nitrites=nearly zero pH=7.5

Not outward signs of pain or stress. He literally just takes food in his mouth and spits it out. That's WHEN he tries at all.

Looked in his mouth when he yawned and he doesnt appear to have any blockages. The rest eat every day and I dont know what to do :(

Thanks guys,
Ariel
 
UPDATE: Today I finally got him to eat some brine shrimp. It took some effort and its not as nutritious as his carnivore pellets but it will do.

Do you guys think it has to do with the girls being in the tank?
Or maybe he's just picky and being a brat?

Hopefully he'll eat normally again soon but I'm worried so any advice will help :<

Thank you,
Ariel
 
PLEASE SOMEONE!
It's been almost a month and he still barely eats!
Sometimes he throws up the pellets if he manages to get them down.
There's white stuff when he does ?
I'm scared!!!!!!! Is he gonna die?
 
Emergency not eating looking grim

Hi guys,
Posted this problem a LONG time ago with no response.
My axolotl cannot eat. He's been eating less and less since early July.
He's getting very skinny and sometimes his veins are very prominent. It's not like he WONT eat. More like he can't. He spits everything out as if there's a blockage but I can see into his mouth and there isn't one.
Losing his gills as well. While the other axolotls are growing them back (I had a cycle crash).
Parameters: ph= 7.5 ammonia=0 nitrate=0 nitrite around 10?
I really just want to know if I should take him to the vet at this point. Tried every food in my arsenal ( brine shrimp, myisis shrimp, beef heart, bloodworms, hikari carnivore pellets)
Thank you,
Ariel
 
Re: Emergency not eating looking grim

I am new, and have no idea. But I hope someone with more experience will see this!

There's a sticky about force feeding an axolotl.
 
I would try some earthworms as their movement may encourage him to eat. Also separate him from the others, keep him cool and clean. If this doesn't work I would suggest a visit to a vet.
 
Okay I have him in a sick tank. That's where he tends to attempt eating the brine shrimp. I'll get earthworms again (used them before but not while he was sick).
I just hope he doesn't vomit them up or spit them out but worth a shot.

And as for force feeding if it gets to that point then for sure I'll do it.
Thanks guys D:
 
I have hardly any experience to speak from, but is there any way he could have swallowed some sort of foreign object? Do you have gravel in the bottom of the tank? An impaction of some kind might stop an axie from wanting to eat.

I know mine's pretty picky about his food, too. So good on you for trying different things. I second that you should try earthworms next. It might not help, but at least it can't hurt.
(I feed my axie almost exclusively red wigglers, but he will refuse to eat them unless they're cut in half, blanched, and thoroughly rinsed before-hand.)

I think the white stuff on the regurgitated food is nothing to worry about. I think that's just what it looks like partially-digested.

Also maybe make sure your tank temperature is alright?

Good luck with your axie!! I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, but I'm rooting for the little guy!
 
Sorry for a late update. The temperature is good I always have ice bottles that I put in every few hours.
He could have swallowed something In the pet store but he had been fine for months before this started (although I do have another axie that successfully passed her pet store gravel MONTHS later).
He hasn't improved or worsened really. I just hope it will pass. I'm worried a trip to the vet may kill him (the heat is pretty horrendous in Hawaii. He seems to be less thin and he totally still eats brine shrimp.
I'm working on the worms because I remember the time I got them and they all loved them. Weren't any in the store I normally went to.
Hopefully he will be cured slowly but surely.
He sure is a little fighter.
Thanks guys,
Ariel
 
I just saw where you are located. Do you attend HPU? My son just graduated last month.
 
No :/ I went to college on the mainland and now I live back home in Kaneohe :) great school! Congrats to your son!
 
Also an update:
Odd has begun picking up weight! He's looking a lot better. There was a while there when I thought he wouldn't make it. I'm so happy that he is eating again.
Still couldn't get the worms but when I noticed he stopped throwing up and has weight on him I gave him pellets and thus far he's kept them down!
 
I think I've asked you about the school thing before. Sorry, I have a memory disorder. :(

Are you on Tsunami warning tonight? Please be safe!!
 
The tsunami warning was all good. We only got small waves. This should also be my final update. Odd is doing wonderfully! He's eating every day and ravenously too! Slowly getting plump again! Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! My baby is doing great ☺️
 
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