Illness/Sickness: Axolotl

[Dendroaspis]

I went away for the weekend, I came back to find my juvenile axolotl very thin and dark, she has also almost completely lost her gills. I did a 90% water change and cleaned everything in her tank. Nothing has changed over the weekend, except it has been rather hot and she made her water dirty. Does anyone know what's wrong with her and what I can do to fix this?

 

[Kaini]

Hot? Axolotls need really low temperatures - 16-18 C (60-64 F) Do you chill your tank? Allowing your lotl to get warm could cause all sorts of illnesses.

Have you tested the water for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate? Was the tank cycled? (Do you have a filter? Doing a 90% change along with cleaning everything could have crashed your cycle)

We're going to need a little more information if we're going to help. Can you get a picture?


For now you should move her to a clean environment (dechlorinated water of course) and keep her COOL.

 

[Dendroaspis]

I know they need cold water, I try keep it as cold as possible, but we've been having heat waves lately, a friend lost 3 axolotls this month from the heat. I have a small filter in the tank. I cleaned the tank after I noticed she was sick, and I haven't tested the water. Unfortunately I can't get a picture. I was planning on moving her to a friends place tomorrow, in a clean tank and cool room.

 

[Dendroaspis]

She seems to be making a full recovery

 

[Elise]

Be aware that your axolotl may be immunocompromised from the heat stress for an extended period of time. Her health should be monitored and frequent water changes would provide as a preventative measure against illness.

Wouldn't owning a chiller in South Africa justified? Without one, the continuous heatwaves will be jeopardizing your axolotl's life in a way which a lot of people consider neglectful. Your friend has let 3 die because they did not provide the needed care and that's not alright. If you believe you'll be struggling with this situation again in the future, consider re-homing your axolotl as it might save her life.

 

[Dendroaspis]

She has been moved to an area where her temperature remains low throughout the year. Chillers are hard to come by.

 

[Elise]

In South Africa? So are axolotls from what I hear.

 

[Dendroaspis]

I only know of one person on the East Coast who sells them. Fire belly newts and toads are becoming more available. Almost all other amphibian species are extremely difficult to get here. Native species thrive here. In July I start research on golf course water hazards as sanctuaries for native amphibian species.