Meleficia
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We recently moved our axolotl to his new home, a 55 gallon long and his health declined, now he’s in the fridge, and not responding to it well.
Here’s what we did.
His old tank was a 25 gal with sand substrate, live plants, and a sponge filter. His water temp stayed in the 65-69F range. We did a weekly water change of 25% and tested the water weekly. We age the water for a week with a dechlorinator (API tap water conditioner.) His levels were all good (Ammo- nothing registered, NitrITE not registered, NitrATE barely registering sometimes, if ever.) His diet was nightcrawlers and bloodworms as a treat. He was in the 25 gal for almost a year, then we decided he needed more cruising room and got the upgrade.
For the new tank we cycled it for 2 weeks with an inoculation from his 25 gal tank, and tested daily the last 3 days (API master test kit (with high range PH)+ copper test.) The numbers didn’t move so we went ahead and moved him in.
The new tank has a slate bottomed floor, live plants, a sponge filter and a penguin 100 (baffled of course.) Before moving him in we checked for current and found the sponge was the worst offender, after adjustments things were calm.
When we transferred him we put him in his old quarantine container and slowly replaced his 100% old tank water with new tank water (we did it slow, took most of the day). Then we introduced him to his bigger home. He didn’t eat for the first few days, but we chalked that up to being in a new place. After a week went by and our daily-eater hadn’t wanted his food, we started to get worried. He also developed light-mucous-y patches on his skin (he’s a wild type.)His body slime also felt different than his usual, it was stickier and clung to my hand longer.
Now here’s where the troubles come in: Our thermometer wasn’t reading correctly, so his water got up to 76F. The only reason we knew was because we were checking EVERYTHING and it felt warmer than the water in his old tank. So we used a different thermometer and about fell over. So we put ice bottles in, raise the light by an inch, and add a fan over the grating. Temps back down to 68-69F. We figure give him a couple of days to get over being too hot and he should be ok again…It’s been two weeks and not a thing. Two days ago we decided to fridge him, if nothing else than to buy us time to figure out what was wrong. We followed the guide from here: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ick-axolotl/85263-axolotl-fridging-guide.html
Now he’s not responsive at all, the only reason we know he’s still alive is he flaps his gills occasionally.
Day 1 he sloughed off a bunch of slime, it was clear but some pieces had black spots on it, the best way I can describe it is when a person with freckles peels after a sunburn. He seemed sluggish, but mostly himself.
Last night he was very sluggish but still mobile. Nothing in his water this time though.
Today we’ve repeatedly thought he was dead due to his lack of response. He only moved once tonight during the water change.
Here’s what we did.
His old tank was a 25 gal with sand substrate, live plants, and a sponge filter. His water temp stayed in the 65-69F range. We did a weekly water change of 25% and tested the water weekly. We age the water for a week with a dechlorinator (API tap water conditioner.) His levels were all good (Ammo- nothing registered, NitrITE not registered, NitrATE barely registering sometimes, if ever.) His diet was nightcrawlers and bloodworms as a treat. He was in the 25 gal for almost a year, then we decided he needed more cruising room and got the upgrade.
For the new tank we cycled it for 2 weeks with an inoculation from his 25 gal tank, and tested daily the last 3 days (API master test kit (with high range PH)+ copper test.) The numbers didn’t move so we went ahead and moved him in.
The new tank has a slate bottomed floor, live plants, a sponge filter and a penguin 100 (baffled of course.) Before moving him in we checked for current and found the sponge was the worst offender, after adjustments things were calm.
When we transferred him we put him in his old quarantine container and slowly replaced his 100% old tank water with new tank water (we did it slow, took most of the day). Then we introduced him to his bigger home. He didn’t eat for the first few days, but we chalked that up to being in a new place. After a week went by and our daily-eater hadn’t wanted his food, we started to get worried. He also developed light-mucous-y patches on his skin (he’s a wild type.)His body slime also felt different than his usual, it was stickier and clung to my hand longer.
Now here’s where the troubles come in: Our thermometer wasn’t reading correctly, so his water got up to 76F. The only reason we knew was because we were checking EVERYTHING and it felt warmer than the water in his old tank. So we used a different thermometer and about fell over. So we put ice bottles in, raise the light by an inch, and add a fan over the grating. Temps back down to 68-69F. We figure give him a couple of days to get over being too hot and he should be ok again…It’s been two weeks and not a thing. Two days ago we decided to fridge him, if nothing else than to buy us time to figure out what was wrong. We followed the guide from here: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ick-axolotl/85263-axolotl-fridging-guide.html
Now he’s not responsive at all, the only reason we know he’s still alive is he flaps his gills occasionally.
Day 1 he sloughed off a bunch of slime, it was clear but some pieces had black spots on it, the best way I can describe it is when a person with freckles peels after a sunburn. He seemed sluggish, but mostly himself.
Last night he was very sluggish but still mobile. Nothing in his water this time though.
Today we’ve repeatedly thought he was dead due to his lack of response. He only moved once tonight during the water change.
