Axolotls rear floating

My fridge is too cold ( 2 degs C )and is old so doesn't have a temperature switch.
Is there anything else I can do for him or should I just let him be?
Should I be feeding him as usual or not feeding?
 
Hiya, first I apologize I have not yet replied to this post. But your axie is almost an adult. So there can be a few factors at play here, either...I forgot what that body part is called but essentially it keeps them balanced in water, and it can be the axie does not have a good functioning body part but seeing how you have raised it for some time. You will have to answer if that is the case.

There is a lump on his body even in the video which likely is poop. Can you take some new pictures and tell us what you are actually currently doing with the axolotl?

You can't actually stop float by fridging. Axolotls float because they are stressed. They get more stressed if they can't feel their body be in contact with a floor. So by putting them in a low water tub you are trying to reduce their stress but it does not actually fix the float since the float is due to the other two possibilities above.
 
I haven't had him very long. A little under a month.
He's only started floating a week and a bit ago.
I'll try to get some pictures. It is difficult as he is always hiding in the plants trying to stay down.
 
I am not doing anything with him, I am feeding him as usual as I feed all my axolotls
 
Dude you need to move the axie in a small sick tub away from the usual tank first. Your axie is struggling in the big tub. This is only temporary until the solution is figured out.
 
Ok, I will seperate him asap. Should he be in the fridge or just out in the open with a lid?
Lights or no lights? Sand or not? Just enough water to cover him or full to the top?
 
HitmanSougo13 said:
Axolotls float because they are stressed.
Click to expand...
No they don't, they float because they have air or gas trapped inside them.

@TallTree, if you put your axie in the fridge it really need to be at 5-8C, 2C will be too cold. What's the ambient temp outside where you are? Maybe a better option would be outside in a shed, garage etc or a basement. Put your axie in a tub with fresh water, just enough to cover the axie and allow him to get his feet on the ground, use a lid to stop him escaping and cover the tub with a towel or something to keep it dark. Put the tub somewhere cool, feed him normally and change the water daily with temp equalised dechlorinated water.

Some axies float persistently, but grow out of it. I had one who floated with gas bubbles for 2 months, she eventually stopped and now is a gorgeous healthy adult.
 
Now during this time, pay attention if the axie has pooped. A whole month of conspitation is what kills them. If your axie still has not pooped in a few days and you have already put it in a dark or cold place, you can decide if you want to use medicine.

My youngest axie floated all the time to the side when it was little, some days it looked like it was toast, but then I raised it in a small low water tub and eventually it stopped floating as it got older.
 
I've been thinking, instead of taking the Axolotl out of the tank and into a container, why not put the container in the shady area of the tank?
Just have it floating at the surface with enough water to cover him. He gets the benefits of being able to touch the bottom but also gets easy clean water and I can monitor his crapping amounts. Also the temperature will be more stable.
 
All of my facilities will be too hot or too cold. It is hot outside and my sheds are usually 25 degrees plus.
 
He seems to have passed on his bubble or something as he can stay on the bottom quite well. His tail is just floating a little. Anything I should do or just let him be?
 
He's still floating on and off, I've switched his diet to pellets today, maybe earthworms were giving him gas issues.
I've noticed my other Axolotl which I got from the same place is having difficulty staying at the bottom too.
However, the one I got from a different place is fine. Could it be a genetic defect?
 
I bought 2 axolotls in June/July and they have the same problem. They're siblings so I'm pretty sure it's a genetic thing. They're otherwise healthy and are quite happy with ornaments they can hide under to keep them on the ground.
 
Yeah hopefully it'll go away. :confused:

I got a hold of a fridge with a suitable temperature. I'll do one axolotl at a time so that if something goes wrong I don't lose them both. I put the gold one in first as he was the one I could catch. I'll leave him in there til the weekend and change the water 100% everyday with fresh chilled dechlored water. Is this a good plan?
Should I continue feeding him?
Hopefully he'll get better soon....
 
Okay 2 days in and he seems fine. However he can't float as there's not enough water.
Tomorrow I'll bring him out and hopefully he'll be cured. If he is I'll put the other axolotl in the fridge the same way I did this one.
 
He came out the fridge not floating but about 6 hours on he was full on floating again. Argh!
What to do... I'm going to talk to the guy I got them off and see what he reccomended later today.
 
I took the leucistic out the fridge. He's not floating again yet. Maybe the day extra was effective? Maybe he is just more prone to fridge treatment.

I talked to the guy I got them from and got some concerning news.
Of the 15 he had in stock when I got my two, 11 died in store. 2 were sold to someone else and he doesn't know what happened to them. That means that my two may be the last survivors of the batch. He thinks it was a deadly bacterial infection or a issue from birth. He will talk to the breeder tomorrow and ask him what happened. He has no clue why they are floating.
Seems it's out of my hands now. :(
We'll see what happens.
Anyone else had a similar problem?
 
My poor lil guys are still floating like crazy. I'll take some pics tomorrow and upload them. let me know if you see anything unusual.
They're struggling so much it's breaking my heart to see them so unhappy.
The one that doesn't float is doing great though I just hope that the floaters problem doesn't spread.
I'm gonna switch their food again to worms just for tomorrow to see what happens.
I was watching a program on TV and what they were doing was they were taking faeces from healthy people and putting it in sick people. This gave some of the healthy persons good bacteria to the sick people and cured them. Could I feed my healthy Axolotl turd to the floating ones?
Probably an absolutely ridiculous idea but I'm open to anything at the moment. :(

Would it be cruel to get weights like they have for scuba divers to help them sink and strap it to their bellies? :lame:
 
Maybe try this: first make sure that you have a hide and plants for cover. Then install a hang on back filter so there is some surface disturbance. See if he expells the air or gas on his own and is able to sink. I believe that this is worth a try.
 
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