Baby axolotls question.

[Jbjack]

Hi everyone, new here. I have a question, in 3 days my 12 baby axolotls will be 10 weeks old from hatching Date. (With in a day some hatched a day earlier than the rest) they are all doing great and currently sharing a 20g for now (will be moved to a 55g when a bit older and 7 will be rehomed at appropriate age) they were fed live baby brineshrimp and then frozen blood worms and frozen brine shrimp for the last 3 weeks and take them well. I usually feed as much as they can eat in a few minutes, twice a day. I keep the cycled tank clean with daily vacuums to remove waste, and am using a sponge filter. I do 40 percent decloronated with prime water changes every few days and monitor the levels often, they are always perfect ( 0 nitrite,0 ammonia, under 5 nitrate) our water out here is has GH of about 8. I am wondering tho if I am feeding too often as 3 of them although seem healthy and active float on there side often. I fridged the 3 of them at 5°c as I read that helps with constipation and I think that's what might be happening you can see the poop in em. The tank is bare bottom so not sand impaction. Any suggestions would be awesome. Thanks everyone! Oh, the temp is 18°c

 

[antoniochiorean]

Hi everyone, new here. I have a question, in 3 days my 12 baby axolotls will be 10 weeks old from hatching Date. (With in a day some hatched a day earlier than the rest) they are all doing great and currently sharing a 20g for now (will be moved to a 55g when a bit older and 7 will be rehomed at appropriate age) they were fed live baby brineshrimp and then frozen blood worms and frozen brine shrimp for the last 3 weeks and take them well. I usually feed as much as they can eat in a few minutes, twice a day. I keep the cycled tank clean with daily vacuums to remove waste, and am using a sponge filter. I do 40 percent decloronated with prime water changes every few days and monitor the levels often, they are always perfect ( 0 nitrite,0 ammonia, under 5 nitrate) our water out here is has GH of about 8. I am wondering tho if I am feeding too often as 3 of them although seem healthy and active float on there side often. I fridged the 3 of them at 5°c as I read that helps with constipation and I think that's what might be happening you can see the poop in em. The tank is bare bottom so not sand impaction. Any suggestions would be awesome. Thanks everyone! Oh, the temp is 18°c

I had the same problem. Don’t worry about that. If they seem healthy it’s not a big deal. But keep monitoring them and try to feed them a little bit less than usual. Hope to be okay!

 

[Jbjack]

Update and question. My axies where fridged for 5 days and I pulled em put (probably too early) and I know it slows down their metabolism, however because they are so small and young (these 2 are by far the smallest of the 12) I was worried about starvation the darker one seems on the mend but wasn't as bad as the white / clearish one, who is still having issues. It will float upside down even. If I give it a little nudge to move it can right its self up and swims around normal for a bit but eventually ends upside down again. I can see there is less poop in its belly but still there. How long can a 3 month old on the smaller end axolotl survive without food because I just tried blood worms which they loved and didn't eat. Do I try again tonight? Or put them back in the fridge? I feel really bad if they don't make it. Also I find alot of information on 6month to adults and very young babies but not a lot on 3 month Olds feeding wise. Should I start feeding every other day since this has happened to 2 of the 12? Thanks for all your help!

 

[Jbjack]

Okay. Tried again. They ate! BUT should I fridge them again and the one keeps going upside down even when eating

 

[wolfen]

it has been noted even in some axolotl colony's that some young axolotls float upside down, to solve this issue they kept them in shallow tubs and reduce the amount of food, as they get older they develop a better sense of balance.