Question: Behavior

[wyogirl2007]

Hey everyone...I am new to this game. Science teacher with axolotl trouble. Temperature started this problem...
We have had axolotls for 2 months. 1 wild, 1 white, 1 albino. My classroom heater went crazy and the problem began. First white one dies, Albino stresses(curled tail)...now in fridge, and wild one is fine. So got what i think is a good set up now. Chiller keeps tank at 62 degrees...tank has totally cycled...pH of 7.5-8. Big stones tank ...cleaned regularly...did I cover it?

Now the temp is lower than it was 62 instead of 68...wild axie's behavior changed. Ate some earthworm after he did not manage to bite his pellets out of my fingers. He seems less cordinated and more active than I remember..swimming up to surface moving around more. Should I look for specific signs of illness or does he sound good...by the way his name is Ernest (named after one of my troublemkaing students)

Second Fabio in the fridge....he has a sore on his side..abrasion i think. He is thinner but was eating as of Friday. What do i do with him in the fridge???

Also i need to replace the white one so with the tank good should I go ahead or should I wait?

Thanks for the imput...I am loving the axolotls and so do my high school students.
Allyson

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi wyogirl,

Did you have a water parameter test kit of the colourimetric solution kind? You would need to measure ammonia, nitrites and nitrates regularly. It is good that your pH level is around neutral. Axies can tolerate a range of pH from 6.5-8 so its not that criticial itself. However at higher pH such as at 8, more ammonia exists in the toxic unionised form. Hence you would have to be extra particular about performing regular 20% water changes with clean dechlorinated water to keep these levels down.

Big stones are fine as long as they are bigger than the axie's head and cannot be swallowed. They pose the extra challenge of siphoning for detritus as wastes can accumulate around the crevices and be hidden. You can consider keeping the tank bare bottomed or with sand substrate. Suitable sand types include freshwater aquarium sand, pool filter sand and children play pit sand.

Having good appetite is a good sign. Frequent surfacing and movements can be normal or can be an early indicative sign something is not right in thet tank. Does your tank have a filter? Are there exessive currents? What are the dimensions of the tank since you are planning to ultimately house 3 axies? Did you provide at least 2 hiding spots per axie? Is the tank placed in a cool shaded area away from excessive vibration or light? Continue to monitor for signs of stress and illness such as forward facing gills, curled tail tip, inappetance, mucus coating on skin, any discolouration or growth on skin and gills, abnormal behavior etc.

Would you be able to provide a photo of Fabio's wound? Meanwhile continue to fridge it. Most wounds would heal up naturally on the own. Fridging has the effect of allowing recuperation and many a times this would suffice. However if there is a concurrent bacterial or fungal infection on the site, that would require treatment.

I would recommend you hold back on getting a new axie first, because we want to ensure your tank is big enough to house 3 adults. Also, you want to concentrate on allowing the other 2 axies to heal completely.

If you do get a new axie, you would also have to quarantine your axie for a minimum of 30 days before adding to the main tank.

Cheers.

 

[wyogirl2007]

Did you have a water parameter test kit of the colourimetric solution kind?

Yes...I used a faster test for the results I posted just nitrate, nitrite....I will check ammonia.

However at higher pH such as at 8, more ammonia exists in the toxic unionised form.

Good to know I will definitely check ammonia.


Big stones are fine as long as they are bigger than the axie's head and cannot be swallowed.
The stones are really big but I will look into sand.



Does your tank have a filter? Are there exessive currents?
We had a filter but I thought it may have been a problem so I took it off...Just cleaning with a siphon right now.


What are the dimensions of the tank since you are planning to ultimately house 3 axies?

2 ftX 15 inches beginner tank will transfer to 3ft by 13 inch tank later. Is depth a problem...about 6 inches in one area and 15 inches in another.

Did you provide at least 2 hiding spots per axie?

I did now.


Is the tank placed in a cool shaded area away from excessive vibration or light?

Yes...occasionally the chiller vibrates to chill it.


Would you be able to provide a photo of Fabio's wound?

His tail seems to be getting pretty white at the tip..i am trying to attach a pic with this


You are so very helpful. After reading the other posts and your responses i was hoping you would respond to mine...Thank you!! I really want this set up to be right!

 

[wyogirl2007]

Hi Rayson

Ammonia .2ppm....the lowest on the scale

Also I am at the mercy of Kentucky Univ with the axolotl order so I cannot refuse the shippment. Therefore any suggestions on a temporary set up for the other 2 axies...I have cycled water out of my 750 gal trout tank (52 degrees F)..it has been running for 3 years. also these 2 new axies are the same size and from the exact same place...is quarentine still necessary? I will follow your judgement.

It would be best if I can put them in with Ernest if possible so i can use the chiller to maintain the temp.

Thank you for your time!!!
Allyson

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Wyogirl,

THanks for the photos.

Firstly, i do highly recommend you to remove the pebbles and replace with sand or keep it bare bottomed. This would greatly help your water parameters as detritus and uneaten food can accumulate and remain lodged and hidden under all the crevices. They are difficult to remove and can thus affect your water parameters.

I personally will still get the filter running. The filter wil help filter physical debris and also help with chemical and biological filtration. It does keep your water clean and the water parameters more stable. The filter also provides some aeration which is essential to promote beneficial bacterial growth. You can always diffuse excessive currents with a spray bar, positioning it against glass or ornaments etc.

For your new axie, quarantine is still absolutely necessary. Quarantine prevents the introduction of harmful parasites and diseases into the main tank. If you have a spare tank, you can use that as a quarantine tank. You may use water from the old tank for this purpose. However you would have to monitor the quarantine tank and manage it much like any regular tank.

If you do not have any spare tank, you can actually temporarily fridge your axie. You would need to perform 100% daily water changes with clean dechlorinated water whilst they are in there.

As for the tail wound on your axie, you would have to ensure clean water conditions and good nutrition to promote healing. It is best to continue fridging the axie until the wound heals. You want to monitor and watch for signs of illness and stress throughout, particularly signs of secondary infection. Perhaps you might like to take a photograph once a week to photo document the progress of the recovery. Did you notice any discharge from the wound? I cannot see the wound clearly but there might be bacterial infection if there is a purulent (pus) centre. In this case, i would have to advise you to bring it to a vet who can administer antibiotic therapy.

Cheers.

 

[wyogirl2007]

Hi Rayson

Thank you...you are very knowledgable. Can you suggest the antibiotic to be used...the vets around here in Nevada are mostly large animal...cattle. I just want to double check what they say. Also I cannot get Fabio to eat. Lastly I am worried that Fabio's tail is becoming white at the tip is this frostbite? What is the ideal fridge temp? Thanks Rayson!
Take care,
Allyson

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Wyogirl,

Would you be able to take a picture of the white tail tip?

The ideal temperature range for the fridge is between 5-8 degree celsius. You can measure the temperature by use of a simple thermometer immersed into a cup of water left standing in the fridge for a period of time.

For inappetant axies, firstly check that the water parameters and temperature are optimum. Thereafter, make sure the food you offer is fresh. Live wriggly food like earthworms, bloodworms and blackworms are effective appetite stimulants due to their wriggly motions. Axies sense vibrations and interpret them as prey. You might also like to offer the food around dawn or dusk as axies are crepuscular and are most active at those hours.

If you are fridging your axie and are trying to offer more highly digestible food, you can try a making a mash. Blend a mix of earthworms, blackworms, bloodworms, moistened axie pellets, bits of shrimp, fish, beef heart etc. into a pulpy mash in a food processor. Roll the mash into pea sized portions and offer to your axie. The food will be more digestible due to the highly pulverised food particles. There is a greater surface area for digestive enzymes to work on. In addition, the mash will smell pungent enough to attract axies and also contain all the nutrition it requires.

Only a vet can properly administer antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics are only administered when indicated because wrong usage can result not only in side effects in your axie but also resistance in the bacteria. Please do not self treat your axie with over the counter medications or chemicals.

Your vet should be trying to take a sample of the lesion if bacterial infection is suspected. The sample will be cultured for the type of bacteria and also ideally a sensitivity test to determine which antibiotic is most effective. Your vet may then give an emphirical broad spectrum antibiotic treatment while waiting for the results. Sometimes this treatment will be sufficient to treat the infection.

Personally i prefer to give the axolotl fluid therapy (amphibian ringers solution) while giving antibiotics to support kidney function. My choice of antibiotics will be a combination of either amikacin or timentin with pipercillin administered via an intraperitoneum injection.

http://www.axolotl.org/health.htm

Cheers

 

[wyogirl2007]

Well unfortunately Fabio did not make it...I will learn from this. 300.00 later i have the right set up and two seperate tanks to run...each about 29 gallons and longer shaped. I figure i will probably have males and females once we can sex them. Got a canister filter and sand for the main tank.

I have two chillers but inorder for one of them to work it must be fully submerged. This would mean filling the tank...about two feet of water. I could make a shelf for the axies higher up so they did not have to sit on the botton...the chiller is nice because then i do not have to worry about the temp...what are your thoughts? This would be in the temporary tank.

Thanks for talking me through this!!!

Happy Trails,
Allyson

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Wyogirl,

So sorry to hear of your loss. Yes i do agree a chiller is best. I use chillers myself and it took off a lot of worry and hassle.

There is no real necessity for a shelf for the axies though. Axies generally prefer sitting rather motionless at the bottom of the tank.

Cheers.