Illness/Sickness: Big Axo, little Axo..

[psychoboyjack]

Heya,

I always seem to be here when something is wrong!

I've had my two guys for almost two months and they have been doing good. Though the past month or so I've noticed that one of them has grown huge while the other hasn't really been doing much. He has also started to get very thin and just today I noticed that the feathery parts of his gills have shrunk down. He's so thin the ridges on his side are very very noticeable and he's very very thin.

I don't think it's anything in the water or anything since my other guy is HUGE, has a big appetite and has no other problems. I'm totally confused over this.

The information I read on the site was that I should put him in the fridge. But before I noticed his gill shrinkage he did have an appetite. It's just over the past couple of weeks that he has been hiding and not eating. Before he would eat with no problem along with the big guy.

My water parameters are all 0 and my pH is near 7.2ish - it has always been that way. The temperature is hovering just under 20C right now and that has always been the same, too. I have a sand substrate and they eat that all the time when they gobble up food from the bottom and just spit it out, or pass it out with their poo.

The little guy doesn't have any parts of him missing to indicate a fight or anything and now I'm just confused. I hope he doesn't waste away and just die one day.

What can I do? What can be done?!

- A worried Jack

 

[Jacquie]

Hi Jack,

The fridge is great when clearing obstructions such as gravel and for healing, but is not so great when trying to get an axolotl to eat as the metabolism is slowed right down - the weight loss is also slowed right down which is a plus though.

If I may, can I ask what size is the tank and what sort of filter are you using?

Is there any water current which may be stressing the axolotl?

What sort of test kit are you using? A test tube kit or dip strip test kit? If a dip strip test kit is being used your readings may be lying.

What are you feeding the axolotls?

Is he staying down the bottom of the tank or is he floating?

There is a chance the other axolotl may be bullying the smaller axolotl. When you say one is 'huge' and the other 'small' - what exactly is the size difference between them?

Cheers Jacq.

 

[psychoboyjack]

Geeze, I thought I covered everything! Ha.

It's a test tube kit that I'm using.

The food I'm trying to feed him are pellet sticks, frozen brine shrimp and frozen blood worms - the stuff he's been eating since day one.

The filtration system is an internal filter with a spray bar and there is little to no water current in the tank as the water from the bar is spraying over a floating fake plant that blocks the flow. The tank is 10g.

He's staying in the bottom in a little hiding rock that I have in there. Before he liked to play around and float and now he's just on the bottom all the time.

 

[Jacquie]

A ten gallon tank is far too small for two adult axolotls, this is the bare minimum size for one axolotl. The recommended floor space for axolotls is 18 inchs per axolotl.

The usual culprit for shrinking gills and loss of appetite is water quality issues - axolotls release a lot of waste and a 10 gallon tank volume is not sufficient to dillute and break down the wastes of two axolotls.

I would remove the sick axolotl and place him in a container of fresh dechlorinated water which will need a 100% water change daily. Ensure the container is large enough for the axolotl to 'spread out' to his full length and is kept some place cool. Try feeding while he is in isolation and the fresh water to see if he starts to eat.

Is there any sign of fungus (white cottony substance) on the sick one?

Although test tube kits are the most reliable of the testers, if they are outside their expiry date or faulty they may be giving suspect readings. I would test the water again and if you get the same reading, take a sample to an aquarium and have them test it for you just to make sure.

Sorry to bombard you, but water quality is most important to an axolotl's health and well being.

Are you able to post a photo of the sick axolotl?

 

[psychoboyjack]

It's okay.

My big guy is nearly 6" and the smaller guys is 3" or 4" and there's plenty of room for them until I have the money to get a bigger tank. I know it's not the best tank but it stays clean and there's plenty of water for them to swim around with.

Is putting the sick one in the fridge a good thing to do considering he's not eating at all? He's just hiding right now while the other guy just swims around and chills out. I'm just worried that the fridge thing would be bad. I also don't have a thermometer for the fridge so I have no idea how cold it really is in there - but I guess I can turn up the dial in there to be the 'warmest' of the cool temperatures and hope for the best!

The tank gets cleaned up of gunk every couple days since they're messy and I don't like the food and **** staying around. I tested the water again and it's still perfectly fine!

 

[psychoboyjack]

Little guy is in fridge. Water is prepared and cooling in the fridge with him to be change tomorrow.

I hope everything is going to be okay. He doesn't look good at all.

 

[Jacquie]

Is putting the sick one in the fridge a good thing to do considering he's not eating at all?

There's no need to put him in the fridge.

But do keep him isolated in the tub and place somewhere cool and above all safe (ie. if you have a cat, don't trust the cat). Being alone in his own space may inspire him to eat. Change the water 100% daily. He can stay in the tub for as long as required and being in isolation will aid you in monitoring him.

 

[psychoboyjack]

Alright, hopefully he'll want to eat soon. He looks so thin.

Thanks!

 

[Jacquie]

Me again!

If I may, I would suggest feeding him earthworm pieces (nightcrawlers are the best type) - cut worm into portion sizes about as long as his mouth is wide - this will help fatten him up.

Bloodworm is also okay - I think he is a little big for brine shrimp....

 

[psychoboyjack]

I'm not sure of the earthworms here are safe for him to eat, but I got bloodworms I'll try feeding him tomorrow.

I don't really have anywhere cool around here other than beside his tank, so he's there and safe from prying animals!

 

[sherylbobbins]

Could you post a pic of his face?

 

[gr33neyes]

I would like to add to that, could you post a photo of your tank please?

 

[psychoboyjack]

Alright, so a week has passed. It's been a week of him in the isolation tank with water changes every day. Nothing has changed. He has made some poop but other than nothing has happened other than him getting thinner and thinner.

He still has no appetite.

There are two bumps on his head but it looks like his brain has been coming out as opposed to anything weird like fungus, as the white area was visible before it was a bump. He's so thin and frail looking I'm thinking of looking into some humane way to euthanize him. This is horrible, but there is nothing else that I Can tell is wrong. I could see if both of my guys were sick but only one is.

If it makes any difference, the place where I got them from has two axolotls left and they look just like my little guy.

Attached are two pictures - one of the little guy and one of the bigger guy. They were both the same size when I bought them! It's hard to see the little guy but the two white spots on his head are the protruding things. Bleh.



J

 

[el301]

Hmmm, disregarding the bumps, which I have NO idea about (!), you could try feeding him slivers of non-fatty beef or duck's liver. Mine love that when they don't want to eat their usual food.

However, I have to agree with you, he does look sick... *fingers crossed*

 

[Bellabelloo]

It is possible that the white bits could be a fungus that can be treated with salt bathes or even some parasite..it may explain the weight loss. Would you be able to take another photo or two ??