Illness/Sickness: Change in my axolotls waste

[Madsmonkey]

I have had my albino axolotl for almost six weeks now it was about 3and a half inches long when I got it and is now closer to 4 and a half. I have noticed a change in the type of waste it is producing. I am feeding it once a day on frozen bloodworm it is still taking its food and there has benn no change to how active it is and it is showing no signs of stress that I have read about.
It was producing rounded black waste every 4-5 days which I have been removing from the tank along with any left over food but over the last 4 days the waste has changed to green it is more frequent and is spread over the gravel in patches rather then as a solid pellet form as it was before.
I have replaced the plants in my tank about a week ago this is the only change I have made to the tank and my axolotls routine.
Please can anyone tell me if it is ill and recommend anything I can do to help it get better.

Thanks

 

[Kerry1968]

Sometimes my axies have 'formed' poo, sometimes it's just like a 'pool' of waste on the bottom of the tank, but never green.
One thing though, gravel is not a suitable substrate for axolotls and it may have already caused a blockage inside your little friend which could be causing the abnormal poo. If you think this may be the case then I would definately say to fridge your axie to help him pass the stones.
Keep a close eye on your little one.

 

[Madsmonkey]

Thanks I will replace his gravel with something more suitable when I get home later.

 

[Kerry1968]

If you have nothing to change it for yet, a bare bottomed tank works well. It's easier to see what is going in and out of your axolotl!

 

[Madsmonkey]

I go past a pet shop on the way home I will see if they have any aquatic sand, I am assuming it is small enough to pass through my axolotls gills and not cause it any digestive problems if ingested?

 

[Kerry1968]

Sand is fine. Sand bought from a pet shop is fine too, as long as it's not marine sand. I think there's a difference, you may need to ask the assistant at the shop if it's OK to use in a freshwater tank. Though you can't always trust what they say at petshops! A sale is a sale in some places.
A cheaper kind of sand to use which is also perfectly good for axie tanks is children's play sand.
You will need to rinse any sand you get until the water runs clear, some people use a pillow case, some a bucket in the bath, up to you! You must only put the sand up to 1 inch deep, otherwise you may have problems with gas pockets building up under the sand.
Good luck!

 

[Madsmonkey]

:happy: Thanks I will bear that in mind when looking.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Madsmonkey,

Axolotl poo colouration and form can be indicative of its health. In general, the colour of the poo is largely attributed to the diet. If you feed a diet rich in worms and pellets, the poo tend to take on a reddish brown appearance. I found that treats rich (meats, seafood etc) diets tend to give the axie a 'greenish-grey' colour poop. Fresh poo from a healthy axie should be well formed, a defined 'blob'.

Do take note that due to the 'friable' nature of axie poop, they quickly disintegrate into dust like particles, so do not worry unduly if you see powdery looking poop around.

The only time when you should really worry about something wrong with your axie poop is when you see the following.

1 - Discomfort around the cloaca region when defecating (scratching, twitching, rubbing etc)
2 - Abnormal discharge (blood, pus, slime)
3 - Runny poo (not well formed when freshly pooped)
4 - Undigested particles, parasites or 'ribbon like' segments present in the poop.
5 - Consistently jet black tarry stools, especially if accompanied by anaemia or illness/stress.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

 

[Madsmonkey]

Thanks :happy: Alex is not showing any behavioural changes that would make me think he is seriously ill, he is still eating and moving round his tank, he did vomit out a piece of gravel yesterday evening which may have been the cause. I was slightly paranoid as this is my first axolotl and I wouldn't want it to be in discomfort without realising, I have removed his gravel and replaced it with sand to stop the risk of it happening again.
Will monitor him over the next few days to see if there are any other signs.

Thanks to everyone who has offered advice. Will try and load up a picture of him sometime soon.