Question: Dying axolotl? We had 2, Howl and Haku. Today, Haku died :( I'm worried about Howl as he's not eating and seems it has been a stressful day.

[Howl]

Tank needed cleaning, it was taken out to be washed and unfortunately the washer was not being careful and, long story short, sustained a huge crack so axolotls had to be rehoused urgently. I feel they had both possibly been underfed but also had developed a fungal infection and were getting the 15 minute salt treatment. They were then transferred to a temporary vessel which had been cleaned, with water that was dechlorinated and their usual plants put back in. Sadly, Haku died later today and Howl was floating, unresponsive to a worm and not moving much at all for quite a while. After removing Haku, we placed Howl in a new, small container with only 2 inches of dechlorinated water. We specifically used Quick Start. He has no plants, just a live worm that he is not eating. He occasionally does something akin to farting or burping, I have not seen, only heard. He thrashes occasionally near the top. I'm not sure we are doing the right things but I hope he makes it through the night. At least he is much more energetic than when he was unresponsive. Right?
We will change his water again tomorrow but how long can he stay in this small container until his new tank arrives? I read on another thread that a sick axolotl needs this smaller container, with no movement, in a cool spot, dechlorinated and fed regularly. I believe he is underfed.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

[TamiLotls]

Tank needed cleaning, it was taken out to be washed and unfortunately the washer was not being careful and, long story short, sustained a huge crack so axolotls had to be rehoused urgently. I feel they had both possibly been underfed but also had developed a fungal infection and were getting the 15 minute salt treatment. They were then transferred to a temporary vessel which had been cleaned, with water that was dechlorinated and their usual plants put back in. Sadly, Haku died later today and Howl was floating, unresponsive to a worm and not moving much at all for quite a while. After removing Haku, we placed Howl in a new, small container with only 2 inches of dechlorinated water. We specifically used Quick Start. He has no plants, just a live worm that he is not eating. He occasionally does something akin to farting or burping, I have not seen, only heard. He thrashes occasionally near the top. I'm not sure we are doing the right things but I hope he makes it through the night. At least he is much more energetic than when he was unresponsive. Right?
We will change his water again tomorrow but how long can he stay in this small container until his new tank arrives? I read on another thread that a sick axolotl needs this smaller container, with no movement, in a cool spot, dechlorinated and fed regularly. I believe he is underfed.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Hi, im so sorry for your loss and worries i know how stressful this must have been for you. He should be fine in temporary tank, do not change his water everyday that will add unnecessary stress to him. Use for now air bubbles/air stone only and keep the temperature at 15 °c to max 20. Add very little amount of good bacteria, if there is space- add hiding place for him. No light. Can you attach picture? How do look his gills? How does he hold his tail?

 

[Howl]

Hi, im so sorry for your loss and worries i know how stressful this must have been for you. He should be fine in temporary tank, do not change his water everyday that will add unnecessary stress to him. Use for now air bubbles/air stone only and keep the temperature at 15 °c to max 20. Add very little amount of good bacteria, if there is space- add hiding place for him. No light. Can you attach picture? How do look his gills? How does he hold his tail?

Hi TamiLotls
He made it through the night, thankfully. He only ate a tiny bit of a worm this morning, but better than nothing I guess. He's so thin
Thanks for your wishes. It's just so sad as we have only had them 3 months. I think they are a few months older than that.
I'm attaching 2 pictures. The one from side on is more recent. HIs gills seem a bit less red?
The QuickStart water conditioner says it has good bacteria in it.
Do I need to wash the plant that was in the old tank? I feel I should given it was in with Haku after he died.
Thanks so much for your quick response, I aerated his container as soon as I got up - he was at the surface breathing above the water line.

 

[Howl]

Hi TamiLotls
He made it through the night, thankfully. He only ate a tiny bit of a worm this morning, but better than nothing I guess. He's so thin
Thanks for your wishes. It's just so sad as we have only had them 3 months. I think they are a few months older than that.
I'm attaching 2 pictures. The one from side on is more recent. HIs gills seem a bit less red?
The QuickStart water conditioner says it has good bacteria in it.
Do I need to wash the plant that was in the old tank? I feel I should given it was in with Haku after he died.
Thanks so much for your quick response, I aerated his container as soon as I got up - he was at the surface breathing above the water line.

 

[Howl]

Hi, im so sorry for your loss and worries i know how stressful this must have been for you. He should be fine in temporary tank, do not change his water everyday that will add unnecessary stress to him. Use for now air bubbles/air stone only and keep the temperature at 15 °c to max 20. Add very little amount of good bacteria, if there is space- add hiding place for him. No light. Can you attach picture? How do look his gills? How does he hold his tail?

Also, he has hardly eaten today. We have tried earthworms several times, He had a bite of one and that was it.

 

[axolotl nerd]

Also, he has hardly eaten today. We have tried earthworms several times, He had a bite of one and that was it.

so there are a few obvious problems here;
he’s clearly underfed. not saying this is necessarily your fault as you’ve said you’ve offered him food, but he desperately needs to eat or he will certainly die.
he is extremely stressed. his gills are curled forward and he looks terrible overall.
as for the advice regarding not changing the water every day; this is poorly advised in my opinion (keep in mind I'm barely 17 and not a vet) his water should be changed every 24 hours, at least partially. complete water changes will be better for him overall, even if they are a bit stressful. keep him in a separate container while doing the water change, as deprivation of water will stress him to the point of death (i.e. don‘t let him lie in a container with no water in it)
as for the quickstart water treatment; I am unfamiliar with it. I don’t trust anything that claims bacteria in a bottle, especially if it says it will cycle your tank faster. I advise not using this water treatment, and moving to prime dechlorinator. ill attach a picture of it below.
keep us updated - with a lot of care and treatment he may make it, but neglecting to will almost certainly result in his death.