Emergency

[Milla]

Hey everyone. I could really use some help. I have done almost a full water change with my axies and since i put them in the tank they have been thrashing around. No chlorine detected and everything looks normal. Please help! They usually start thrashing after taking in some air.

 

[Skudo09]

Did you acclimatise them to the temperature? What are the parameters? Is it possible there might be something in the new water that may be upsetting them?

 

[Milla]

As far as the water parameters: pH 7.9, alkalinity 180, Nitrate & Nitrate were in safe range, very hard water, and ammonia 0.3. I added "stress coat" conditioner to the water and they seem calmer. Not sure if they are okay.

 

[michael]

Is your water tap water? Did you originally use a dechlorinator to remove chlorine and chloramine?

 

[Milla]

It is tap water. The strip never said chlorine was present.

 

[Skudo09]

Did you add the stress coat (I am assuming this is the API dechhlorinator with aloe Vera?) to the fresh water before adding it to the tank or after? If you are using test strips, test strips tend to be inaccurate. It may be worth investing in a liquid test kit as they offer more accurate results. Also, the test strip may say no chlorine but doesn't measure heavy metals and chloramine in the tap water so if you added the stress coat after adding the tap water to your aquarium, this may be upsetting your axolotls and will also affect your cycle. From the readings you provided, your tank is not yet cycled. Was the tank cycled before?

 

[michael]

It is tap water. The strip never said chlorine was present.

If you didn't add dechlorinator that is probably the problem.