Illness/Sickness: Floating back end

[di4mondwhite]

Hi.

I have an axy who is approximately 4 years old. I've checked the water and all levels fall within safe levels. Fed on bloodworm and pellets as won't eat live food.

Not showing signs of distress at all, no agitation or gill flicking or tail curling, but seems to be having a bit of trouble keeping back legs and tail on tank bottom.

Any suggestions? Is she sick? Please advise ......

Ta.

 

[FX1C]

How long has it been doing this?
It might be that it just needs to poop
They sometimes seem to float in the rear when they need to go.

What are the water parameters (ammonia / nitrite / nitrate) & temperature - have you noticed any other abnormal behaviour or added anything new to the tank recently.

Post a pic of your axie & tank - it will help to get an idea of how severe the floating is..

Hopefully it's just poop float lol



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Kodie]

Obviously your axie could well as have something different wrong with it but i had an axie that did this for 2 days, i found that he could keep his front legs on the tank bottom but his tail end was trying to float, i ruled out that he must have had air in his digestinal tract because as soon as he expelled it, he returned to normal, it could also be what nikki said.

i guess if the problem persists maybe you could consider fridging him for a little while as it is said to resolve floating, but im assuming that this is only a temporary issue. but anyways goodluck with your axie

 

[FX1C]

What substrate do you have in the tank? I forgot to ask that in my first response



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[awya7]

Keep an eye on him. If he's still floating in a few hours I'd put him in the fridge. He might be constipated, in which case the colder temperatures in the fridge will help.

 

[FX1C]

Keep an eye on him. If he's still floating in a few hours I'd put him in the fridge. He might be constipated, in which case the colder temperatures in the fridge will help.

I don't agree that at such an early stage of rear floating that fridging is required. Fridging is drastic & not something done at the first sign of trouble. It's not like you can fridge for a day - you need to plan well & have extra water for changes also refrigerated. You then have to bring back to tank temp slowly.

Making sure water is healthy & the right temp is the first thing - then perhaps offering some live earthworms will help to move anything inside (that is if there's no risk of impaction from gravel / pebbles / rocks).

keep an eye on him & please post a pic of axie & tank - it helps a lot.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[di4mondwhite]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for replying. Pleased to say Foley is now behaving normally. Phew!!!

Had me worried for a little while there ...... :wacko:

 

[snuggly time]

Mine did this the other day, not sure what was wrong but he's perfectly fine now. Glad yours is back to normal

P.S. nice to see another axolotl owner in West Yorkshire!

 

[Morrison]

Sometimes happens to mine as well. Guess they've swallowed some air. And air can go out of their mouth, or their... bum. And for the last one they usually float with their bum up, because there's where the air is at the moment. Lol. They all survived.