Illness/Sickness: Floating on side, then vomiting and struggling to get to surface :( Please help!!

[alabaster]

Hi all, I’m really worried, please help!! I’m a new axolotl owner. About a week ago I noticed my juvenile axolotl was floating on the top of the tank on his side and struggling to get to the bottom. The next morning he was still like that, then I saw him shoot down to the bottom of the tank and start vomiting. After that he struggled to swim to the top of the tank. I went to the petshop to get the aquarium water tested and all the water parameters were fine. He got better during that day and I assumed that he was going to be okay. But then 2 days later the exact same thing happened. I tried to write on this forum then but have been waiting for account activation. He again seemed to make a full recovery but now a few days later, is floating on his side again and struggling to get to the bottom. He is also gulping air from the surface a lot and opening his mouth underwater… The aquarium has no substrate and nothing small that he could have ingested. His diet is bloodworms and occasionally axolotl pellets. I don’t have a filter because I heard that it can stress them out, instead I’ve been doing 20% water changes every other day. Please help, I’m really worried that he’s not going to make it :’( Does anyone know what this is or what i can do?

 

[ArdyBay]

How long have you had him? The place where you got him might have had him on gravel or some other kind of harmful substrate. That's my best guess. I would put him in the fridge for a little while. Here: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ick-axolotl/85263-axolotl-fridging-guide.html is a really helpful fridging guide. Also, what is the temperature in the tank?

Hope he gets better and keep us updated.

 

[kiathepooch]

You could use sponge filters,they're great with axolotls.
Is your tank fully cycled?
If not water changes should be daily.


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[alabaster]

Thanks guys, oh no, I think the problem is actually temperature!! We’ve had a bit of a heat burst lately with it getting to about 25C during the day :/ I’ve had a fan blowing onto his tank all day, but he’s still floating… the temp is about 22 now. I have an external filter I could use, would that help him or harm him?
I can’t put him in the fridge because there are several people I live with that would not allow it Is there any alternative? Would putting him in a container inside a chiller work? What can I do to keep my tank cool? I don’t think the fan is going to be a good long term solution

 

[kiathepooch]

Fill 2-3 litre bottle with water,freeze them and add one to the tank or two but make sure tough have a couple spare so you can rotate them,that should help.lower the temp.
You could try moving the tank.somewhere shaded and cooler as that will help.
Is your tank cycled as if not this could add to your axolotls problems.

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