Floating question

[TJDawson7]

I think I have decided that my axie just likes to float but wanted to know if this is normal behavior. The water levels are ammonia and nitrites 0 and nitrates between 20 and 50 and temp is good and normal all where they should be. He seems to be able to go to the bottom whenever he wants and does. Especially when I gently startle him a little by lightly blowing on his back to see if this is the case(i don‘t do this often), feeding time or yesterday when I went to take him out to do a full tank change(he “ran” away and to the bottom, lol) He is eating well and normally and doesn’t seem stressed or constipated as he is floating tail kind of hanging down and seems to be pooping regularly. He is in a bare bottom tank and always has been. So is this normal behavior or should I be worried? Do they float just for fun?

 

[ArnoldTheMander]

They just float for fun. Ambystomids can take a deep breath and use their lungs like a swim bladder to float. It’s a totally normal behavior and all of my larval salamander do it too

 

[TJDawson7]

Good to know thanks. I kind of figured but just wanted to make sure. But now a new problem this happened overnight what is it? I saw this this morning and it wasn‘t there yesterday. What is it? and how do I fix it?

 

[Calgarycoppers]

If it hasn't gone away within 12 hours could be a rectal prolapse