Floating with arched back.

[Tal]

I got home this afternoon to find my axie floating at the surface of the water with his head and tail down with his back arched. Yesterday he ate fine and didn't see any problems. Today I can't tempt him with anything. A couple of days ago I changed my tank to sand (After reading here how bad it is to have gravel). I noticed this morning that there was a small pile of gravel ie 2 - 3 pebbles.

The store I bought both my axies from kept them on gravel so I don't know for sure which one passed the gravel. Does this sound like he has gravel stuck in him? What else could cause these symptoms? (The other axie is eating fine and swimming normally btw)

I'm not able to fridge him as the fridge is too cold and full of perishables.

The temp averages 18 - 22 Aside from that everything else is fine.

Any thoughts as to what is the cause or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Casaloxl]

my axies sit at that temp range with no problem, others will say to probably get temp down. may need to poo... I have the same problem with my fridge...

 

[Saspotato]

It might be nothing to worry about, my axolotl will hang at the surface like that sometimes. However some axolotls don't cope as well with temperatures towards the upper end of what they find tolerable so if you can get it below 20C that would be better. Also if you have changed the tank substrate, check to make sure your tank isn't cycling again. How long has he been floating?

Though if your axolotl has been kept on gravel and has ingested some he might be floating for that reason. Not sure what you can do other than fridging... that seems to help axolotls pass gravel - I noticed mine left some gravel last time in the fridge after having him for six months on sand, so must have been from the petstore. I don't think there is much you can do, just let it pass out normally.

I think just keep trying with food and see how it goes.

 

[Tal]

Well its now 9pm or so and he has been floating for 5 hours or so. He tries to swim back down but gets two thirds of the way and floats back up. Most of the time the tank is at 19 - 20 degrees. It only really changes if we get 28 and above days. I float bottles of ice when it gets above 21 - 22 in the water.

I thought that the tank would be cycling again so I have been changing the water daily. (Just to be sure the ammonia doesn't spike.)

Unfortunately fridging just isn't an option for me at the moment. I have a young child and have to make sure the perishable food stuffs don't perish too soon. On the look out for a 2nd hand bar fridge that I can afford, but that doesn't help me now

I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on him and hope

 

[kapo]

Do you have an esky?

You could remove him from the tank, place him in a container of dechlorinated water, keep the water fairly low so he doesn't stress from floating. Put some frozen icebricks in the esky (make sure you wrap them with dishcloth so they don't chill the axie container too fast; then place the axolotl container into the esky).

If you can fit a bottle of dechlorinated water in their as well - this should suffice for waterchanges at approximately same temperature.

I've seen this method mentioned by a few aussie members a couple of years ago on this forum as they were unable to use their fridges for similar reasons (especially round the christmas/new year period).

 

[ianclick]

Hi Tal it feels to me like gravel impaction could be the cause of your axies floating and arching. In the short term I would as Kapo suggests invest in an eskie to act as a temporary fridge or try and find a cheap small beer fridge $249 NZ at Bunnings at present and cheaper at second hand appliance stores.

Good Luck

 

[Kudos]

arched back

My axolotl had an arched back when he escaped because he cut himself across the stomach..... He stayed arched the whole time until it healed...... Maybe you axolotl has got cut on his stomach and it hurts to touch the sand..... just a suggestion.... although that does not make sense for the floating

 

[Tal]

I've moved both my axies to the fridge. I can't stand by and just let them get worse or die Just going to have to do the best we can with the perishables. I don't have an esky nor am I in a posistion at the moment to get one so that was out of the question.

The sick axie has spots of fungus now. I have started giving him salt baths (2 - 3 teaspoons of salt/litre 2x daily@ 10 mins.) I figure this is a secondary condition brought on by lowered immune system. Once that is sorted out I guess I just have to wait and see what happens

Aside from the fungal growth, there are no visible external injuries.

 

[Tal]

The sick axie passed away overnight My other axie was also fridged and passed some gravel so I would have to assume that it was ingesting gravel that did my axie in Thanks to everyone who gave me advice unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Tal thats sad news,

The good thing if there is one, is that you tried your best.

Also a curse on petshop owners who sell the gravel in the first place and who maintain that it is quite safe for axies.

Best of luck with the remaining one

 

[MistressOfAxies]

Sorry to hear. I was sold gravel originally with the petshop assistant saying "It'll be fine, do it good" once you change to sand you never look back, gives you peace of mind. Hope the other one does great.

 

[haylz]

sorry to hear about your axie.

i had a similar problem with one of mine - she died too. i was told that the problem was bloating caused by a bacterial infection.
my other axie had the same thing. i was told to lower the level of the water until he could touch the ground, and to lower the temperature of the water. i did that and he seems to be better, he has his appetite back and is sitting comfortably on the bottom.

if your other axie has the same thing, maybe you could try that. i hope all goes well.