Floating??

[Julianashepp]

I just bought a beautiful 4 and a half inch axolotl yesterday. He was swimming around a bit, not a lot. But then I noticed he started to float at the top a bit. But then kept going back down. I woke up this morning and he's floating at the top. I put my finger in the water and he jumped and went to the bottom but then after a second just let himself float back up to the top. I feel his gills are facing forward a bit but I read that when they are still small it can be from the gills being too big for their body. Why is he acting like this??? Please help!

 

[Julianashepp]

Now he's sitting at the bottom not moving around at all

 

[LSuzuki]

Sometimes, especially when they are young, they will float for a bit. Unless it lasts, it isn't anything to worry about. The gills do face more forward on younger ones, from what I've observed with my limited experience.

Since you are a new, have you had a chance to go through all of the good info on this site w.r.t. tank set-up, etc? Some key things are, get a good test kit for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrate and use it regularly to make sure of your water conditions and no gravel in the aquarium.

Enjoy your new friend, and try not to let his antics worry you too much! :happy:

 

[A1ecia]

Constipation will make them float as well, my poor baby couldn't stay at the bottom for the life of him one day but luckily it only lasted a day until he was able to get things moving.

 

[Julianashepp]

He is moving around fine now yes I have been keeping fish for a long time, just my first time with axolotls but trust me I've done my research no worries everything is great now. One thing is my tank is cloudy from the sand. Any way to fix that?

 

[LSuzuki]

The only way I know of to "fix" sand cloudiness it to rinse it really well before putting it in the tank, but a bit late for that now ... Eventually, it should settle and get stuck to biofilms, etc.

I'm a fish keeper fairly new to axolotls too. Not much difference in the basics, but not all fish products are safe for amphibians. I'd never used sand as a substrate before, and I am finding it to be a bit of a nuisance - always some of it leaving with the water changes, and I destroyed one filter with it already. (The sand got into the power head, and yes, I have the flow well diffused.:happy

Axolotls seem to have lots of tricks to scare new keepers. Ever seen a leucistic turn ghost-white? Pretty disconcerting.

What color is your axolotl?

 

[TallTree01]

To clear cloudiness from sand, put carbon or fine filter wool in the filter for a few days - weeks. Really helps to clear water fast.

 

[Julianashepp]

He's a wild type, couldn't help myself :3. I have carbon in my filter currently. Its a lot clearer than it was before but its still cloudy.

 

[keiko]

Water changes will help. Just be careful not to stir the sand too much when pouring in new water.