Fridge and Floating...

[katie]

I noticed my axie floating on 4/23. It was like one side of his body wouldn't stay down. He lives in my classroom and there had been a break down of our cooling system and it got fairly warm. I brought him home to my nice cool dark basement to recover. He's looking better and only it looks like only his tail keeps floating up. At the advise of several forum members I put him in the fridge this Sat 4/28. How long should I keep him in there?

 

[kaysie]

Katie, when's the last time that it took a poo? Sometimes they can float when they're slightly constipated. I suspect the floating will stop after a poo.

 

[katie]

I'm not sure if he went over the weekend as I was not at school but he hasn't taken one in the week he's been home with me but he also hasn't been eating. I waited 5 days before fridging him. The first couple of days one side of his body kept floating up. Then on Wed. it seemed like he was better able to keep his front half down and his tail was the only thing that was floating up. His tail kept floating up and I decided I try the whole fridge thing since he hasn't eaten since 4/20. I'm so worried about him and so are my students. He's our classroom pet and the students got very attached to him during our amphibians unit. I'm going to be buying a fan to put over his tank since it has gotten warmer out and our air conditioning system has been less predictable. Temp has never been a problem in my freezing cold classroom but since it's gotten warmer I think the fan will be a big help.

I got him on 4/6 and he's been doing just fine but I'm not sure what his tank set up was like before. Any chance he's got gravel in his belly? He's leucistic (a very very light pink) so I would think I could see it but it's possible that I can't. Any suggestions for other methods I could try?