Illness/Sickness: Gas problems?

[SallyandDom]

Hello again,

Our poor Max is having a little bit of trouble at the moment Max is having trouble staying on the bottom of his tank, any time he comes out of the shelter of his plant his tail sticks straight up in the air as if he is doing a hand stand. I mentioned it in a previous post as it cured itself, but this time Max seems more agitated with it. We have been reading around on here and have got a plastic tub ready for him to go into, we're just letting the dechlorinator work and trying to get it to the same temp as the tank water. Does it sound like he needs to go into a tub? If so, can it be in a room (tub is currently sitting at ~20c in the lounge- not sure how to get it cooler?) or will he need to be fridged?

Temp in his tank is currently 18c (being controlled with an aquarium fan and ice bottles), ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates ~ 40 (I'm just about to do a water change), pH 7.6. No gravel in the tank, just pebbles larger than Max's head. Other than agitation from not being able to stay on the bottom, he has no gill curling or tail hooking. Last ate 2 small worms Wednesday evening (it is now Friday).

Any help you could give us will be gratefully received, it is quite distressing seeing him so agitated

Sally and Dom

 

[Petersgirl]

This may not be well recieved as axolotls can't digest them, but I have cautiously tried it with my own axolotl when he was very bloated.

I used frozen garden peas and microwaved them until they were cooked, then waited for them to cool before feeding my baby a couple. He ate them both and hasn't had wind since. I know they're carnivores but it was recommended for fish and seemed to work for me.

 

[SallyandDom]

Thanks Petersgirl, we might have to try that next time!

Max managed to rid himself of his wind on Friday night, but was still slightly lopsided swimming until Saturday evening. We think he may have hurt himself slightly (no obvious external injury) when he was agitated as he kept sticking his arm and leg up on one side. I did find a very small snail (I'm guessing from the new plant) on Saturday which may well have caused his problem- the plant was well washed off once I spotted it, Dom is now on snail watch as I'm away from home this week. Max seems fine now though, praying to the food gods again!

Sally and Dom

 

[Petersgirl]

I think Max may have had a little trapped wind as sometimes they will lift parts of their body as if to force the trapped wind out. They seem to have a lot of wind problems when young as swallowing air is their means of swimming.

Glad to hear he's better!