Illness/Sickness: Haru is floating ;(

[kapooey]

This is my first axolotl and I bought it a month ago. Every night when I got home from work and before I go to sleep I check on Haru. (Haru is still a baby and I don't know it's a boy or girl) Yesterday when I got home and I didn't see Haru so I thought it might be hiding in one of the décor I bought for it, so I ignore it.

Today after work my sister told me I should check on it because she said she didn't see Haru anywhere and it didn't eat the axolotl pellet. I look around the tank(40gallon), I didn't see Haru so I moved the décor and suddenly it flow all the way to the top and it can't swim down.

Haru also not on "balance", and tipped a bit on the left. I immediately search online and I believe my poor Haru is sick. I believe Haru have a blow so I took it out of the tank and place in a container, add some water and put it in the fridge.

I change my water weekly and I use tap water plus tap water conditioner just to remove chlorine. I do keep the temperature around 20C and I think that might not be cold enough for Haru. I do have 2 water plants in the tank.

I am not sure am I doing this right, if not PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! Thanks a million

 

[michel3171]

I have no idea why Haru would be floating?
But the temperature is allright, my axies usually have around 21-22C.

Guys don't panic, i'm not boiling my axies. But when the temp goes to 18, they start to get stressed...

Anyway, back on subject, the freezing might help. Keep updating about Haru.

Give him a ''get well'' wish from me will ya?

 

[kapooey]

Haru looks great last night when I only put it in the fridge for couple hours. Then I decided to put Haru back to its home. I notice it was try to stay on the bottom of the tank(it try to stay in the gaps between the rocks) and this morning it was floating again=[ I am not sure what to do so I put it back to the fridge=.=''

 

[Kerry M]

Have you tested Haru's tank water? What are the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH readings? When did you last do a water change and how regularly do you do partial water changes? What is Haru's substrate? Sorry for all the questions. Hopefully if you have that info someone may be able to give you a hand. Another question, how old is Haru? Can you post a picture of Haru and the tank?

 

[Kerry M]

Apologies, just realised that you said that you change your water weekly in your first post.

 

[kapooey]

I never test the water I just bought the test strip today so I tested the ammonia level. I didn't check the nitrite, nitrate and PH readings because I didn't know I need that much tests to do. But now I will get all those items I need. I am not too sure how old is Haru because I bought it more than a month ago. I don't know how to upload a picture to here=[

 

[maghan6]

Test strips aren't very accurate. I recommend getting an API freshwater master test kit. You can order one on amazon for about $20 and it includes all of the tests you need plus instructions to test accurately. How big is your axie? If he is small he may have a hard time finding food in such a large tank. Also, how often are you feeding him and what kind of substrate do you use?

 

[layna]

If your axies little, he may not be eating enough and may have an air bubble in his tummy. Try feeding him little bits of moving food.
If your axie is bigger then he may have accidently swallowed too much air and isnt sure how to burp/poop it out.
It may also be a water quality issues and as others have said the strips arent good, you need to buy an API freshwater master test kit and that has all the tests you need in it along with instructions.
Until you add a photo or something thats as far as we can help.

 

[Alkylhalide]

Odd question. Do you let your water sit 24-48hours before adding it to the tank?

I would keep him out of the tank and in a shallow tuperware container. Enough water that he is submerged but not enough that he stresses because he cant touch the bottom. Dont fridge him and just feed him like normal.

I was having this problem often with my babies i was rearing and its caused by air bubbles in their tummy. I did a bunch of research and one of the causes can be not letting your water sit.
I do t think that was my problem, because i do let the water sit but i always thought it was to let the dechlorinator do its job or something/get the water to the right temperature.

 

[Gailgirl]

When my 5" long axie was floating, I had to leave her in the fridge for 5 or 6 days for all the air to pass. I switched food, and fed her smaller meals more often, and that made her better.

 

[kapooey]

ok. I got the test kit online =] Thanks! hum...I don't know how to explain how big Haru is....I will say around 1 inch or 2... I fed him once in 2 days around 2-3 axolotls pellets.
no. I don't let my water sit for 24-48 hours before I put it in. Because when I asked people who have fish, they said once I put the water conditioner in I am good to go change the water right away.

 

[layna]

If your axie is only 1 or 2 inches they they need feeding daily, and ideally twice a day, every 2 days is not good for little axies, hes probably hungry and so is swallowing air and thats why hes floating.

Also when they are little it is best to feed them live food to help them grow the best they can. Try getting some live blood worm, or cutting an earthworm into tiny pieces he can swallow.

 

[Kerry M]

I agree with Layna. Young axies love to snap at anything that moves. You can also use live blackworms, my little ones love them. Good job getting your test kit! Now you just need a few cheap buckets to use for aging your water.

 

[Kaysie]

I definitely agree; this floating is a sign he's not getting enough food.

Keep him in a tupperware container with some live food until he's a couple inches long.

This will give you time to cycle your tank.

 

[kapooey]

ohhh. I see. Because I thought I only feed it 3-4 times a week. Do you guys think frozen bloodworm will be ok? I put Haru in a small container in the fridge now. And if I am going to cycle my tank, should I just put Haru in a small container, change the water everyday? And should I put Haru in the basement instead of in the fridge or my room? As far as I know my room temp. is around 21C, I am not sure if it is good for Haru or not=/ And also, should I change the water in my tank everyday even if Haru is not in it?

Thanks a million!!!!

 

[layna]

To cycle a tank, you need it set up how you are going to have it with the filter and air stone ect running 24/7 then you want to add enough ammonia to raise it to around 4ppm on your test kit.
Then just leave it to do its own thing (dont do water changes or anything) until you see the ammonia back at 0, then you need to add a little each day to keep feeding the 'good bacteria' your cycle has created.
Once you start to see nitrAtes using your test kit and ammonia and nitrite are 0, you have done it.

When axies are a lot bigger you only feed them every day or so, but when they are only little like yours, then its important to feed them everyday.
Whilst your tank is cycling, keep him in the tub and change his water with dechlorinated tap water everyday (i would change his water after you have fed him)
Frozen bloodworm is okay but i would try and get them a little live food to help them grow.

A good way to tell if your axies needs feeding or not is to look at how wide his tummy is compared to his head.
If his tummy is thinner than his head then he needs feeding, if his tummy is the same width as his head, then he is okay but little axies like to have nice fat tummies, and this will stop them floating.


As for the temperature, axies are happiest between 10-20 C so if your basement is a little cooler than your room, then he will be okay in the basement, its not good to leave him in the fridge because when they are colder their metabolism slows down and he wont want to eat as much but he should be eating to get better

 

[kapooey]

I just changed my water like usual(but Haru is not in the tank) So I should just let the water in the tank run for a week without changing the water at all? I guess I have to take Haru out because it is not eating at all=[ so I should just leave him out to a smaller tank till the big tank is done cycling=]

 

[Kerry M]

I would certainly take him out the fridge, put him in fresh aged water changed each day, scrub the container in a salt and bicarbonate mix every 3 days or so. Finding fresh live food sounds like the best idea. Here is a link to nutrition options for Haru:
http://www.axolotlonline.com/axolotl-feeding/

 

[kapooey]

alright. I took Haru out. Now I have a new issue. I can tell Haru is back to normal because it can go all the way down to the bottom of the tank(a small tank, with no filters, and I change water everyday) but most of the time I see Haru floating around(normal?). Now Haru is not eating at all. I do gave Haru some frozen bloodworms, but Haru eats salmon pellets before (for axolotls). I am not sure if Haru is not use to eating bloodworms or it is sick=[

 

[Kerry M]

I know that many axies eat bloodworms, but I wouldn't want to eat dead bloodworms if I was a lotl.