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Health concerns

Niitro iLLusioN

Niitro iLLusioN

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Feb 5, 2015
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NSW Australia
Hey guys
I have a few questions regarding my axies health. First question is that he has been floating an awful lot recently, I know that sometimes they swallow air and have to have a bowl movement to release it but it has been 2 weeks and a bit and he has had a few bowl movements and still floats. I know that sometimes thy do it for fun it's just that he does it ALL the time. He has no problem going back down either.

Second question is that I have found mosquito larvae swimming around in my tank. I have since done a clean out and I think I have gotten all of them. Will they cause any harm? I also noticed today that he was shaking his head quite vigorously, what is the reason for this?
Thanks ;)



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If he can get to the bottom I probably wouldn't worry too much about him floating. But if worried firstly, it would be worth testing the parameters and making sure they are all in check. I don't think mosquito larvae cause issues except turning into Mosquitos and the horrible itchy bites they give... As for shaking his head I am not sure. Maybe a parasite? Something wrong with water quality or something else may be irritating him? Others may have more ideas
 
Thanks for your reply ;)
I'll check the water parameters tomorrow as it is now 10pm so it's a bit late. Good to hear that the Mosquito larvae won't harm him, I think I got most of them out anyway. It would be good to hear someone's opinion on the head shaking. I only noticed him doing it once though, and so far I haven't seen him do it since.


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Ok guys I really need some help now

I just looked at my Axolotl and realised that it's cloaca is swollen, I know this normally means that it's a male but I have never noticed this much swelling before so I am almost certain it's a female. I also noticed it looked like some of her slime coat it coming off. I'm thinking that there could be a parasite or something and that's what is causing this although I don't know what procedure to take to deal with this kind of thing. I know that it my previous post I said I was going to check the water parameters but to be truthful I had forgotten but since then I have realised I really need too. I will do it tomorrow this time (because it's really late now) please help me and tell me what to do, should I fridge her?


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Are you able to post photos?

I would place her in a tub of fresh, cool,clean dechlorinated water for now (with 100% daily water changes. Test the parameters in the tank as soon as you can and post the readings here.
 
I just got home from school and immediately tested the parameters, these were the readings:

PH: 6.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure those aren't bad readings so it must be something else. I have since placed her in a quarantine tank, I will do 100% water changes once a day, although how would I go about moving her each time I do a water change? Do I just put her in a container whilst I do it?


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Actually I have just looked at the nitrates and it looks like it's 80ppm not 40ppm, the colours on the chart are very similar so that's why I got it wrong, this is probably the causing of the skin shedding, for now I will keep her in the quarantine tank but do water changes in the original tank until the nitrates go down, although I'm not too sure about the swollen cloaca, it does seem to have gone down a bit though.


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the nitrate is high and the ph is a little low. If you could post some photos that may help. To do the water changes I would have a second tub ready with fresh water you can just transfer her to each day. Maybe a black tea bath may help soothe the skin.
 
How would you go about raising the PH? Also with water changes how would you recommend I transfer her?

What are the steps for a tea bath? I will post a photos after this post but I'm not sure you will be able to see much through the camera :)


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I just attempted to take a photo and unfortunately my camera won't focus enough to see the skin, but to describe it, it's not like peeling severely it's just coming off in flakes and sometimes a few bigger bits, as for the cloaca I would have to pick her up to see underneath to take a photo and at the moment I don't really want to make her more stressed than she already is, to describe that it's just a little swollen and a tinge of red, that seems to be getting better though, she doesn't seem to have problems going to the toilet either.


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I am wondering if the water has somehow been contaminated with something that may have caused the slime coat to shed?

You could use some crushed coral to boost your ph. Place it in a clean sock or something like that and place in the tank.

I think from memory it is one tea bag to ten gallons water but there is a thread in the sick axolotl section you can refer to.

I would keep a close eye on the cloaca. It sounds like it may be improving but if it doesn't improve further very soon it may be worth taking to a vet as it may be a bacterial infection.
 
Well I was looking around and on this site it states that if the skin looks like it's shedding it probably because the nitrates are to high.

http://axolotl-love.deviantart.com/journal/YOUR-AXOLOTL-IS-SICK-WHAT-DO-YOU-DO-221687337

(Info is all the way at the bottem)

The cloaca has improved a lot actually, in fact it's almost completely gone. How long do you think I should leave it the quarantine tank for?


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I can't seem to locate a thread about how to peform tea baths, would you be able to provide me with a link?


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Below is a link on tea baths.

Caudata Culture Articles - Illness Part 2

it may be the nitrates causing the shedding. I would keep him in the separate tub whilst he is exhibiting symptoms so you can monitor closely and also whilst you get the parameters in check. Water changes will bring the nitrate down.
 
Thanks for the link, so I just add cooled tea water to the tank? Will I have to do that each day because of the daily water changes?

Ok, until her symptoms go away and the nitrates are lowered I will keep her in there, I have been doing water changes every third day in the main tank.


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Yes you can replenish the tea bath after water changes. it is a mild treatment and shouldn't bean issue.
 
Ok, I have been doing everything you said and he seems to be improving except for one issue, he's not eating. For the past few days I haven't been able to get him to eat, I drop food in front of his face and he chews it in his mouth but then spits it out, what should I do? Should I be worried?


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Maybe try some different food options? Maybe try a scallop? These are not a good long term staple diet but may entice him to eat. Are the parameters looking better?
 
At the fish hatchery I baught her from they sell marine worms and they said you can use them as a treat for axolotls, should I give them a go? I only ask because I know some pet shops give incorrect information.


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