Help! Axi hasn't eaten for a week...

[Caporalek]

So, here's the story...

I recently had to stay at a friends house for 5 days while she was unwell. I came back to feed Carlos (my axi) every second day. The first time I went to feed him, I found about 10+ pellets that he had brought back up all through the tank. I cleaned his tank, and he refused to eat. He hasn't eaten in a week now. I admit the water temp did get quite warm (22C-23C).

I've gradually cooled down his tank to around (18C-20C).

The water readings are all in a perfect range.

There is nothing noticeably different about him otherwise, other than his gills aren't as red.

And I've tried to feed him everyday, at night by dropping pellets in front of his head (that he would normally gulp up!). Today (Day 7) he actually snapped at a pellet, then spat it straight back out...

I have NO IDEA what else I can do, or what's wrong with him.

If anyone has any ideas, I would really appreciate your feedback!!!

 

[layna]

The water temp could have affected his appetite making him feel unwell and he may be recovering, or he could just be being a fussy eater at the moment, have you tried him on anything else or just the pellets?

 

[PatchworkClocks]

Water temp can mess with an axolotl's appetite sometimes. That and he may not like eating the pellets so much at the moment. Try feeding him with worms (cut them up if he's still a juvie). Nightcrawlers, earthworms, and sometimes red wigglers will be fine (the problem with red wigglers is that some axolotls don't like the taste of them). If you have to buy bait worms, get the brand called "DMF Bait Co."

Also, if keeping your water temp down is an issue for you, there's a couple things you can try. Check this thread here for some ideas: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ussion/93227-lets-talk-chillers-shall-we.html

Edit: Woop, didn't notice you're in Australia! I don't know if you have the bait brand I mentioned. If not, then when you're buying worms, steer clear of any worms in containers that say anything like "not safe for human (or fish) consumption." You could also try looking for worms in pet stores. Don't buy mealworms because axolotls can't digest the chitin.

 

[HayleyK]

If you have a petbarn near you, you can find those worms ^. Or a "pets r fun" depending where abouts in sydney.


And heeeeey fellow sydney-sider. I have an axolotl called Carlos too!

 

[auntiejude]

My axie has only just got his appetite back after the hot summer we have had here - he was off his food for 6 weeks, and I've only just got him back to normal eating.

Almost definately the heat - my axie didn't like anything above 20C.

A chiller would be a really good idea.

 

[Caporalek]

Thank you all so so much!

I'll definitely try and find worms at petbarn and bait stores - I've never been able to find earthworms at any stores so far and I don't have a garden, so he's only ever had pellets. I will definitely try your suggestion!!

Good news is he did eat 2 pellets today, it took him about 20mins but it's a start!

And if he pulls through this, I'm going to have to buy a cooler. It's just too hard to keep his tank cool any other way here in Sydney...

PS. High-five fellow Sydney sider with the axolotl named Carlos...you have fantastic taste! (I actually got the name from the baby off The Hangover...I wanted something Spanish and it all clicked haha!)

 

[PatchworkClocks]

If you can't afford to buy a real chiller, there are quite a few ideas floating around on the forums. Someone had the idea to use an old picnic cooler, some tubing, and their filter to make a DIY chiller. I can't go rummaging around for the thread right now, but it's either in general discussion or tanks/set-ups/substrate.

 

[HayleyK]

Thank you all so so much!

I'll definitely try and find worms at petbarn and bait stores - I've never been able to find earthworms at any stores so far and I don't have a garden, so he's only ever had pellets. I will definitely try your suggestion!!

Good news is he did eat 2 pellets today, it took him about 20mins but it's a start!

And if he pulls through this, I'm going to have to buy a cooler. It's just too hard to keep his tank cool any other way here in Sydney...

PS. High-five fellow Sydney sider with the axolotl named Carlos...you have fantastic taste! (I actually got the name from the baby off The Hangover...I wanted something Spanish and it all clicked haha!)

You can always set up a mini worm farm in the laundry or somewhere in the house. Tub, soil and worms... And some potato!! Bunnings or mitre 10 have a 500 pack of worms for like 30 bucks, best investment, ever!

How strange is our weather! 29 one day, 19 the next.. And 28 degrees tomorrow! I've got a four fan aquarium cooler for like 40 bucks waiting to be delivered, I heard that keeps water temp down if you can't afford a chiller like me.. I've been getting by three summers with big ice containers, like the big 3L juice bottles.. They do well for the time being.

And double high five for the name that's where I got it from! I had a axolotl called Gonzales (rip little man), I have a José and a Carlos now.. Next ones name will either be Pablo or Pedro. I love little Mexican sounding names too, great minds think a like!

Where abouts in Sydney are you!