Illness/Sickness: HELP! Axolotl not eating at all ! :(

[Noey Hart]

Hi everyone, once again I'm calling you for help cause I don't know what to do anymore... One of my axolotls didn't eat since 3 days. He just ate a tiny dried shrimp yesterday but he refuses anything else. He was perfectly fine, then 5 or 4 days before this, he vomitted, I don't know why. But the day after he was fine and was eating and now everytime I give him pellets or earthworms or whatever, he just spits it out and never take it again Except that, he seems fine, he swims as usual and looks pretty, but he is losing weight. I don't know the water parameters as he is in a little container because he is in quarantine because I got him almost two weeks ago. I change the water daily, I let stay dechlorinated water 24h in a bucket and then change it. Should I fridge him ? What are your advices ?

 

[HayleyK]

I would stop feeding the dried shrimp it's not healthy. Sometimes axolotls are put off food, keep trying with the worms and pellets. You really do need to invest in liquid testing kits to make sure. I wouldn't fridge it as it will slow their metabolism so they won't eat, which is what your problem is now.

 

[Noey Hart]

I don't feed them dried shrimp, I had it as a treat so tried to give him one to see if he would take it. So I just continue to try with pellets and earthworms? I have beef liver and bloodworms in my freezer, should I try it ?

 

[auntiejude]

What's the weather like where you are? It could be heat affecting his appetite - small quarantine tubs will warm up very quickly in warm weather.

As Hayley said - dried food is best avoided with axies, it's not terribly nutritious.

If your axie is small I'd suggest small live food - daphnia, live bloodworm or mysis shrimp. That way he can eat at his own pace and the leftover food won't foul the water.

 

[Noey Hart]

He is too big for bloodworms but as I have some in my freezer I will try that.
It's 20 degrees where they are and the water is probably around 18-20 as well, need to buy a new thermometer.
And as I already said, dried shrimp is a treat. Some of them likes to eat one or two when they finished eating.