Illness/Sickness: Help! Lost gills, green poo

[egillies]

Hi,

I've had Zeppy for nearly a year now. about 3 weeks ago he threw up (I saw it, it was gross), and as he was feeling under the weather I took the opportunity to fridge him, this has also given me the time to cycle and prepare his new home (twice the size!). (I've fridged before, and it's always done wonders).

3 days ago I took him out of the fridge to prepare him for the move, bring him up to temperature, but he's lost his gills very rapidly. I was doing daily water changes, keeping the water at the same temperature. He has also begun pooing little bright green balls. I've read this could be an indication of a liver issue caused by pellets? He was getting fed pellets and earthworms. he didn't seem interested in any food today.

The only other thing I could think to mention is it is warmer here in Australia, I'm aware of that, but it's a hell of a lot cooler than it has been, so although it's 23 or 24, that's relatively cool in comparison to the high 20's low 30's. Not ideal I know, but his big tank is cooler.

So what should I do?? What could be causing this?? should I put him in his new tank? Or should I fridge him or should I leave him as is??

Please, any response would be good. I can't loose him.

 

[Petersgirl]

This might be a daft question - sorry in advance - but is any of your substrate green and small, like pebbles, etc? He may have swallowed those. I've never heard of the liver trouble, but if this is right, it may be best to stop feeding him the pellets and see how he recovers. I don't think it is a good idea to fridge him, this will simply slow down his metabolism and make it harder for him to eat.

Are you certain your new tank is fully cycled, and is it 'busy?' If it's got a lot going on, it may be best to keep him in a large tub or small tank filled with clean, dechlorinated water and keep him in a cool dark place. Perform 100% daily water changes and feed earthworms every other day. If he still won't eat, try a different food to encourage him to eat up - something new and tasty like bloodworm. Don't worry over one day of not eating - like humans and dogs, Axxies get 'blue' days when they don't feel like eating or doing much. I recommend this hospital tank set up as it's managed to help my poor stressed Toothless with her poorly gills back on the road to recovery.

I really hope this helps and that your little guy gets better, but cool (or as cool as you can get in Australia!) dark and quiet is always the best remedy.

PS - You say he 'threw up.' Do you mean he spat some of his food back out at the last feeding, or he literally threw up all of his meal and some foreign matter? Also, how often were you feeding him? Sometimes axxies 'vomit' when they've just eaten a little too much.

 

[egillies]

Thankyou so much for replying!!

My substrate was white sand. and he hasn't been put in the new tank yet, but it also has white sand, not too busy and parameters are fine (pH is slightly high) after a month of cycling.

The throw up was an hour or two after eating. He retched a few times and then a mass of digested food stuff came out. I think you're right, I think I may have overfed him that day. From memory I gave him an extra worm, maybe that was why. I had upped his feeding from once every second day to once a day. Maybe that's why he looks so fat now.

My main concern at the moment is his gills. He had lovely gills and now they're gone. I'm hoping it's just got to do with the heat, and not a fungal infection or something.

I'll try feeding him again today and see how we go.

I really appreciate your guidance!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Do you have live plants in your tank? I have an axolotl that eats the duckweed..his poo is sometimes green.

 

[egillies]

Yeah! Maybe that's what happened, I dunno. It was weird.
At the moment I'm putting gill loss down to stress and heat. Fingers crossed he's going to be ok!