Help with our constipated / stressed Axolotl named Pickle

[Dr. Funk]

Hello

First time Axolotl owner. Have been reading information on this forum and other places on the web to try and navigate thru the common pitfalls.
Yet........ here I am, and I need help and advice. Pickle, our Axo, is really stressed and not doing well this week. He is constipated, and perhaps some other things going on as well.

Hopefully the following information with help someone with knowledge diagnose the issue and how we can treat it.

We have had Pickle for a little over 2 months. We allowed 6 weeks cycle of the aquarium before we introduced Pickle to it's new home.
The aquarium is 45 gallons, with a Aqua One 1100 filtration unit. I use the API Freshwater testing kit for Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

I test the water (now everyday as) every other day, and clean the tank 2-3 times a week.

Ph levels are kept at 7.5.

I monitor Ammonia constantly: (yes the current test reading come back 0)

I use Seachem Prime, and when we were cycling their Stability product. I also bought some jasmine moss. and a sandalwood plant to try and maintain low Ammonia levels.


So....... all that said; everything began last Friday

I mainly feed earthworms to Pickle. (We have some pellets, and some cubed specialised product from the store, but worms are what actually gets eaten.)

We live right by a creek so I usually just dig some dirt (I wash the worms before feeding) and bring in worms to feed. This day I happened to find two rather large worm in the same spot.
So I grabbed them up, washed the dirt off them with tap water, and fed the to pickle.

I did not cut up either worms. It had been 3 days since the last feeding.

Gulped them right up.


About 2-3 hours later I notice his back is arched up like a mad cat, and his back two legs are sticking out.
I search the web, and sure enough this is a classic sign of constipation. I spend some time reading numerous articles on the Fridge method and when/when not to put them in the Fridge.
I check over and now Pickle is floating at the top, arched back, hind legs up.

In the fridge we go. 24 hours later I check and Pickle seems more "normal". Color looks better, and there is a lot of this "clear dirt", almost sand like substance all over the bottom of the container.
So I think "great, we have done it". Prepared a new container with 50/50 tap/aquarium water, and allowed 3 hours for the temps to match. After seeming very active in the 2nd container put Pickle back into the
aquarium.

Then the next morning I wake up, and he looks worse than ever. (Ammonia is 0, Ph is 7.5). What I now think happened is the substance I thought was poop was in fact the shedding of the slim coat.
Floating at the top, arched back, back legs out. When able to descend back to the bottom, moves very little, and either goes into a butt up, or hides with back legs out.

So...... we are on our second trip back into the fridge. We are coming up on 24 hours again. I am concerned the moving is stressful. I am attaching some photos.

Is there any other advice other than daily 100% water changes, and just waiting it out in the fridge ? What is the reason for the shedding ?

 

[Autistic Catholic]

He looks really malnourished. Is he a juvenile? He should be eating every day if he is a juvenile.
You mention ammonia and Ph but what about nitrites and nitrates? What is your temperature?

 

[wolfen]

do a fifty percent water change on the tank, make sure the water is dechlorinated before adding to the tank, wait twenty four hours and retest all water levels ie.. ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, temperature, what are the results ?
start adding 2g salt per litre water to the tank or use holtfreters at 50% but without calcium chloride or bicarbonate of soda until kh gh tested, add 0.1g magnesium sulphate per litre water to the holfreters (modified) solution, info here Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
if you can get the kh gh measured.
make sure to regularly turn the sand to prevent bad spots.
make sure to flush/clean through any hides/cave regularly to prevent any stagnant areas.
make sure the water is oxygenated enough.
he is slightly underfed, if needs be feed daily until torso as wide as head.
with him floating, arch back etc.. when he is in the tank points to there being an issue with the water.

 

[salamander whisperer]

Hello

First time Axolotl owner. Have been reading information on this forum and other places on the web to try and navigate thru the common pitfalls.
Yet........ here I am, and I need help and advice. Pickle, our Axo, is really stressed and not doing well this week. He is constipated, and perhaps some other things going on as well.

Hopefully the following information with help someone with knowledge diagnose the issue and how we can treat it.

We have had Pickle for a little over 2 months. We allowed 6 weeks cycle of the aquarium before we introduced Pickle to it's new home.
The aquarium is 45 gallons, with a Aqua One 1100 filtration unit. I use the API Freshwater testing kit for Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

I test the water (now everyday as) every other day, and clean the tank 2-3 times a week.

Ph levels are kept at 7.5.

I monitor Ammonia constantly: (yes the current test reading come back 0)

I use Seachem Prime, and when we were cycling their Stability product. I also bought some jasmine moss. and a sandalwood plant to try and maintain low Ammonia levels.


So....... all that said; everything began last Friday

I mainly feed earthworms to Pickle. (We have some pellets, and some cubed specialised product from the store, but worms are what actually gets eaten.)

We live right by a creek so I usually just dig some dirt (I wash the worms before feeding) and bring in worms to feed. This day I happened to find two rather large worm in the same spot.
So I grabbed them up, washed the dirt off them with tap water, and fed the to pickle.

I did not cut up either worms. It had been 3 days since the last feeding.

Gulped them right up.


About 2-3 hours later I notice his back is arched up like a mad cat, and his back two legs are sticking out.
I search the web, and sure enough this is a classic sign of constipation. I spend some time reading numerous articles on the Fridge method and when/when not to put them in the Fridge.
I check over and now Pickle is floating at the top, arched back, hind legs up.

In the fridge we go. 24 hours later I check and Pickle seems more "normal". Color looks better, and there is a lot of this "clear dirt", almost sand like substance all over the bottom of the container.
So I think "great, we have done it". Prepared a new container with 50/50 tap/aquarium water, and allowed 3 hours for the temps to match. After seeming very active in the 2nd container put Pickle back into the
aquarium.

Then the next morning I wake up, and he looks worse than ever. (Ammonia is 0, Ph is 7.5). What I now think happened is the substance I thought was poop was in fact the shedding of the slim coat.
Floating at the top, arched back, back legs out. When able to descend back to the bottom, moves very little, and either goes into a butt up, or hides with back legs out.

So...... we are on our second trip back into the fridge. We are coming up on 24 hours again. I am concerned the moving is stressful. I am attaching some photos.

Is there any other advice other than daily 100% water changes, and just waiting it out in the fridge ? What is the reason for the shedding ?







View attachment 93798View attachment 93799View attachment 93800

Definately looks like he is in bad condition in those pics, but his gills look great!

I would be very cautious about giving any salamander cubed tubifex worms. They take a long time to absorb water, and if it is to dry they can get stuck. Buut thats not your issue.
Hope your Sali feels better!

 

[axolotl nerd]

He looks really malnourished. Is he a juvenile? He should be eating every day if he is a juvenile.
You mention ammonia and Ph but what about nitrites and nitrates? What is your temperature?

agree with him looking underweight. definitely need to up his food intake

 

[axolotl nerd]

Hello

First time Axolotl owner. Have been reading information on this forum and other places on the web to try and navigate thru the common pitfalls.
Yet........ here I am, and I need help and advice. Pickle, our Axo, is really stressed and not doing well this week. He is constipated, and perhaps some other things going on as well.

Hopefully the following information with help someone with knowledge diagnose the issue and how we can treat it.

We have had Pickle for a little over 2 months. We allowed 6 weeks cycle of the aquarium before we introduced Pickle to it's new home.
The aquarium is 45 gallons, with a Aqua One 1100 filtration unit. I use the API Freshwater testing kit for Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

I test the water (now everyday as) every other day, and clean the tank 2-3 times a week.

Ph levels are kept at 7.5.

I monitor Ammonia constantly: (yes the current test reading come back 0)

I use Seachem Prime, and when we were cycling their Stability product. I also bought some jasmine moss. and a sandalwood plant to try and maintain low Ammonia levels.


So....... all that said; everything began last Friday

I mainly feed earthworms to Pickle. (We have some pellets, and some cubed specialised product from the store, but worms are what actually gets eaten.)

We live right by a creek so I usually just dig some dirt (I wash the worms before feeding) and bring in worms to feed. This day I happened to find two rather large worm in the same spot.
So I grabbed them up, washed the dirt off them with tap water, and fed the to pickle.

I did not cut up either worms. It had been 3 days since the last feeding.

Gulped them right up.


About 2-3 hours later I notice his back is arched up like a mad cat, and his back two legs are sticking out.
I search the web, and sure enough this is a classic sign of constipation. I spend some time reading numerous articles on the Fridge method and when/when not to put them in the Fridge.
I check over and now Pickle is floating at the top, arched back, hind legs up.

In the fridge we go. 24 hours later I check and Pickle seems more "normal". Color looks better, and there is a lot of this "clear dirt", almost sand like substance all over the bottom of the container.
So I think "great, we have done it". Prepared a new container with 50/50 tap/aquarium water, and allowed 3 hours for the temps to match. After seeming very active in the 2nd container put Pickle back into the
aquarium.

Then the next morning I wake up, and he looks worse than ever. (Ammonia is 0, Ph is 7.5). What I now think happened is the substance I thought was poop was in fact the shedding of the slim coat.
Floating at the top, arched back, back legs out. When able to descend back to the bottom, moves very little, and either goes into a butt up, or hides with back legs out.

So...... we are on our second trip back into the fridge. We are coming up on 24 hours again. I am concerned the moving is stressful. I am attaching some photos.

Is there any other advice other than daily 100% water changes, and just waiting it out in the fridge ? What is the reason for the shedding ?







View attachment 93798View attachment 93799View attachment 93800

haven't seen anyone else mention this but i think it could be the cause of the problems here.
obtaining worms from a source other than a worm farm or another reputable seller can definitely be very dangerous. if the creek water is treated with any sort of chemical or has agricultural runoff (as in, fertilizer from surrounding yards or farms getting into the creek when it rains) then the worms likely have some of that in their system. if it's a clean, (as in, no additives or chemicals) there is still a risk of parasites in the worms- but i think it's more likely that the worms have some sort of chemical or fertilizer in their systems, as that would explain the shedding as well.
don't blame yourself for this, it's a common mistake. i nearly started collecting worms in my yard before i realized the potential dangers.

as for treatment, i agree with most everything @wolfen said in their message earlier in the thread. i personally would tub him and monitor him very closely as well as administer tea baths to soothe the skin. testing your tank parameters is also required to ensure it's not a water quality issue.