I think he's dying, please help me.

[Sylerwin]

Do you age your water? And it may be him swallowing air and not eating to push it out... Though id be a little worried after 3days i am bot quite sure.. Though i have a feeling it has something to do with the lack of food

Yeah, I keep dechlorinated water in buckets, age at least 24 hours, usually longer.

 

[Sylerwin]

UPDATE: When I went for my daily attempt to feed Smudge, he did his teetor-totter thing again and I saw that his belly is full of brown spots that he never had before. Also, it looks like his skin is peeling? I'm not sure if it's slime coat issue, or something else. It almost looks like it's in little dot formations, really hard to explain. He had fuzz on two of his toes, but I was able to pull it off, I think it was just something that fell in the water, not a fungus that he's had before. But I'm not sure. Thoughts?

 

[Alkylhalide]

I really am out of advice at this point, and I would wait for somebody more experienced then I am to tell you what to do next but it is starting to look like more then just rehabilitating a skinny lotl that just needs food and clean water. If you are doing your 100% water changes and trying to feed him at least twice daily, and wiping the tub out every day and keeping the water cool and he is still not looking better/is getting worst I would think something else may be up.

I never recommend the fridge for skinny lotls, however at this point I dont even know what could be wrong. And its possible the fridge may be his safest bet till we figure it out.

Pictures would be helpful before you decide to put him in the fridge, unless he really has taken a turn for the worst thenI would say make an executive decision on what you are going to do. Since I am out of suggestions everything is fair game at this point. Depending o what we are actually dealing with(its hard to tell by a description, pictures may help) you may want to start looking for a herp vet near you if possible. If it is a bacterial or viral infection you will need to seek vet help.
It really doesnt hurt to look and have one lined up if you need one. I found my nearest herp vet before I even got my lotls for quick action if need be. I wish my normal exotic vet specialised in herps too though. I guess they cant be experts in every exotic pet.

 

[Sylerwin]

Bumping this thread, hoping for more advice

 

[Bellabelloo]

I think we could do with a photo of the axolotl and the spots. But having read the whole post I really think a visit to the vet is required.

 

[Sylerwin]

Woke up this morning to see what appears to be fungus on his back and his side. It's not nearly as large/white as I remember it being though. He's kind of tipped to the side

But.... HE POOPED! It's the first time he's pooped since I've had him in the tub, so I was pretty happy about that, though his condition is still horrible.

Here are photos.

May I also note, that I bought some ghost shrimp two days ago and was quarantining them in their own 1 gal tank. Out of 4, I'm down to 1. They were in the same dechlorinated water that I'm using for Smudge's daily water changes. I know that ghost shrimp are sensitive, but could the water be an issue?

 

[snuggly time]

Have you tested the water parameters recently?
Also, are you measuring the dechlorinator accurately? It might be worth trying another type of dechlorinator.

It's a bit of a mystery, you have other lotls and they're doing fine?

 

[Sylerwin]

Have you tested the water parameters recently?
Also, are you measuring the dechlorinator accurately? It might be worth trying another type of dechlorinator.

It's a bit of a mystery, you have other lotls and they're doing fine?

In the main tank the ammonia was a touch high, between 0-.25ppm, hard to tell where it was. All other readings seemed okay. Those parameters are posted at the beginning of the thread. (I'm going to re-vamp their tank soon so it'll have to cycle all over again) Yes, I'm measuring the dechlorinator, but after this batch of water is done, I'm going to switch to Prime, someone thankfully did the math and helped me figure out what I needed to dose smaller volumes of water. And yes, my other lotls are fine, they seem really hardy in comparison to this guy, Smudge. Smudge was my first axolotl, I bought him at a large reptile show where I'm not sure the breeders were breeding the lotls responsibly, as he is very susceptible to some things. I honestly wouldn't doubt it if he's insanely inbred. These other two were from a responsible axolotl owner who got both of her lotls from different breeders. They are lively, curious, ravenous for worms, and have nice looking gills. I have never seen fungus or anything on either of them. The most they've shown was a bit of lethargy when the water got too warm in mid-July. Perked right back up when I got the water temp down. I feel like no matter what I do I can't get Smudge back to tip top shape.

 

[Sylerwin]

Also, he has some poop hanging that seems he's too lethargic to try passing. Should I get it with tweezers and help or leave it?

 

[Alkylhalide]

I really really would recommend a vet visit. I dont know but it seems like this could be bacterial. If the other two are doing okay just keep a close eye on their condition since this guy was in the tank at one point. Until you know from a vets perspective if it is I would not empty the tank, however if the vet determines it is bacterial I would do it, I dont know if it would be the right thing but I know i would empty the tank even if it ment crashing my cycle.

But a vet is the only one who can tell you for sure what is going on, I mean I would say its fungus but just his conditio as a whole at this point points towards a bacterial or viral infection and will quickly kill your axolotl with no vet treatment. As far as I can tell you have done everything right at home that you can possibly do for your lotl. It is time to put him in the fridge and call for a vet appointment asap. The fridge will hopefully keep him well enough to make it to the vet.

 

[Sylerwin]

Thanks all for your help.
I believe Smudge has passed away. Earlier today he was floating sideways at a weird angle, (see photo), and about 10 mins ago I went to check up on him and he was upside down at the bottom. I flipped him over and there is no movement, his legs are rigid and his mouth is slightly open. I'll leave him in the tub and check on him tomorrow morning to be sure, but I'm pretty positive he's gone. I can't help but think about what I did wrong to have caused this to happen to him. He was my first axolotl, and he had a lot of personality. I'm really sad that he ended up spending his final days in a tiny tub rather than in his roomy 40gal with his tank mates.

I currently have his tank mates in a larger tub as well, I drained their tank and I plan on starting over, possibly adding a 3d background that I made. They will be in there until the cycle is done, doing 50% water changes daily, 100% every 2-3 days, I think. (it's about 5x the size of tub that Smudge was in.)

I just hope that I succeed with them where I failed with Smudge.

 

[narny101]

R.I.P Smudge :sad:


may you live in Axolotl heaven and eat as many worms as you like, say hi to Francis ( my dead axie) and tell him i said hi and i miss you buddy.


i'm really sorry to hear it, i feel so sorry for you

 

[Petersgirl]

I'm sorry to hear about Smudge, may he swim under the Rainbow Bridge

He wouldn't be the first to have succumbed to a mystery illness, sometimes it's just something in the water, a minute change in the chemistry, sometimes their bodies just can't cope with an infection. From what I've read, you did all that you could.

For now, I'd focus on your other babies. I hope they stay okay.