I think my axolotl is dying

[marianatheax]

Help, my axolotl is floating and stopped eating! I changed the water and I made it colder but she's not getting any better. The tank has a good filter and the water temperature is 27 celsius. Also, my mother put a fish with her without my consent and he ate all of her gills. I'm worried and I don't know what to do.

 

[KayDee]

Hi
Is your axolotl on gravel?
Quite possibly the reason it has stopped eating.
It could be impaction. I am pretty novice when it comes to axolotl so someone with more knowledge will be able to assist you better than I.
I would remove him from the tank and put into a small tub. Put the tub in the fridge. Fridge might help if him if he is indeed impacted with gravel. Get the gravel out of the tank and use fine sand or leave bare. Get the fish out and either rehome or get it its own tank. Test the water in the tank to ensure it is cycled.
That is all i can help you with as my experience equates to 6 months of axolotl care.
Not sure what to do about his gills. They do grow back in time but i wonder if you will need to use an air bubbler in his tub to help him?

 

[marianatheax]

Yes, she is on gravel. I was afraid she was gonna try to eat it and I think she did, but I can't see any sign of gravel on her. I'll take it out of the tank and I'm gonna leave it bare because I'm afraid sand is gonna hurt her too. I'm not sure if I can put her in the fridge tho, so I put a cooler at the top of the tank and the water is getting a bit colder (as it should). The fish is gone and I think her gills are going to grow back, because it had happened before. Also, she's not floating so much now and today she tried to eat, I think she's getting better.

 

[JMer]

The water temperature is probably higher than ideal, between 12-20C is better. Do you have a way to lower the temperature?

 

[EasternRomioi3]

@marianatheax

Any updates on your axolotl?

 

[marianatheax]

Well, she stopped floating but she's still not eating. It's been a week now, she's very thin.

 

[LuLu Manzana]

Is your tank cycled? Are you using dechlorinator?
27 is way to warm for an axolotl. Water temperature should be between 14 and 18 C

Remove all gravel/rocks.

To help lower the water temperature, remove lid on your aquarium, add a clip on fan or 2 depending on the size of your aquarium. They sell them on amazon for under 20$

Food: Try frozen/thawed salmon or cod cut in small strips. You can also give it Repashy Grub Pie.

 

[marianatheax]

I removed all the gravel and I'm trying to keep the water cold but the colder I could get was 23C. She is trying to eat all the time, but she keeps spiting the food, I also tried feeding her with liquid food but she spit it too.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

She's rejecting the food? That sounds awful. I have no advice on that, just know that I wish and pray everything turns out ok. Anymore photos of your axolotl and their tank? Maybe the more experienced owners on the forums will see something that jumps out at them.

 

[Axolou]

Is your tank cycled? Are you using dechlorinator?
27 is way to warm for an axolotl. Water temperature should be between 14 and 18 C

Remove all gravel/rocks.

To help lower the water temperature, remove lid on your aquarium, add a clip on fan or 2 depending on the size of your aquarium. They sell them on amazon for under 20$

Food: Try frozen/thawed salmon or cod cut in small strips. You can also give it Repashy Grub Pie.

This is sound advice about the fan. I have done a DIY job on my tank, I cut out a hole at the top of the lid and glued on two old computer fans I had lying around (you can pick them up for cheap on places like ebay). It didn't work a miracle but it did decrease the temperature of the tank by about 3 or 4 degrees, which might just be enough to make an acceptable temperature for the OP. Another thing I have done is gotten hold of an unwanted fridge and run my filter pipe through it - via 2 holes I drilled - as a DIY chiller. If you don't get the temp down below 20 degrees C, your axie will likely be in a constant state of stress.

If it is impaction, you should try the fridge method until all the gravel has passed - but be sure to research this a little before doing it.

Other than this there is not much more I can suggest. Good luck.

 

[Angel5950]

I’m sorry to do this here but Idk how to post questions but my brothers new axie is impacted and isn’t moving much it looks like it swallowed a rock. Yes it’s in gravel actually there could be many stress factors causing this but I think the rock in the throat hole thing is the most concerning rn It flicks it gills every once in awhile which is a good sign but they’re curled his tail was curled too but it has straightened out now but he’s still not moving much and he suddenly jumps as I take the picture omg this is an emotional rollercoaster. What do I have to do save this guy?

 

[Angel5950]

I was going to get him a new tank for my brothers birthday rn so Idk if I should buy it if it’s dying it was waddling fine earlier today):

 

[basilstorm]

I’m sorry to do this here but Idk how to post questions but my brothers new axie is impacted and isn’t moving much it looks like it swallowed a rock. Yes it’s in gravel actually there could be many stress factors causing this but I think the rock in the throat hole thing is the most concerning rn It flicks it gills every once in awhile which is a good sign but they’re curled his tail was curled too but it has straightened out now but he’s still not moving much and he suddenly jumps as I take the picture omg this is an emotional rollercoaster. What do I have to do save this guy?View attachment 88992View attachment 88993View attachment 88994

There’s a lot of issues, the tank is definitely too small and you need a bigger one, 20 gallons minimum. Axolotls need a fan and a filter, and hides to avoid stress. Remove the gravel from the tank or if you can’t do that tub the axolotl. You should make your own post about this so more people see it. Be prepared to fridge them if they don’t improve, it’s not great for them but it’s pretty much all you can do if the impaction is bad

 

[Angel5950]

Ok thanks buddy I’ll try my best to recuperate him and I’m getting a new tank for him tomorrow I can’t do anything about the water flow rn Until I get paid but I know I need to address it’s living situation ASAP