Is my new Axie just stressed??

[lexfix]

I finally got an albino leucistic axolotl yesterday from a local pet store. I've always wanted one, and I did my research for a very long time before purchasing him/her.
The pet store said they had got them in a few weeks ago, and mine's pretty small so I know it can't be more than a few months or maybe even a few weeks old.

The woman in the pet store told me that buying a regular 10 gallon tank with everything included would be best to start with. I will eventually switch to a 20-30 gallon once he gets a little bigger. The filter seems reasonably quiet and doesn't have a strong flow at all. My axie doesn't seem to have a problem swimming when he wants to. I used the same subtrate that was in his tank back at the pet store since they did not have any sand.

However, my axie had brighter pink gills when I brought him home last night and now his gills are white. He hasn't been swimming much and has been floating but only near the plants. Not on his side or upside down. When I try to startle him, he does go back down to the bottom of the tank for a little before voluntarily floating back up. The pet store fed him bloodworms once everyday, so I'll continue that while he's still young. But he didn't eat this morning even when I tried to hand feed him. His gills aren't curled foward at all and his tail isn't curled either.
The temperature of the tank seems fine, and we used water conditioner and clarifier before adding him to the tap water.

So my question is: Is my new axie just stressed from simply being moved? Or should I fridge him just in case?
I'm new to all of this, and websites are giving me mixed info! I'd appreciate some axie veteran help!!! :wink: Thank you!

 

[lexfix]

Here's a photo of the tank I currently have him in, if any of you are curious. It's very similar to the one he had at the pet store. He seems to be swimming around more now and staying on the bottom.

 

[RupertxGiles]

Ok first and foremost the one major problem I see with your tank is the substrate! Please remove it immediately. Your axolotl may I have already ingested some pebbles which may explain the floating and inactivity. You say that you did extensive research before purchasing your axolotl so you must have seen many times that really the only acceptable substrates are very large river rocks, sand, or no substrate at all. The dangers of impaction are far too great with the substrate that you have currently. What is the temperature in the tank? Do you have a water test kit? If so what are the parameters?

 

[lexfix]

I only put the gravel in because the store gave me the same kind he had in the tank he was being held in, and I can't seem to find sand subtrate anywhere. I'm going to have to go to an aquarium store to find it. I used the test kit, and it looks like 0 ppm. I attached a pic. And the water temp is just below 70. I added a nano filter to the one I have already to decrease the flow a little more and it's a lot gentler than before, which hopefully helps. I tried hand feeding him a bit of dried brine shrimp and he nibbled at it a little. Which is good. I'll keep you updated.

 

[RupertxGiles]

Unfourtunately that is one of the many problems with pet stores. Staff often give improper care advice because they are misinformed. There have even been instances of pet stores selling axolotls with heaters! Keep your tank barebottom until you can find sand. Easy to clean and safe! The gills on your axolotl are definitely very pale but this can be from inactivity, have you tried small earthworms as a food? Can you see any lumps in his belly? The ingestion of gravel is definitely a concern.

 

[lexfix]

It actually made me cringe reading someone would put a heater in with them!! Yikes!!!!! And I haven't tried small earth worms. Haven't been to a place where I can find them. Just brine shrimp and blood worms because that's all the store had. Like I said, I gave him some brine shrimp not too long ago with some feeding tongs and he nibbled at a teeny bit of it. And by lumps in the belly, do you mean externally or by seeing the inside of his belly? I attached another photo I just took after I tried feeding again. He doesn't seem to be floating as much as before and it seems a little more color is coming back in his gills than before also.
I've read floating can be normal sometimes. Maybe I'm just worried because I'm not sure how he acts regularly yet? It also hasn't even been 24 hours since he's been in the tank.

 

[RupertxGiles]

Definitely do not fridge him, I did not realize you just got the little fella yesterday. Moving into a new environment can cause a lot if stress...hopefully in the next few days you will see his true personality!

 

[lexfix]

Okay well my roommates just sent me this pic and said he's floating again. ): Except straight up, tail down, and she said he seems to be holding on to the plant if that makes a difference.

 

[lexfix]

Oh okay! Well that's good to hear then. I've definitely been keeping an eye out on him! If I have any other concerns though, I'll be sure to post again. And I'm taking out the gravel immediately. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[LSuzuki]

White axolotls often freak-out new owners by once-in-a-while turning very pale. I was raising my first batch of leucies and one night I look in that tank and see one that was ghost white. I thought it had died at first. Next morning, they were all normal again.

Sometimes axies want to stay at the top sometimes for whatever reason. I have a few sub-adults that will hook a limb around a half-submerged spray bar, of all things. If it is the axie holding itself up and there is nothing wrong with tank conditions, then no cause for worry.

Some axies will also float at the top voluntarily for a bit. Occasionally one of mine will do that, but then when it wants to go down, it will burp out some air and down it does. So, if it can swim down and stay there whenever its wants (and assuming there is nothing wrong with the tank conditions), then no cause for worry.

The one thing that concerns me about your axie is that the gills don't looks like they have many filaments. (This may not be a cause for worry, since I an not the best at interpreting photos.) How do the gill filaments look to you? If they seem missing or sparse, was the axie kept with fish at the store?

 

[NaterPotater]

Just a note: judging by the thumbnails of the pictures you shared, your axolotl is leucistic, not albino. Leucistics have black or blue eyes; albinos have light pink or white eyes.

 

[lexfix]

Thank you, Laura! His filaments actually look like they're smaller in size, but I think that's only because they're so pale at the moment. He was in a tank with another axolotl when I bought him.
He's been doing a lot better since I posted this! He actually ate a few bites of brine shrimp when I hand fed him a few hours ago, and he's been swimming around a lot more. After keeping an eye on him literally ALL DAY, I guess he just likes to float! He only floats among the plants too, and his back end never floats higher than his front. He's not in anyway upside down or sideways either. I think I'm just a rookie axie owner that's been overthinking at this point. Haha. I know now that he's probably just getting used to his new environment.
I did add a small battery powered air pump with a small air stone temporarily to his tank in hopes that increasing the oxygen would help give him his pink back a little more.

And I'm aware that he's leucistic. Which is why I said albino leucistic in my first post. Sorry! Newbie here!

 

[AxolotlChris]

Whats the test results for your Ammonia, Nitrites, NitrAtes ?

Have you cycled your tank?

Looks like the gills and fibriae are damaged from poor water quality from either the pet store and/or the water your Axolotls is in now.

Read these websites for all the information you need on housing and caring for Axolotls:

Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander
Caudata Culture Axolotl Articles

Look for earth worms, they are the most nutritionally complete:

'Canadian nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris).
Canadian nightcrawlers
These are large worms. They are not commonly grown in culture (as they require cold temperatures and have different needs than compost worms), but they are widely available for sale. Despite their large size, these worms are the staple food used by MANY caudate keepers. They can be fed even to very small salamanders (see Part II).

Other names: In Europe, these are considered "regular earthworms".

Availability: Available in nearly every baitshop and Wal-Mart store (in the fishing department). Also sold at some gas stations and K-Marts.


European nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis, formerly Dendrobena [or Dendrobaena] veneta).
tub of worms
These are large worms suitable for culturing.

Other names: Belgian nightcrawlers, trout worms

Availability: May turn up in some bait shops. Sold online.


Red wigglers (Eisenia fotida [or foetida] and Eisenia andreii).
These small earthworms grow to about 2 inches (5 cm). Although nutritious, they may be unpalatable to some newts and salamanders, as they exude a foul-smelling yellow liquid when chopped. They work well when they can be fed whole. Also, many salamanders will learn to accept them despite the odor.

Other names: Bloodworms, manure worms, compost worms, tiger worms

Availability: Widely available. Sold at PetsMart and many bait shops. Can be cultured.'

Also salmon pellets /carnivore pellets are good, Hikari are a brand I have seen used. I my self use JBL Novolotl pellets: https://www.jbl.de/?lang=en&mod=products&func=detail&id=4996

 

[lexfix]

Thank you for the worm info! And no, I can't say I cycled the tank before hand :/. I have been doing routine water changes though. He doesn't seem to be nearly as stressed as he was yesterday. He ate a lot of brine shrimp when I hand fed him this morning, but I actually think it's because his tank was a little warmer than it should've been but I cooled it back down to 68/69 degrees F. His filaments are starting to look a little larger. But his pink still isn't fully back. It brightens up every now and again.. Like when he starts swimming and after he eats. But he's been swimming around more this morning since I fed him/cooled his water down. I think the air pump helps and he likes to sit by it while he floats near his plants. I ran a test on his water yesterday which you can see in my previous post. Ammonia levels were 0 ppm. But I'll be doing another water change later in the day, and I'll be running another test as well. I use filtered water from the fridge because it's cooler than the tap and not as bad, of course. Although, I live in Orlando and our tap is very safe to drink and doesn't have much chlorine, chloramines or heavy metals. I ran a test on it alone yesterday.

 

[lexfix]

Just ran another test. Came up 0 ppm for ammonia again. I used API Stress Coat before adding him to the tank, when I got him tthe night before last. (5 mL for a 10 g tank) So I think that helped in terms of dechlorinization, etc. I also have my air tube kinked a tad so the bubbles don't stress him out as much. Filter's flow is perfect with the nano filter sponge I inserted. I haven't been keeping the light on at all either unless I have to feed him or reposition the air stone. Temps perfect for him. They actually kept him at room temperature in the pet store. I scolded them for that, actually.. He's eating. So the only problem is the color and length of his filaments at this point.

 

[xxianxx]

The behaviour you have described seems normal, gill colour will vary depending on temp and activity levels. As long as your happy the tank is OK I doubt there is a problem as stress will generally be caused by environmental problems. Also the axolotl is leucistic, it has black rather than pink eyes.

 

[lexfix]

Sorry for the third post.. But I attached an image because I saw some pale patches on his belly. Does this mean heat stress? His tank hasn't reached any higher than 70 degrees, so it wouldn't make sense. Since I haven't cycled or anything and my poor little Mudkip is stressed as it is, should I just fridge him? Or is it too soon?

 

[xxianxx]

It looks fine. If the tank isn't cycled do it asap, keep the axy in a tub on 100% daily water changes till it is.

 

[lexfix]

Looks like he has it on his side too

 

[xxianxx]

It looks fine, small axolotls are a bit transparent, you can see internal organs etc