My axolotl died...Why?

[melissa]

Got up this morning and my female axolotl, Harmony was dead. Just want some ideas as to why this happened.

I had noticed first that she wasn't eating, her gills had shrunk and she was gulping air a lot. Then she started getting fat. Yesterday when I felt her she was sort of hard so that is when I thought maybe it was something internal. I had a look on the forum for some advice but it seems that there was not really anything I could have done.

Anyway, if anyone knows what condition she may have had, please let me know.

Thanks, Melissa

 

[kapo]

Really sorry to her about her death.

How long had she been off food, when did you notice her gills shrinking? Did you test your water at all for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates and what has your tank temperature been at (have you had trouble keeping it below 24 degrees celcius)? It could have been any no. of factors which led to her death. Did you add anything (companions/feeder fish/other) to the tank prior to her going off her food and showing other symptoms?

 

[melissa]

Harmony had been off her food for a few weeks. Her gills probably started shrinking about 2 weeks ago. Don't have any other testing kits except for PH and that was fine. The tank has a bio wheel and apparently that keeps the ammonia under control (so it says on the box).

She was living with another axolotl (Lorne) but she seems to be fine. The tank temperature is high about 25 - 28 Degrees on the hottest days but I have been home with the air conditioner on over the last week. But as I said the other axolotl was fine. I had some feeder fish in there a few weeks ago that were actually nipping at her gills so I took them out. I also treated a fungal infection about two weeks ago as well(it was a sulfa based treatment). Harmony had it really bad but again, the other axolotl was fine.

 

[danny]

Are there small stones in the tank that she could've swallowed? If that's the case it might have been that one of those stones was the culprit.

(Message edited by damien on December 22, 2006)

 

[kapo]

Adding feeder fish from a petshop, unless you breed them yourself, could have introduced problems for Harmony. Feeder fish contain parasites and also produce much more waste than axies, more waste = higher levels of ammonia in tank. This can lead to gills shrinking thru ammonia toxicity which probably didn't help with feeder fish nibbling at them either. The warmer temperatures also have less oxygen in which is why she would have been gulping air at the top.

Saying your other axie is fine might be true, but with your high temperatures and having had the feeder fish weeks ago, could possibly cause the same problems that Harmony had. Keep an eye on your remaining axie and if it develops similar symptoms, my advice would be to remove it from the tank and place it in the fridge. Then take a sample of your tankwater to the petshop to get them to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and give you the figures (if your tank is cycled, which i assume yours is, your water readings if ok would be showing ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 20-40. If any of the readings differ or nitrates are higher than you should do 10-20% waterchanges either daily or every 2 days to bring the levels down to safer levels).

Also, try and keep the tank temperature down below 24 degrees,as this stresses axies, lowers their immune systems and they can develop fungus. Fungus can be treated using saltbaths. I realise you've been home with airconditioning on but what about when you're at work. Can you move the tank to a cooler part of the house, or use a fan during the day to cool it? Don't use icecubes as this causes fluctuating temperatures. Also, while you're at work the floating frozen bottles of dechlorinated water won't really work as you need to rotate them before they melt. A pedestal fan can lower a tank temperature by a couple of degrees.

 

[melissa]

Thank you Kapo for the advice. Much appreciated.

Danny, I have small gravel in the tank so that could have been a factor too.

Thanks for your help!

Melissa

 

[melissa]

My other axolotl Lorne is now having problems. She has stopped eating (over the last few days) and this morning I have noticed that she is passing blood. The only similar symptom to Harmony is the not eating. I changed the water this morning and hoping for the best. Will have to get the water tested after Christmas.

Does anyone know why an axie would pass blood? The blood actually looks like a long worm!

Melissa

RIP Harmony

(Message edited by widget_28 on December 24, 2006)

 

[melissa]

Here are some pics:

 

[danny]

It looks like there is damage in the internal organs, most likely the intestines. It looks to me as if there is blood mixed with the poo, and not that it's only blood. I think that the gravel is the culprit. There is a sharp pebble in the axie that is damaging him from the inside.

Either that, or he has some sort of bacterial infection. But my guess is the first.

 

[jolly]

<font color="119911">Definitely the pebbles. Remove the pebbles!!
Poor thing

</font>

 

[melissa]

Lorne passed away after 2 weeks of not eating. She was in the fridge for a bit but it seemed there was nothing I could do for her.

Had not had problems with the substrate until now. I will change to sand I think. I still have 3 axolotls left so I will make sure this doesn't happen again.

Melissa

RIP Harmony and Lorne

 

[mary]

That is very sad- sorry to hear about your dear Axies....