My axolotl keeps grabbing air bubbles

[Rei]

Well I realize it is common for axolotls to catch air bubbles, but one of my axolotls (Simon) keeps doing it, very often...I'd say at least twice every ten minutes...I thought this was rather weird as my other axolotl (Lexi) is rarely ever seen to catch one...

All help appreciated:supercool:

 

[kapo]

Some do it some don't

We have our airstone suctioned to the glass tank back wall - one always attempts to sit on it or above it, other ones ignore it.

If you're worried about it though, first thing you should check or test is your water parameters for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates! This just eliminates any concerns/worries you may have.

 

[Rei]

I just found it weird how one did it so often but the other didnt, i was worried about it because when I bought him he was in bad shape...that was a month ago but im a bit of a worry wart.

Thank you!

 

[kapo]

Did you quarantine him when you got him? If not if you happen to get any other companion axies then just make sure to quarantine them for minimum 30 days - this is to ensure s/he doesn't have any other illnesses that could be passed onto your current residents.

 

[Rei]

oh sugar...No I didn't quarintine him

I think my other axolotl hasnt caught anything though, she seems fine...It was just him catching all those air bubbles that confused me...

If you go into the general lotl discussion bit, and read my "couldn't believe it" post, you will see what conditions he came from.

 

[kapo]

I'm sure you're keeping an eye on things - considering your other post; and they do appear healthy (from the photos you posted).

But it's just to make you aware of the problems that could occur if any companions are introduced without quarantining.

This forum has had many new members that join, apart from temperature related stress/illnesses, as they tend to think with the heart rather than head (though all good intentions) and either; -

Rush out and rescue an axolotl

or get a new friend to keep the other company

and then put it in their current tank straight away as they either don't have a temporary tank/tub or the time/patience or room to quarantine it.

There have been some lucky ones who have had no problem at all - but there have also been one or two other forum members who have had their resident axies come down with severe bacterial infections and stress related illnesses for some months - and have had to search for a specialist/exotic vet in their area to treat their axolotls (they're few and far between!)

Any other concerns with your axolotls or you just want to show them off - they're a helpful bunch here !

 

[Rei]

Well ive had my yellow one for 2 months and my wild type for a month, the only problem I had was my yellowy one got a bit of flow stres...all sorted now though :angel:


and then put it in their current tank straight away as they either don't have a temporary tank/tub or the time/patience or room to quarantine it.
I think I have all those problems! XD


There have been some lucky ones who have had no problem at all
I'm hoping to stay a lucky one, touch wood.

And I plan to stick around, there is never any place who keep a big database of axolotls!

 

[kapo]

Well ive had my yellow one for 2 months and my wild type for a month, the only problem I had was my yellowy one got a bit of flow stres...all sorted now though :angel:


and then put it in their current tank straight away as they either don't have a temporary tank/tub or the time/patience or room to quarantine it.
I think I have all those problems! XD


There have been some lucky ones who have had no problem at all
I'm hoping to stay a lucky one, touch wood.

And I plan to stick around, there is never any place who keep a big database of axolotls!

Sorry not having a go at you - I'm just thinking back to all the posts/threads that I first started reading when I first joined this site and what I've read over the past year and the problems they had with sick axolotls!

You can use anything for a temporary tub/tank as long as you do daily waterchanges if its small - ie a vegetable bin, bucket or one of those plastic rubber maid bins or plastic storage bins on wheels with a lid (you'd be surprised at what becomes a handy tank for your axolotl!)

 

[Rei]

Really? I also have a boistrus puppy though, who is very sneaky and gets into my room...Hope it doesnt sound like m trying to make excuses! I do though when I clean my tank, depending on how grubby the gravle is(I cant wait to get my sand, how could bandq be out of stock!) put my axolotls in a basin of there original water, to keep them from getting in my way or getting hurt.

And I know you aren't having a go at me, your telling me what i should have done, which may be useful later on if I was to ever add anything else to my tank

 

[kapo]

You can start them in a basin (I'm assuming you mean some plastic container and not the bathroom wash basin ) of dechlorinated water and just change majority of it daily till you have your sand in. Even if you left them in their original tank water, you'd still have to change the majority of it daily to keep waste/ammonia down.

You can remove your gravel (while your axies are still in the tank) a portion/section at a time over a few days if you don't want to remove your axies; and just siphon the gunk that's beneath it. Continue doing so until there's no gravel left in the tank. You can then leave your substrate bare (with axies in the tank) until you get your sand.

 

[Kal El]

Rei,

If all your paramters (NH3/NO2/NO3) are at the appropriate levels then I would recommend that you purchase an air pump. You don't need anything fancy, just something that pumps about 10-20L/hr more than the size of your tank. The reason why I say this is because the aerobic decomposition of organic material/waste are part of the biological oxygen demand (BOD or "bioload"). The metabolic decomposition of such matter generally use more oxygen than respiration itself. Having said that, your axolotl is most likely (if it's not because of concentrated levels of NH3/NO2) gasping at the surface of the water because of "oxygen starvation". Keep in mind that it is not the low oxygen level but the siginificantly high carbon dioxide (CO2) level within the water. Without a sharp gradient between CO2 levels in the blood and CO2 levels in the water, it becomes increasingly difficult for axolotls to diffuse the CO2 out of their blood. And with the bacteria in your tank using up more oxygen than your axolotl, and releasing CO2 as a waste product, it could explain why your axolotl is gasping.

On another note, the gasping at the surface could be related to high nitrite levels rather than an inadequate oxygen supply. I say this because nitrite has a greater affinity for the blood's hemoglobin (Hb) binding site that would ordinarily be transporting oxygen. This works the same way with humans. Carbon monoxide has a greater affinity for iron (Fe- the binding site) within the Hb molecule, which is why during a fire when we inhale the smoke we eventually pass out or die due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that there is obviously oxygen present in the atmosphere, so the dissolved gases within your tank will try and reach an equilibrium with the gases in the atmosphere. For instance, there will obviously be more oxygen in the atmosphere than within your tank, therefore oxygen will diffuse down its partial pressure gradient (that is from an area high oxygen level to an area of lower oxygen level). But it will never reach an equilibrium because the of the BOD within your tank. Hence, the air pump will come in handy.

Also, just wondering if your keep any plants?

Jay.