Need help with my axolotl

[cacuca]

My axolotl has stopped eating for about two weeks and he has something on his mouth, I dont know what to do, there are no axolotl vets in my country. Any help would be appreciated.
He's 4-5 years old

 

[Calgarycoppers]

His entire jaw looks swollen so possible bacterial.

How is your water ?

temp
ph
ammonia
nitrite
nitrate
gh
kh

What are you offering for food?

 

[cacuca]

His entire jaw looks swollen so possible bacterial.

How is your water ?

temp
ph
ammonia
nitrite
nitrate
gh
kh

What are you offering for food?

Hey, thank you so much for replying, I feel really bad for saying this but I dont have those things on my aquarium, the aquarium he has right now had a filter but it broke, I started feeding him with regular jam and shrimps, I didn't know how harmful the jam was, I dont know where to get bloodworms since there are no sellers in my country, and it's too difficult for me to find regular worms in my yard. I just started to take care of him because it was my mom's axolotl but she stopped taking care of him, so now I made a research about these animals and I notice how bad we were treating him. my dad is buying a new aquarium with all the things you mentioned but I need to save him before it's too late, do you know any treatment?, or the best thing I can do is to improve his water?
Thanks.

 

[cacuca]

Could you give me a list of what an axolotl needs for his aquarium, tomorrow I'll go with my dad to a fish shop to buy a new aquarium.

 

[AMurry24537]

Things you will need for a normal axolotl:

1. A minimum of a 10-gallon tank. A 20 wide is much better

2. A sponge filter, air pump, and airline tubing.

3. A dechlorinator. I would recommend SeaChem Prime, which will also help you while the tank is cycling

4. A water test kit that measures ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates

5. Worms or hikari sinking pellets. You need to get some better food immediately. Worms can be bought and a bait shop. I would advise nightcrawlers, which you may have to cut up.

6. A thermometer and a fan or some other cooling device unless your area is already cool enough. Axolotl temperatures must be below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal temperature is 63-65 degrees Fahrenheit.



Things NOT to get:

1. Do NOT buy gravel for the aquarium bottom. This is a huge no-no. Some fine sand could be fine, but bare-bottom is probably the best option.

2. A filter that has strong flow

3. An aquarium light


You will definitely need to do a lot of research as fast as possible. I studied axolotls for over a year before I got one and I still am finding out new things. Fortunately, this place has a lot of people who can offer advice, so please look through the forums and ask questions!!

 

[cacuca]

Things you will need for a normal axolotl:

1. A minimum of a 10-gallon tank. A 20 wide is much better

2. A sponge filter, air pump, and airline tubing.

3. A dechlorinator. I would recommend SeaChem Prime, which will also help you while the tank is cycling

4. A water test kit that measures ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates

5. Worms or hikari sinking pellets. You need to get some better food immediately. Worms can be bought and a bait shop. I would advise nightcrawlers, which you may have to cut up.

6. A thermometer and a fan or some other cooling device unless your area is already cool enough. Axolotl temperatures must be below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal temperature is 63-65 degrees Fahrenheit.



Things NOT to get:

1. Do NOT buy gravel for the aquarium bottom. This is a huge no-no. Some fine sand could be fine, but bare-bottom is probably the best option.

2. A filter that has strong flow

3. An aquarium light


You will definitely need to do a lot of research as fast as possible. I studied axolotls for over a year before I got one and I still am finding out new things. Fortunately, this place has a lot of people who can offer advice, so please look through the forums and ask questions!!

Hey AMurry, Thank you so much for the advice, It's very useful, tomorrow I'll try to buy as much as I can. I hope he gets better with his new aquarium. also another question, do I need to buy him decorations too? or he can wait?. Thanks again.

If anyone knows a treatment for his mouth besides improving his water please let me know.

 

[AMurry24537]

Hey AMurry, Thank you so much for the advice, It's very useful, tomorrow I'll try to buy as much as I can. I hope he gets better with his new aquarium. also another question, do I need to buy him decorations too? or he can wait?. Thanks again.

If anyone knows a treatment for his mouth besides improving his water please let me know.

I would suggest maybe waiting on the decorations, but only if you can keep the tank in a quiet, dimly lit place in the meantime. Axolotls are night creatures and they don't have eyelids, so they are quite sensitive to bright lights. Ideally, your axolotl will have a couple of places to hide in the tank (even a small pvc pipe will do) and aquarium plants are always a plus, especially since they help you to avoid nitrate build ups and also provide more cover for your axolotl. Marimo moss balls are a great option and I would definitely recommend them, but for now, you have more serious issues to address. In the meantime, you can keep him feeling safe by keeping him in dim lighting as much as possible. Unfortunately, I don't have any advice on how to take down the mouth swelling, but others on this website may.

 

[cacuca]

just taked him to change the water, is the body too skinny?
in the first picture he pooped something red, is the bacterial thing all over his body?
and is it normal that his legs always stay in that position?

 

[cacuca]

I'm not sure if that is poop, I didn't saw him when that thing appeared. I can't see him like this, its heartbreaking.

 

[AMurry24537]

That is concerning, but I'm not sure what it may be. It may be related to the food you were formerly using or that may be blood or it may not even be from your axolotl at all like you said. Fridging your axolotl may be a healthy option as it allows their metabolism to slow down and hopefully their body to heal a bit. There are a couple guides in the forum posts on how to do this process I believe. As for weight, the widest part of the axolotl's body should be about the same width ad its head. For the leg thing, I have definitely seen my axolotl sit like that, but if the legs seem to be stuck, that could be concerning.