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Axolotls are illegal in California. Please read this thread for detailed information and links to the actual laws: https://www.caudata.org/threads/axolotls-are-illegal-in-california-here-are-the-relevant-laws.30779/
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Neglected Axolotl
- Thread starter selkie
- Start date
selkie
New member
Hmm. I put her back in the tank about an hour ago. she's just sitting on the bottom. seems very weak when I put her in she just lay on her back. I righted her and shes crawled into a corner. should I just leave her a day and then try to force feed her? she hasn't eaten for about 25 days. 
At least she's not floating
At least she's not floating
selkie
New member
could the water be too deep? she was pretty good before I put her back in the tank in the tank, she was walking around in the tupperware container and following a worm but not eating..now she's just limp and barely wriggling if i pick her up..help!!! I don't want to loose her now!!
LSuzuki
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My knee-jerk was to put her back in the fridge, since she was doing well there. However, it could just be the change in temperature, so after thinking about it a while, I think it would be best leave her there a while and see if she improves.
I don't think the water is too deep.
Is she surfacing (or trying to) for air a lot? What color are her gills? How often is she flicking them?
What temperature is the water at? I know it is summer over there.
Was she lethargic after she warmed up but before you put her in the tank?
Observe and report as any details about her appearance and behavior as you can.
So, here is a synopsis of what started this off, to get everything in one place.
0. Hikaru is 7-8 years old and was given to them a few months ago.
1. 3 weeks ago, Hikaru was subjected to a 100% water change with warm, undechlorinated water (not by the OP).
2. She stopped eating and and spent most of her time floating and limp.
3. After 2 weeks of this, OP was going to have her euthanized, but found this site and decided to give her another chance.
4. Hikaru had been in the fridge for that past week, where she has been acting much better, but still not eating
5. OP spent the time learning about the cycle and more about axolotls and has procured such necessities as dechlorinator and a water test kit.
6. Yesterday, Hikaru was slowly warmed up and returned to the thoughly-cleaned tank.
7. She went back to being limp, but she is not floating.
I am hoping some experts on axolotl health can chime in with advice.
What I am wondering, could her ordeal have somehow impacted her ability to get sufficient oxygen from the water? That would explain her activity in the fridge, and her limpness now, since cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water.
Here are my suggestions.
1. Add an airstone if you can to better oxygenate the water.
2. Cool the water with ice bottles (This isn't something I usually recommend and isn't a good long term solution, but might help Hikaru in the here and now.)
3. Have a fan blowing across the top of the water. (This will cool it and help with oxygenation.
4. Watch her behavior for improvement.
Get well soon, Hikaru!
I don't think the water is too deep.
Is she surfacing (or trying to) for air a lot? What color are her gills? How often is she flicking them?
What temperature is the water at? I know it is summer over there.
Was she lethargic after she warmed up but before you put her in the tank?
Observe and report as any details about her appearance and behavior as you can.
So, here is a synopsis of what started this off, to get everything in one place.
0. Hikaru is 7-8 years old and was given to them a few months ago.
1. 3 weeks ago, Hikaru was subjected to a 100% water change with warm, undechlorinated water (not by the OP).
2. She stopped eating and and spent most of her time floating and limp.
3. After 2 weeks of this, OP was going to have her euthanized, but found this site and decided to give her another chance.
4. Hikaru had been in the fridge for that past week, where she has been acting much better, but still not eating
5. OP spent the time learning about the cycle and more about axolotls and has procured such necessities as dechlorinator and a water test kit.
6. Yesterday, Hikaru was slowly warmed up and returned to the thoughly-cleaned tank.
7. She went back to being limp, but she is not floating.
I am hoping some experts on axolotl health can chime in with advice.
What I am wondering, could her ordeal have somehow impacted her ability to get sufficient oxygen from the water? That would explain her activity in the fridge, and her limpness now, since cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water.
Here are my suggestions.
1. Add an airstone if you can to better oxygenate the water.
2. Cool the water with ice bottles (This isn't something I usually recommend and isn't a good long term solution, but might help Hikaru in the here and now.)
3. Have a fan blowing across the top of the water. (This will cool it and help with oxygenation.
4. Watch her behavior for improvement.
Get well soon, Hikaru!
selkie
New member
She's not able to swim at all. she just sank like a stone and lay on her back. I turned her upright a couple of times but she rolls over and cant seem to right herself. she just lay there on her back. I couldn't stand it so I put her back in the fridge.
She's black so I cant tell what colour her gills are. she's not moving them.
water temp 19
I equalized her tub water outside the tank, then floated the tub with her in it for an hour before I put her in. she went straight to the bottom tried to walk a little then rolled on her back.
She was walking around the tub a little before I put her in and showed some interest in a live worm, followed it with her head but no attempt to eat.
This morning (back in the fridge) she's barely responsive at all, I had to pick her up to see if she was still with us. totally still. the only indicator that she was still alive was slight leg movement in my hand.
I think she's a gonner
The filter I have has an adjuster. Iand a spray bar. I can make it force fine bubbles in the water. I had it set just to move the water gently .
She's black so I cant tell what colour her gills are. she's not moving them.
water temp 19
I equalized her tub water outside the tank, then floated the tub with her in it for an hour before I put her in. she went straight to the bottom tried to walk a little then rolled on her back.
She was walking around the tub a little before I put her in and showed some interest in a live worm, followed it with her head but no attempt to eat.
This morning (back in the fridge) she's barely responsive at all, I had to pick her up to see if she was still with us. totally still. the only indicator that she was still alive was slight leg movement in my hand.
I think she's a gonner
The filter I have has an adjuster. Iand a spray bar. I can make it force fine bubbles in the water. I had it set just to move the water gently .
LSuzuki
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That sounds bad. I wish I could offer hope. The only thing I can think of is a good vet, but if you can find one that specializes in amphibians, there still might not be anything that can be done. :sad:
selkie
New member
I'd say she'll either recover or she won't. I don't think she's in any pain. I can't see anything wrong with her at all physically. maybe she's just old. She was at least 7" long when my freind bought her.. maybe she's actually 9 or 10??
blushed
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Sorry to hear that your lotl is doing so poorly despite all of your efforts.
It seems to me like that warm water really did her in, especially since she is older, she probably just couldn't handle it.
If she starts moving again in the fridge then honestly I would keep her there... But then again they won't eat, and she hasn't eaten in so long...
You said you tested brand new clean water and your tests were 0, that's good, but as soon as you added the axolotl back into the water she started producing ammonia, which would further hurt her. Your tank is not cycled. It seems like she's just not capable of using her gills at this point? I'm not really sure...
Again im sorry you're going through this! I hope one of the more experienced axolotl keepers will chime in...
It seems to me like that warm water really did her in, especially since she is older, she probably just couldn't handle it.
If she starts moving again in the fridge then honestly I would keep her there... But then again they won't eat, and she hasn't eaten in so long...
You said you tested brand new clean water and your tests were 0, that's good, but as soon as you added the axolotl back into the water she started producing ammonia, which would further hurt her. Your tank is not cycled. It seems like she's just not capable of using her gills at this point? I'm not really sure...
Again im sorry you're going through this! I hope one of the more experienced axolotl keepers will chime in...