New axolotl owners... Is Max sick?

[SallyandDom]

Hi Guys,

We are new axolotl owners, we bought our axolotl from a garden centre aquarium three days ago. He is still quite small- about 7cm long, and was the smallest of four axolotls in the tank. We also noticed when we got him home that he is missing half an arm but I'm sure this will grow back.

Since we have had him back he hasn't really wanted to eat- he had a few pellets and some small frozen blood worms (defrosted) on the first day he came home with us but hasn't really eaten since. He keeps floating at the top of the water and when I got home today was at the bottom of the tank on his back. He has moved around since then and is definitely still alive, but we're not sure if this behaviour is normal? His gills don't seem to be curled over at all so we don't think he's stressed, and he has previously been swimming round seemingly quite happy.

We understand that he will need some time to settle in and get used to his new environment.

We have checked the water levels/temperature etc which is all ok, the filter is very quiet creating little water movement below the top of the water, he is the only livestock in the tank and we have never had the light on.

Please give us some advice, we are super worried!

Sally and Dom

 

[mmcgee]

Sorry to hear about your little guy. I am a new owner myself and just went through a similar ordeal about 4 days ago (except that he wasn't on his back). Wish I could help but as I said I'm new to them myself and he was my first one. Hope your little guys gets better.

 

[Bdyoung]

I know you said you levels were fine, but could you specify exactly what the levels are at. Also could you take a pic of the set up?

 

[SallyandDom]

Unfortunately Max passed away this morning. We think he probably was ill before he came to us. We will tell the garden centre people just in case they need to isolate the other axies in the tank that Max came from.

In answer to your question, the pH was around 7, the water was hard, the nitrates and nitrates were slightly positive (I can't remember the exact value but they were the next one up from 0), and the ammonia was 0.5. The water had been dechlorinated before we got Max. I'm using my phone so I don't know how to add photos :/