Question: New owner, pic and question

[Kaysie]

I would seriously consider veterinary assistance with this. It looks like an awful case of impaction, and will probably need to be surgically corrected.

 

[philofmars]

We like the axy a lot, but I doubt my vet even has an xray in his converted house/office. He's kind of farm based.
I'll call and see if he's even heard of an axylotl.

 

[Kaysie]

You're best bet is to find a vet who specializes in exotics. Surgery has been done on axolotls before, but finding a vet willing to do it is tough.

 

[philofmars]

I'll leave her in the fridge to see if we can get her to barf. If not, I'll acclimate her to the tank and feed her til she won't take anymore and try again.

 

[philofmars]

She's lost weight but not spit out the stones. She seems happy enough in the fridge. I am wondering if it's not cold enough to induce the hibernation purge. I'll see if she will eat tonight.

 

[philofmars]

Bubble belly Zilly is back in her tank after acclimating temperature. I am going to leave her in there for a week or two and fatten her up, then try fridging again. I think we just didn't have enough food in her to vomit. She did let out an enormous belch and then her tail stopped floating. So score one for our team! that problem is just gas. She lost weight in the fridge and her belly didn't feel as packed as it did when I put her in. I am thinking there may only be a few rocks in there but I'd like to get them out.

 

[philofmars]

I'm looking at her gills now, there don't seem to be many hairs on them like before. go back to page one and see her, she had feathery gills. I don't want her to suffocate! For a day she was floating around like a blimp, now she's settled on the bottom again. This crazy creature stresses me out...

 

[Alkylhalide]

I think your axolotl needs immediate vet care. Ive seen axies stomachs look like this and without the proper care there isnt much you can do unfurtunately. Keeping your lotl in the fridge till you can seek help is your best bet. Just taking it out to try to feed it and to change its water(with water thats in the fridge) make sure the water doesnt get any lower then 5C and start looking for a exotic vet that specializes in amphibians. Like noted above this axie may require surgery if there are rocks in there, but also ive seen this be caused by fluid retention as well.

 

[philofmars]

I'm going to get some more worms tomorrow and see if she'll eat a bunch before I fridge her again. Hopefully that will cause her to vomit those rocks up.

 

[philofmars]

Well I tried all sorts of things and one of them seems to have worked for the time being.

Godzilla is up and swimming around, she has grown back her gills and eats 2 worms every other day. The tank seems to have stabilized and several posts say there is too much water movement when the gills are held out at a 90 degree angle, but I have a very slow bubble going. I think everything might be normal for this little girl.
Keep fingers crossed!

 

[lingkongczx]

Is he alive now?
His body is full of sand and stones,is very dangerous

My nephew came home with the "class pet" a few weeks ago. He decided it was too much trouble and gave it to me a few days ago. I have been reading up on axys and found that the tank she was in was dangerous to her! There were tiny river rocks in it.

First thing I did was buy a new tank, put sand it in, get the water right and let her go. She loves the new home and is most active at night, swimming all around. During the day, she's quiet.

She spends a lot of the time in a 45 degree angle. as she walks around, her back legs move but they are in the air, poor little girl. I'm hoping she just need a big poop. I noticed right away she had a tummy bulge and am hoping it's not those river rocks in there!!!! She eats like a champ. They had been giving her worms and she jumps on them and sucks them up quick.

She also had a screaming case of white spots, but that is on the mend with a little salt in the water. I am surprised at how quick she is healing.

What do you think about that belly? opinions please.

 

[Amy82]

If your keeping her on sand you need to feed her by placing a jar or clear glass in there with only the food in it so its free of substrate she can crawl into to get the food so she doesn't suck in any sand.

She looks like she needs a vet, also they do fine on bare bottom aquariums. Salt baths help with the fungus but burn off their frilly gilly bits.