New to axolotl

[Claire24]

Hi!!
Honestly I had never even heard of axolotl until 3 days ago when my mother turned up with one in a tank as she knows we like unusual pets. In her words. Ie we had raised GALS. I've been researching alot on them and know that whoever she got the poor guy from did not take care of him. I was told his water hadn't been changed in the 6 months they'd had him. He was fed on earthworms dug up in the garden. (I don't know his exact sex or age so I'm callino him a him) he's a golden albino from what I can see and he's not unhealthy looking as in skinny. His belly is as wide as his head. His gils have a trace of pink in them. Though they are curved forward. One of them appears swollen. Second one down on his left side. It's a darker color almost brown with now feathers on it. He has eaten most of the frozen bloodworm I have fed him. Defrosting in water and pouring in. I don't want to handle him yet and cause more stress given what the little guy has been through. His tank was shaken about alot in the transport to me. Which is filthy. I'm slowly cleaning it out and filling it with a litre of clean water a day so not to stress him further. Any advice will be greatly received! !

 

[Claire24]

Please before anyone has a go at me over the state of the water. I have stated I am trying to minimise the stress. He has been living in dirty water for a long time and I am slowly cleaning it to not cause him more stress. The water was green almost when he arrived. And is alot cleaner now than it was. I don't want to do anything to quickly incase it does more damage than good.

 

[auntiejude]

I won't hurt him to change the water and clean the tank - just put him in a large plastic tub while you clean the tank out.
He has fungus on his gill, and in that state I recommend getting some methylene blue and dabbing it on directly with a cotton bud. Chances are the whole gill will fall off eventually anyway.
He's much better off on eathworms than bloodworms, you can buy them at some pet shops or get some online, although if your garden is pesticide and herbicide free you can dig some from there.

He doesn't look too bad, just in need of some TLC.

 

[Claire24]

Thank you! We are totally facinated with him! he is so cute! well I think its a him. lol. I cant wait until we get him all clean and kitted out. Any advice on what to get him would be wonderful.

 

[Kilolotlkeeper]

Your not supposed to handle an axolotl really, not like a gecko or anything. They shouldn't be touched because by your hand because you can rub the slime layer off their skin. You can maybe touch them to move them from the tank to the tub while cleaning the tank. You can do a water change asap though trust me he will be under a lot less stress if you move him to a tub do the water change and put him in some super clean water.


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[Donna001]

Hi Claire and welcome to the forum. :happy:
Your little fella is adorable. With a good environment and some care I'm sure that he will feel a lot better.
I'm sure that you've probably already found this information, but I'll post the links just in case.
Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander
Caudata Culture Axolotl Articles
Silly Axolotls
There is a lot of information available, but the essentials are good water parameters and no gravel substrate in the tank.
If you want some ideas for tank set ups there are threads on the forum with pictures. You will also find lots of pictures in the albums & galleries section.
I'm quite new to keeping axolotls myself, and now have 6, and have found this forum to be full of very experienced keepers who are more than happy to offer advice and help as much as possible, so any specific questions please post them.
Best of luck and please keep us posted on your progress.

 

[big a little a]

Hi Claire

I've never had to deal with fungus fortunately, however, if he is stressed, a short stay in the fridge wouldn't be a bad choice - in an appropriate sized tub with air holes in the lid and fresh, dechlorinated water changes daily. It'll be easier for you to treat his fungus whilst he's in a tub too - and the fridge stay is a bit like a hospital stay for an axie (without the crappy food).

It's good to have two tubs if fridging, so you can swap from one to the other when doing water changes. Re moving your axie from one tub to the other, everyone will likely have their own methods. I rinse my hands thoroughly with water and then rub some un-diluted decolorinator into my hands - I also only do it when I've not handled anything 'chemically' for a while (moisturiser, soap etc).

Whilst he's in the fridge, I'd use the time to clean and cycle the tank, so that when you put him back in it, it's fresh and ready to live in :happy:

I bought a new tank recently as my old one sprung a leak and Petrie had no problems with his stay in Chateau de Fridge - although his tub limited room in my fridge quite a bit! (He's a big lad at nearly 11")

Good luck with your new friend - he's a cutie!

 

[auntiejude]

if he is stressed, a short stay in the fridge wouldn't be a bad choice

Yes it would. The fridge is unnecessary for this, and can actually lower an axie's immune system. It is quite stressful in itself.

the fridge stay is a bit like a hospital stay for an axie

No, the fridge should be regarded as ICU not a minor injury clinic. The only good reasons the fridge an axie would be impaction from being kept on gravel, or if the axie is literally at death's door and you need to buy time to get it to a vet.

 

[big a little a]

Hmmm...I'm not sure I strictly agree. If the axie is stressed by the current water conditions (which it undoubtably will be) and has a fungal infection which is being exacerbated by these conditions and I had the option of A)leaving it in the water or B)moving to the fridge for a few days where I could keep the water spotless, do the salt bathes or whatever method to treat the fungus - and clean the tank out whilst this is happening - I personally would go for B.

Anyway Claire, I would definitely recommend getting the water changed and searching the forum for how to treat fungus - good luck :happy:

 

[Claire24]

I have just posted an update on him, he is doing well, now named Pancho (well he is mexican decent?) and the water levels are all appearing fine, the fungal infection is being treated but well aware this is not an overnight treatment, it takes time to go. His bottom part does tend to float sometimes, its every day, but not constant. I have got a water test strip kit and everything appears in normal parameters according to the key that comes with it. He and my cat have developed an interesting relationship.. they have been playing who can stare the longest.. I think Pancho is winning. The poorly swollen gill is still the same, I just keep hoping it will fall off soon, he is being treated with Methylene Blue as recommended. Hope to show some new pics once the tank is all set up and looking good.

Thank you so much for all the advice, it is all helping greatly, so keep it coming!

 

[Claire24]

Just feed pancho by hand after vacuuming his tank. He even swam into my hand for a moment!!! Grinning like a Cheshire cat. Think he likes me

 

[Donna001]

That's adorable. :happy:

I was chuckling at my guys today as I was feeding them earthworms. They went crazy, and I always find it cute watching them trying to keep a very wiggly worm down.

 

[big a little a]

Hehehe! I alternate between finding it cute and thinking Petrie looks like a psycho - if it's a big worm, he'll sometimes have an inch or so of worm still hanging out, thrashing about...and he just lies there, not moving a muscle, waiting for the worm to calm down before sucking it in to its belly-grave...he looks so calculating and crafty when he does it!

 

[big a little a]

Forgot to ask, how are Pancho's gills now Claire? X

 

[Claire24]

The feathers on them are a nice pink, and seem to have gotten longer, but that one damaged one still is hanging on for dear life. I just wish it would fall off! I have treated the water with methylyne blue (if i spelt it wrong sorry, i dont have it infront of me to check) and next week i plan to get him out of the tank and into a container so I can apply it directly as auntyjude suggested. He is so much more active now. We looked in there yesterday and thought where on earth is he?! was like a game of where's wally..he was hidden up ontop of a plant in his tank. My mother is going to the beach soon, and promised to find me some nice large smooth rocks for his tank, as i don't plan on putting any sand in it.. He loves the one rock we added, which is very flat and smooth, and perches on it to look out as we pass by the tank. I saw a pic of a tank with a pot and a large rock ontop with a filter falling onto it to not cause a current in the water, so once i have the nice rocks, and the filter has arrived already, its just waiting to be added, i will set it up. Had an interesting moment, when filtering the mess out of his tank by hand.. sucked on the tube to get the water flowing so i could -vacuum- the bottom, and got a mouthful of axolotl water! Learned a lesson.. next time, be faster!