Not "pooing" and floating axie.

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darkmessiah

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Hi,

I've got a female axolotl that recently started to float a bit.
I use a gravel vacuum to do water changes and I have noticed that there is no poop. Either I just can't find it or there isn't any.
The axolotl hasn't been pooping for a short time now and today she was really floating.

I feed my axolotls frozen bloodworms and small pieces of beef, either every second day or daily.
When I noticed that there was no poop, I thought perhaps she is constipated and decided to change her diet slightly. I started feeding frozen brine shrimp.
The water temperature is usually maintained below 20, with the level slightly below 15cm.


Could anyone help me out?

The floating and the lack of poop are my main concerns.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi Dark Messiah the floating is likely to be caused by the constipation. It is fairly common behaviour for axies to float particularly when they are constipated. How long have you had your axie and what is your substrate your axie may have a gravel impaction.

You could try fridging your axie for a week or so this will help you to monitor any output and will help your axie pass any obstruction or impaction.
 
I've had her for about 5 to 6 weeks or so.

The substrate I have are large pebbles that vary from about 1 to 2 cm.
 
Its possible your axolotl has swallowed one or more of the smaller stones in your tank. Fridging is a good idea if this is the case as it slows down the axolotls metabolism and passing the stone is easier.
 
Axolotl pooh will disintegrate very easily, especially if its disturbed by your axolotl's movement through the water. I feel that 15cm of water is possibly a little shallow . Unfortunately the size of your stones could mean that it has accidentally eaten one ...one of the general rules of axolotl keeping is that anything smaller than the size of its head can be eaten. I'd remove the stones..and in the process you may find axolotl gunk floating around.
 
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My second axolotl is also starting to float a little now.

I am somewhat doubting the idea of my axolotls having eaten pebbles at the same time, causing both to float. What is the probability of of both axolotls developing this same problem in such a small time span apart? I feed my axolotls using chopsticks to make them look up for food, so they generally do not look down to eat. However; I am still open to this explanation and others.

What other possible issues could my axolotls be facing?
What can I possibly do to help them poop?
Usually just looking around the bottom of my tank, I'd be able to find some poop a couple of times a week or so. After about one and a half weeks, I've found nothing - from both axies.

Is putting the axolotls in a fridge my only option?

What else can I do?
 
Have you tested your water for any problems?
You need to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates, I'm thinking possibly you might have an ammonia issue but the tests will reveal that if there is.
Axolotls do like to float about sometimes, it just seems to be one of the things they like to do.
How often are you carrying out water changes and how much water are you removing each time?
 
No, I have not tested my water.
I've not had any problems with water quality before. Would this be a real problem now?

I change my water about once a week with changes usually between 30 to 50%. Usually around 35%-ish though.
 
Possibly you may need to carry out an extra water change in the week. What size is your tank?
What sort of filtration are you using?
Do you add anything to the water?
 
The beef could be part of the problem. Both John's axolotl site and caudata culture note that it is unnatural for axolotls. Though I can't find any information about it now, I remember a couple years back people talking about beef, or at least liver specifically causing constipation and floating. I could be wrong, does anybody have more information on this? I've had axies pass gravel after I bought them from a pet store that housed them in an inappropriate set up but it didn't make them float. 2cm in diameter is quite large, but I wouldn't put it in with mine.
 
I think you need to get your water tested, if you do not have a kit you could always take some to your local fish shop and ask them to test it for you.
If you post the results here people will give you further information on what to do.
For now if i were you i would remove both axies from the tank and place them in containers of dechlorinated water, just enough to cover their backs and stop them from floating.I would then pop them in the fridge, dont forget to cover them in a dark coth or lid, this will help light and temperature fluctuations.
Also make sure you have a bottle of dechlorinated water in the fridge with them for waterchanges.
Your tank could quite possibly still be cycling as this can take upto 3 months.
As for your water changes, if you have a filtered tank you do not need to remove so much water, about 20% a week is ample unless you have a water issue then you could increase it to 20/30% every other day until readings are normal.
If your tank is unfiltered you may not be removing water often enough.
The best thing to do is get your water checked first.
AMONIA, NITRITE AND NITRATE. These are the readings you need done.
 
Darkmessiah - Axies can swallow pebbles/gravel smaller than the size of their head. They do tend to snuffle round in their search for food and can swallow pebbles; just because you feed with chopsticks does not mean your axolotls would not swallow the pebbles. Our older axolotls had previously been on gravel with previous owners. When we got them we kept them on sand, and over a period of almost 2 years they gradually pooed out pieces of gravel and glass pebbles ranging from a few mm up to approx 2.5cm in size. One of these adults died late last year from a prolapse which was caused from pebble swallowing (noticed as the glass pebble was half protruding from her cloaca when she died)

Another member recently posted his axie had pooed out a piece larger than 2.5cm after being placed in the fridge.

The pebble swallowing may not be the cause of floating, it may be water related as the others mention.
 
Thanks for all the replies people.

I've just carried out my weekly water change and once again found no poop for the second time. I removed a lot more water than usual this time around in case it is an ammonia problem.
I've bottled some of the old water and I plan of getting it tested very soon.

My tank size is two foot by one foot, and the water is about six inches high.
The only thing I add is a dechloronator agent into the water.
Filtration is via a small submersible filter. It is not always on as I am fearful of the axolotl's dislike of flowing water.

If the axolotls really have swallowed pebbles, is my only option to remove them and put them into the fridge? I would not mind doing that; however, the other people I live with definitely would not be happy about having the axies in the fridge. Is this my only option? It sounds a little extreme.

Thanks.
 
Hmm it is not recommended to do large water changes, even when there is ammonia. Just smaller more frequent changes as this won't interfere as much with cycling as a large change will. Maybe stick to 20% water changes each day if you are worried about ammonia.

How big are your axolotls? That tank is probably more adequate for one adult axolotl, but if you have younger axolotls it is probably not a big problem. How come you keep the water at that level? It is better to fill the tank more as this will slow down the time it takes for ammonia to build up.

I think also, filters are meant to be left on all the time. Even just leaving my filter off for a day or two causes my (cycled) tank to have ammonia readings. If you are worried about water flow use a spray bar. But yea, filter should be on all the time in my opinion.

Fridging is the best way to get axolotls to pass out stones and the like. They enjoy the cool and it helps them to recover quicker so don't worry about it being too 'extreme' :) Keep the temperature in the fridge 5C or above. And the container should be covered to block out light - so hopefully this will make it easier for the people you live with. They won't have to see the axolotl in the fridge! Do daily water changes of 100% dechlorinated water on the fridge container.
 
If you leave the filter of you will more than likely have to treat your tank as an unfiltered one, ie: you'll have to do more frequent partial waterchanges during the week rather than large one weekly one.

And as Bella states, poo does disintegrate very quickly, so you may very well have missed it!

As for water level if its low, there is more chance of fouling (ammonia/nitrite buildup) as well as temperature heating the tankwater faster, so I'd increase the level if I was you. That size tank is small for 2 adult sized axolotls and you will have a constant battle with water quality and temperature (especially having an internal filter).

When you get your tankwater tested if you do have an ammonia or nitrite problem (ie any levels are over 0) do not buy anything the petshop recommends = it will invariably cause more problems than good. The best way to treat ammonia/nitrite problems are frequent partial only waterchanges (20-30%) done daily or every two days.
 
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I just got my water tested. According to the pet store, nitrate and nitrite levels are fine. Ammonia levels are slightly above what it's supposed to be. She did not give me any exact values of any sort.

Seeing as the ammonia might be a slight problem, I shall carry out small water changes throughout the weeks coming.

The larger female axolotl is about 17cm long. The smaller male axolotl is about 10cm long.

The tank is at six inches deep because of what I read on this page.
http://www.axolotl.org/housing.htm
The water depth is approximately 15 cm (6 inches). This is a good water depth, although it doesn't make much of a difference as long as the water covers the axolotls.
Click to expand...
Also, at one stage, the larger female axolotl looked as though she struggled to get up for air. So I lowered it from about 17cm.

As for the poop disintegrating quickly, I'm almost certain I would have noticed at least something. Previously, every time I had carried out water changes with the gravel syphon, I would at least find one piece of poop.

I would honestly like to put the axies in the fridge if that would help them recover and start pooping again, if they did happen to swallow the stones. Yet, it will very likely be disputed here by others. They didn't even like the idea of a fish tank when I first got aquatic animals. They most definitely will not approve of axolotls next to their food.
Is there any other possible method I could implement to help the axies recover?

Thanks.
 
Having done a search on your flag it'll be fine to keep your axolotl anywhere cooler than it is already, preferably over 5 degrees. Maybe a shed or out building will be fine , at this time of year as its still cool I would put mine in a covered container in our shed as it stays cool.
 
i really do think you need to increase the level of your water, the more water the cooler and cleaner the axies enviroment, 20% water changes daily and keep filter on and you will find your tank will cycle without causing so much stress tp your axies.
 
Phew,

I've managed to convince everyone to let me use the bottom shelf of the fridge. They're still not too happy about it though.

Anyway,
How should I go abouts putting the axolotl in the fridge?
The largest container I have that will fit in the shelf is a 4L ice cream container. Is that adequate for one axolotl? It looks like it'd be quite cramped, especially for the larger female one.

Also, what about feeding? I understand that in the fridge, the axolotl's metabolism will decrease. How often should I be feeding when they're in there?

Aside from covering the container and doing daily changes, is there anything else I should take into consideration?

Thanks.
 
As long as it fits the axolotl length wise then its fine. As for food , you may find it will go off its food whilst fridging. You can try offering food it may accept it.
 
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