Illness/Sickness: One more floating axo

[Anssi]

Hi!

I have a two year old golden albino pearl axo. Everything has gone well until now.

I've been noticing that my dear baby hasn't been eating very well for about 3 weeks. He did eat some, but not so much as earlier. He also hasn't been very active, mostly just hiding.

On this week he went worse. I did some water changing and cleaning two days ago. Yesterday I found him floating. He moves only a little, is a bit calm and gills have shrunk.I don't have any idea what's wrong.

There seems to be nothing terribly wrong with the water parameters. NO2 and pH I've tested with a drop-test and others with a strip:

NO2: 0,01
NO3: 0
kH: 6
pH: 7,5
Cl2: 0
gH: a bit low, between 3-4. Need to buy a decent gH tester tomorrow to get more exact reading

Unfortunately I don't have NH4 tester, it's also on my "have to buy tomorrow" -list.

Axo lives alone in a about 200 litres tank, which has a sand bottom. Temperature is constantly 19 degrees of Celsius (I have a cooler). I feed him 2-3 times in a week mostly with fish (perch), sometimes with shrimp, bloodworms and mealworms. On summertime also with earthworms, but it's winter now here in Finland.

I friged him, but wondering for the next step. Any ideas what could the cause of this? What should I do?

Will be grateful for any advice!

Edit: Huge picture, I'll just put a link: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/54118151/WP_000121.jpg

 

[FX1C]

Feeding fish & shrimp are not ideal especially as shrimp may contain iodine.

If its hard to get worms in winter perhaps you could get some axolotl pellets or - hikari sinking carnivore pellets - salmon pellets.

If your tank is a steady temperature then that shouldn't be the cause of the problem.

If you're unsure of the parameters keep your axolotl in some clean fresh water in a tub with a towel over it to keep it dark & place it somewhere cool - I don't think the fridge is necessary as it will only hinder the urge to eat.

Your lotl is gorgeous & I hope it shows sign of recovery soon. Please keep us updated



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Anssi]

Thank you for your reply!

I fridged him already before my first post. Don't wan't to cause him more stress, so his going to spend at least few days there. This morning he seemed to be a little better. Gills had more colour and he wasn't floating any more. Hopefully recovery continues.

The fish I use to feed him is always fresh water fish, so iodine shouldn't be the problem. Shrimp he eats only a couple of times in a month. Anyway, I'm going to buy some pellets. Axolotls are quite rare in Finland and pellets are not available in ordinary pet stores. Fortunately there's the almighty internet and webstores.

Still I have to find the cause of this sickness. Plants have been growing quite much lately, so that could indicate high ammonium levels. I'm going to test it this evening.