Oscar keeps gulping air!!

[Sarasaurs]

I just got my first axolotl about two weeks ago...she passed away, I however decided to try again...I got a new little boy..Oscar,

well I did my research when i decided to get the axolotls and I brought my tank, and the filter came with it...i let the chorline settle and dissapper as suggested before i put him in his new home...

he has been great for the first three days, hes eating the prawns fine, he ate heaps when i feed him on wednesday....but now hes constantly moving around, like nervously, he swims to the top of the tank and it looks like he gulps for air.....im worried i thought they dont have lungs.....

if anyone could help me id really apprieciate it....

 

[Mr Poseidon]

he has been great for the first three days, hes eating the prawns fine, he ate heaps when i feed him on wednesday....but now hes constantly moving around, like nervously, he swims to the top of the tank and it looks like he gulps for air.....im worried i thought they dont have lungs.....

Actually they do have lungs although they are rudimentary Axolotls use them occasionally!
You say hes only been in the tank three days? hes prol starting to explore his surroundings.

How big is your tank? How much did you feed him?

Hope i helped!

 

[Sarasaurs]

um my tanks only a little one, just for starters...i'll get a larger one in a couple of months...its about 36x22x26 cm, and i usually feed him two little prawns but on wednesday he was still hungry so i gave him another one....i spoil him

Thank you for your help...hes settled down a bit more today

 

[Boo Penguin]

Hi Sarah, Air gulping is normal for axi's... and yes they do actually have lungs too... weird huh?

Anyways I would suggest starting the hunt for a new tank, as axi's can grow to over 30cm that tank will be too small for little Oscar in the long run. Second hand ones are great.

Also earthworm are the best food for your axolotl, so try and get some of those

Do you check the water parametres? Like ammonia, nitrate and nitrite... not sure if you know about cycling a tank but that may be a reason as to his erratic behaviour.

Also as your a fellow aussie I should warn you to start saving your dollars for a chiller, our summer is rough on axi's.

But as Poseidon said your axi is probably just exploring, mine likes to zoom around the tank every so often... and I expect her to go a little nuts when she gets her new tank, its fun to watch.

 

[Sarasaurs]

thanks soo much,
I am going to find the new tank soo,
I will try to get some earthworms and i test the ph and temp...Im about to do a 15% water change now.....
I just drew a picture of Oscar....its now my profile picture

 

[iChris]

as it's a new tank, change 20% of the water daily, you will need to do this for the first month and a half or so, until the tank is established.

all aquatic life, axies included excrete ammonia with their waste, which is deadly. once the tank is established, bacteria process this ammonia into less harmful substances which are used up by aquatic plants or diluted when you do your weekly water change.

 

[yellowpebble]

Hi,

Do you have air flow through the tank? if your filter doesn't produce bubbles there is probably low oxygen in the water and he needs to gulp air through his lungs.

if your filter doesn't make bubbles i suggest getting an air pump, some tubing and an air stone asap. I did not have one in my tank, because i thought the water movement from the filter would be enough, and after only a few days of having axies in the tank they were also gulping air franticly. Getting some bubbles in their stopped it completley. It is normal for them to gulp once or twice a day if they have stable oxygen, but not constantly.

 

[Kaysie]

Gulping is normal, as stated before. Mine goes up for air every half an hour or so. Excessive gulping would be every couple of minutes, for hours on end.