Illness/Sickness: Please help with my axolotls!

[Brigie Bear]

Hi all,
I am new here and desperately need advice about my axles... I have a black and a white pair who I have only has for a month or so. At first they were thriving - eating a lot swimming around and were very happy. Last week I notices the white axle had lost a lot of colour in its mane... I also noticed the black one seemed to be peeling. Now the colour has returned to the whitey but it is peeling also! both of their tails are severely curled and I have no idea whats wrong with them... They arent eating and appear to be very very stressed. I dont know anything about axles - only that the tail curl is a sure sign of stress. This is my first time owning them and I love them to bits and have no idea what to do... Could anyone please make any suggestions?

 

[blabberwort]

Can you give some more details? such as water temp, ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Also if possible a picture will help people to help you easier :happy:

 

[ianclick]

Hi Brigie Bear and welcome to the site,

The Mane is actually the gills and they do change colour becoming redder when active and paler when inactive,
There are a variety of reasons why axolotls skin shed/peels it is normally related to water quality issues but sometimes they shed skin.

First thing determine what the stressors are could be temperature water flow or quality. in the interim a week in the fridge will help themto destress.

 

[Fumi]

Hi. I'm new to axolotls as well. But I think I remember something about water chemistry can cause peeling skin in axolotls but there are other things that could cause this problem. Have you tested your water? I was told that the ph level should be about 7.5 and the nitrate, nitrite and ammonia need to be as low as possible.

 

[Brigie Bear]

thanks for the replies so far everyone... They are in a 65L tank out of sunlight etc and when i got them i read up on how to keep them healthy etc so turned down the water flow cos i heard that can stress them out. i placed the tank away from the heater (we live in the snowys so heater is on a lot) and away from sunlight. I never turn the light on on the tank cos it heats up the water... the pH is perfect and the temp is around 20degrees which is why im so confused. they have been fine up until now

 

[Kerry1968]

Other than the temperature you need to check your nitrites, nitrates and ammonia, these are very important in the well being of your axolotls.

How often and how much water do you change in your tank? Was your tank cycled before you put them in the tank?

Your readings should be, nitrites 0, ammonia 0, and nitrates from 10-60.