poor fluff

[Areyousucceed]

Hello everyone, i've been reading through these posts and read lots that matches up to how my little Fluff has been this past two weeks :

Swimming to the top of the tank every few minutes (even in the day when she's usually sleeping), swollen tummy, back feet not touching the floor..i'm pretty sure she hasn't pooped for a while but it's hard to tell because Dust shares a tank with her. She also has an inch long line, near her bum. it's red and kind of looks like a vein under the skin, but it was never there before..

I figured i should pop her in the fridge for a bit but the thing is, our fridge is a desktop one and it's too small..any other ideas?

Thanks for your time guys! Katie x

 

[Jacquie]

Hi Katie,

Could you post your water parameters? (ie. what's the reading for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/PH) - have you tested the water?

What substrate do you use in the tank? (ie. sand, gravel, rock, bare bottom)

What is the temperature of the tank?

A picture of Fluff would also help a lot....are you able to post a photo?

All of these will give us something to work from....

It would be best to seperate Fluff from Dust if Fluff is sick. (Love the names! )

Fridges are really the best option as they keep the cold temperature 'constant' and the same for the axie in the container and the bottle of water used for water changes. Changes in temperature offered by other methods in lieu of a fridge could exasserbate the troubles with Fluff.

What size is the fridge? Can you make room in the fridge for a small container (a lunch box would do) to house Fluff and a bottle of water for water changes? That's all the axie would need.

 

[digger]

You need to pop her in a container by herself, just enough water to cover her back if she is floating, if you are unable to put her in the fridge pop her in the coolest place you can find and cover her with something dark.
The fridge really is the best place as the temperature will help her relax and pass any obstruction.
As stated above it would be a good idea if you could post a pic and water parameters.

 

[RICH123]

If you are in the UK then it is a nice temp outside at this time of the year you could cover her up in the shed, or somewhere dark.

 

[Areyousucceed]

hello again everyone, thanks so much for all the feedback.. here are some answers and what i've done.

There really was no way we could get her in the fridge and i thought about taking her down to the inlaws house but i figured all the splashing about and the bumps and stress in the car wouldn't be so good for her so I've popped her in a seperate tiny tank with a bottle of ice and covered her over. Her little tummy was so fat when i picked her up i nearly couldn't get my hand around her. Attached are some pictures, of her swollen tummy, the vein near her bum etc.

the substrate is just sand, the nitrate reading is 0.3 and the tank's just at room temp. same as ever, and they've always been just fine. Oh by the way they're about 7 years old now.

Has anyone ever experienced this an had thier axy come back to full health? Also, do you think there's much point taking her to a vet, bearing in mind the nearest amphibian specailist is about an hours drive (and that's only if i dont' get lost!).

Thanks again for all your suggestions and help everyone, i really appreciate it! Katie x x x

 

[Jacquie]

Cold water will assist her in clearing any obstruction she may have in her tummy.

I'm almost tempted to think she may be pregnant. Is it possible for axies to be egg bound? Any thoughts any one?

If Dust is a girl though, I'll retract the theory

 

[Areyousucceed]

YIKES! I was under the impression that they didn't get "pregnant"..

Well, you see i'm not sure, when i first got them just presumed that dust was a boy and fluff was a girl..However, we've lately been thinking it may be the other way round as i read some things that would suggest that dust was actually female (greyer skin, shape of head etc)..

Way to confuse the poor buggers! And myself

x

 

[Lisa]

I really don't know, but good luck with her. She looks really bloated doesn't she.

 

[Kaysie]

Axolotls don't get pregnant. Females will develop and carry eggs. But this does not look like the case. It looks like impaction. I would fridge her and see if she passes something.

 

[Jacquie]

Cold water will assist her in clearing any obstruction she may have in her tummy.

I'm almost tempted to think she may be pregnant. Is it possible for axies to be egg bound? Any thoughts any one?

If Dust is a girl though, I'll retract the theory

Sorry, I just meant carrying eggs...Pregnants the wrong word to use - my apologies.

 

[Areyousucceed]

ok, I've managed to fit Fluff into a fridge! She's covered over with a dark tea-towel..has anyone got any advice on how long to leave her there, how often to feed her, what to expect etc? She's been in overnight and no change yet..

Danke! Katie x

 

[ali000]

My axie looks very like yours, all bloaTED. he's been in the fridge for a week and has now only just started pooing, so hopefully he'll be better soon
They don't really need to eat when they are in the fridge, due to their slower metabolism. you shouldn't really be feeding it if it's got a blockage anyway.
hopes this helps and good luck

 

[Areyousucceed]

hello all,

here's the lowdown: Fluff's been in the fridge for two weeks now and hasn't pooped. We're going away to germany for a week tomorrow and there's no-one nearby who can look after her..should i pop her back into the tank with dust? She won't have enough air if we just leave her in the fridge with no-one opening it now and again will she? Please help! Also, shouldn i be doing anything else for her?

Thanks in advance everyone! Katie x

 

[Jennewt]

What kind of sand do you have in the tank? Is it fine sand, or is it the usual aquarium gravel with little pieces about 2-3mm in size? If it's gravel-type sand, then that could be the source of the problem and you should remove it. Ditto for any small stones. Axies will ingest anything they can get into their mouths (surprisingly large!).

What to do for two weeks is a bit difficult to say. I'm pretty sure there's enough air in a full-sized fridge to last for two weeks, but her water should be changed more often than that. On the other hand, I think she's safer in the fridge, as her metabolic rate will be kept low and she won't need to eat. Is there no chance of having someone come take care of her once or twice during that time?

 

[Areyousucceed]

hi jennewt!

it's just a fine sand i've got in the tank..

it's only one week we're going away for, but the fridge is a small worktop sized one..do you think she'll be alright in there? And you say she really doesn't need food while she's in there?

katie x

 

[Jennewt]

I think it's risky to leave her in a small fridge with no water change for two weeks. But it's also risky (to both axolotls) to put her back in the tank. Thus I cannot give you advice - it could be disastrous either way.

Axies will continue to eat at fridge temperature. But they burn very few calories at that temperature, so they don't need much food. Two weeks w/o food would be no problem.

Please add a country to your profile, Areyousucceed. It would help us to know which side of the earth you are on (spring or fall?).