Poorly axie

[rachel]

I have two 5 month old axolotls which I have had for about two weeks. One seems very healthy and happy, but the other seems to be sick; its gills look tatty and hasn't eaten for about 5 days (completely ignores food dropped on its snout). It also floats at the surface gulping for air, and has a large swelling (?air bubble) on it's side which seems to make it difficult to rest at the bottom of the tank (without holding on). It's always has this swelling, though, so doesn't seem likely to resolve by itself.

They have recently (ne week ago) been transferred to a half full, 10 gallon, unfiltered tank. This contains some plastic weed (?injury to gills), and a large log, which apparently is suitable for aquariums, but the water is very brownish (despite 50% water change yesterday) and I suspect this might be staining the water (unless anyone knows any different?), so I plan to remove this.

I've also noticed that there are wriggly critters in the tank that hang from the surface of the water (like small strings of snot) that wriggle away from time to time. Are these harmful, or usual? Could the sick axolotl's gills be nibbled by these? Or could he be eating them (which would explain why he's not eating his normal food and is floating at the surface?).

The water temperature is on the warm side, probably about 21, so plan to cool using frozen water bottles, as soon as possible, to see if this helps.

Does anyone have any advice? I'm very worried about him.

 

[kapo]

possible to post a photo of the swelling? Also, what substrate are they on (sand, pebbles/gravel, bare floor)? And has the swelling always been there, prior to you owning it? If not, could it be overfed? How often do you feed him/her? Ours don't always eat things dropped on snout and can sit for ages, sometimes you have to wriggle it (worm/meat strip).

Did you cycle the tank prior to adding the axies? What are your water parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings)? The tatty gills could be ammonia burns. Plastic weed shouldn't harm it, I don't think.

Do you have any other tankmates apart from the wriggly things? (sure someone else will be able to help you on this one).

Temp: As long as it doesn't get above 23/24, but if you can get it cooler great. Another way to cool as well is to use a fan, blowing across water surface.

(Message edited by kapo on August 11, 2006)

(Message edited by kapo on August 11, 2006)

 

[ian]

Rachel- I would say first of all the tank is too small for two axies and if the tank is un-filtered you would need to do up to 50% water changes every three days or so or you will get a build up of ammonia which would explain the tattered gills.If an axie gulps at the surface it can get trapped air and will float, this problem will normally resolve itself but a GENTLE massage can help.The brown water is caused by the wood which should have been soaked in a bucket for a month or so with regular water changes.Can't think what the snot is but i doubt its anything to do with his tatty gills and he certainly won't eat his own.The water temp is slightly high but i would say nowt to worry about, only, ammonia will build up quicker in warmer water.It might be best to separate him for a while until he recovers, also watch out for a cotton wool like growth (fungus) starting on his gills. Good luck Rachel....Ian

 

[ian]

Sorry Kapo we must have been typing at the same time and as i type about the same speed as a dyslexic snail you got in first so we doubled up on a couple of points.Rachel the point Kapo makes about cycling the tank is important, but if it is a bare tank with no gravel or filter regular water changes with de-chlorinated water will be very important.

 

[kapo]

I wasn't sure of the size of a 10gallon tank, as we go by the tank measurements!

Rachel - you could try putting the one with the swelling into the fridge, in a container of dechlorinated water, low enuf so its feet stay on bottom, just covering its fin. (as long as it is 5deg cel. or above). This will slow its metabolism down to give it a chance to heal or right itself. While in the fridge, anything still in its stomach will either be regurgitated/vomited (bolus/uneaten food) or pooed out. Make sure container has lid on and wrap in a teatowel/dish cloth to stop temp spikes. If you do this, you will need to keep another container of dechlorinated water in fridge so you can do completed daily waterchanges, at same fridge temp.

 

[rachel]

Thanks for all the advice guys, he seems to be a bit better and the cooler water temperature seems to be perking him up. Most of the wrigglers are gone, so I can only imagine he's floating with an additional purpose and gobbling the wrigglers up (hence not eating usual food). Perhaps gulping extra air has made his gills shrink a bit, so I will keep a close eye on him. I will get a pic though showing his bump - I'd appreciate more advice regarding massage as this bump is quite bubble like with the skin stretched tightly rather than a gentle swelling. But he's had it since he was a baby and survived 5 months so maybe best left alone?
Finally, is a 10 gallon tank really too small for two juveniles - I was planning to get a bigger one when they get bigger - but they're only 4 inches or so long at present?
Again, thanks for your advice,
Much appreciated, Rachel

 

[kapo]

I could be wrong, but unless you post a picture, it sounds a bit like when the stomach swells up from too much food. (may not be your doing, but they can tend to eat anything and everything given a chance even other axies regurgitated food and poo!)

Still trying to get my head round the 10gallon! Am not sure what that size is in cm/mm! But try and get a tank longer than 60cm so you can add their hidey holes/decos and/or plants as well. You could use a 60cm/2ft/600mm long tank but may find it gets very cramped as they get to their full adult size! A better size would be up to 3ft/90cm/900mm in length by 30cm/300mm/1ft min wide. This will also give you room to add plants/hidey holes and still allow them to move around. Our junior axies are now close to 11mths old and well over 22cm mark in length!

 

[peter]

it's knat season in notts and derby's so you'll find that the snot will disappear as time goes on but you might wake to find you've been bit in the night. get a air pump as this will aireate the water so you're axie won't be coming to the surface to gulp so much.
any wood needs to be soaked and washed before you put it in any tanks as wood will brown the water and also soften it.
make sure that the tank is cycled.
if you need advise from any pet shops then go to the one in beeston as the owner is one of the best in england for reptile and amphibian knowledge (he's even been on tv because of it)