Illness/Sickness: Poorly Axolotl?

[Hanbobs]

Meet Diego (wild type) and Hey Bert



Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated!

This is their story...

I have had Diego for around 6 months now, when I first introduced her to her new 70 Litre tank she hid herself from view and refused to eat for about a week. I tried bloodworms and prawns but it was useless. I finally ordered some live worms online and she gulped them down! I began feeding her on these once a day and this has been her diet ever since... Occasionally I will feed her on bloodworms (1 frozen cube) or I will defrost a single prawn.

Diego lived with 3 Goldfish - she never bothers them and they don't bother her.

I decided (around 2 weeks ago) to purchase another Axi as I really wanted a Leucistic type! To make room I re-homed my largest goldfish and purchased Hey Bert the following day.

I did a quick 25% water changed and added Tap Safe and Green Away (my usual routine when doing a water change) and also put fresh plants in and a few more hiding spots for our new arrival.
Diego went over and has been very gentle with this little nipper! She's never snapped at him and when they're not following one another around the tank, they just do their own thing.

About a week after I got Hey Bert one of the Goldfish caught Pop-Eye. I've been treating this with a tonic specifically for the illness. On the same day I noticed Diego was slouching and dragging her back legs behind her. Her cloaca was swollen as well as her tummy (which looked really bloated) and there was poo stuck in her bottom.

I looked online and discovered she was probably constipated. I transferred her into a bucket with some of the tank water and left her in the garage over night (didn't fancy putting her in the fridge!), the garage gets just as cold.

The next evening I slowly introduced her back in to the tank, her stomach no longer swollen. The next day she ate a worm from my hand. All is well in my aquarium!

However - she hasn't eaten since and yesterday I noticed her tummy was swollen again. Every morning and evening I've been cleaning up LOTS of poop from the bottom of the tank - I'm unsure whether this is Axolotl poo or goldfish poo, but doesn't that float in the water?

I'm unsure now whether she's constipated or she has parasites? Perhaps the arrival of Hey Bert has stressed her and the goldfish out or maybe he's brought some sort of poorly germ with him?

I feel so bad for her as she looks fat and fed up! I'm also worried that if she doesn't eat again soon she will just become weak and die. it's sad when you can't reach in and pick your pet up for a cuddle!

Do you think she's constipated? Has parasites? Or is just a tad stressed out with the newest addition?

HELP!

 

[auntiejude]

1. Goldfish are not good tank mates for axolotls - they usually get eaten or try to nip axie's gills.
2. you should have quarantined you new axie for at least 4 weeks - he could have been carrying diseases, and possibly caused the problem for you sick fish.
3. there is really too much of a size difference for those 2 to be housed togethr safetly - the little one is likely to get injured.

But it's very likely that your new addition has introduced something nasty, or upset the balance of the cycle and chemistry of your tank.

 

[auntiejude]

Where di the 2nd bit of my post go? The bit that had solutions seems to have gotten lost!
What to do next:
Separate your axies until the little one gets bigger.
Keep Diego in a tub in the cool until her poop habits return to normal. This could take a few days. Keep offering worms but don't be surprised if she refuses them - axies can go several days without food.
Move all the fish - they shouldn't be in the tank.
Stop using greenaway - axies are very sensitive to chemicals, and it could be an accumulation of chemicals thats causing the problem.
Next time you get the urge to add something to the tank - an animal, plant etc - quarantine it for at least 30 days to ensure it's not adding soething nasty to the tank.
I can't guarantee this will solve all your problems, but it's a huge step in the right direction.

 

[Hanbobs]

Thank you Auntiejude for the reply Noted them all, especially the Green Away if it is harmful! The last thing I want to do is poison them :/
I'm going to get rid of the other fish and re-house them.

I've just checked on her, kept the light off in the tank all evening, she's climbed up to the top of the tank and is just hovering against the glass. Wouldn't eat the worm I dangled in front of her (usually grabs it in seconds and gulps it down) will try again tomorrow...