Post-fridge floating

[kip.]

My axolotl (Kip) is about 4 years old. Recently she hadn't pooped in quite a while (almost a month I'd say) and was floating pretty badly. She was constantly swimming/fighting against her floaty tail-end and couldn't even make it to the bottom of the tank. So, we fridged her for a while and after about 2.5 days she pooped. When we put her back in her tank, she seemed much happier and was comfortably resting at the bottom of her tank (or wherever she wanted). Now it's been about 2 days and I've noticed she seems to be a bit buoyant again. Not nearly as bad as before; she can swim to the bottom of the tank pretty easily, but it seems like whenever she rests she slowly floats back to the top, and her tail end is floating a bit higher than her head. She's been swimming around a lot too, which makes me think she is stressed.

Any tips on what I should do at this point? Should I put her back in the fridge and wait for another poop? Or should I just wait and see if it gets better?

Any insight is much appreciated!! Thanks

 

[wolfen]

what are your water temps and do you have a air stone installed.

 

[kip.]

Not sure the exact temps but definitely cold enough, our house is barely 19 degrees this time of year lol. Did have an airstone (just installed last month) and I had a hunch she might be floating from trying to eat the bubbles so I've since turned it off, is that what you're going to say? I'll definitely feel silly if that's the cause.

 

[wolfen]

it does sound like she has a air blockage from gulping air, either from atmosphere or air stone, if she's gulping from air stone than it might be worth using a wooden one (very fine bubbles great for oxygen saturation without all the water movement) although they have to be weighed down because they float, the reason I asked about temperature is because as the trapped air inside her warms up the more she will float so the colder she is the better (until she passes wind).

 

[kip.]

Ah, thanks for the recommendation! Might look for a wooden airstone soon. Do you think we should put her in the fridge again to help pass the air or let it come out on its own?

 

[wolfen]

Ah, thanks for the recommendation! Might look for a wooden airstone soon. Do you think we should put her in the fridge again to help pass the air or let it come out on its own?

would be tempting but I would be concerned about over stressing her, If she starts becoming overly stressed in the tank then you might have to anyway.