Question about fridging

[Fwiorkowski]

I am totally new to axolotls - I got three at a reptile show because they are cute (it wasn't totally an impulse buy - I had been wanting some since the last reptile show I went to)

So one started floating and I read about fridging and I'm doing that but I'm wondering how to know he is feeling better - he isn't floating in the Tupperware but there isn't a lot of water in there ... Should I fill it fuller next water change and see if he still is floating?

I also wanted to confirm that they are ok in those tupperwear - I'm going out of town on Friday night and I'll be back Sunday - so I'll miss one water change if he still needs to be in the fridge - but they are really ok in there? I'm not going to lie - it just feels weird to put something alive (other than a dying fish) in my fridge or freezer and think it will be ok ...

Thanks for your help!

 

[AxolotlChris]

Have you been following this fridge guide?
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-beginner-newt-salamander-axolotl-help-topics/f48-axolotls-ambystoma-mexicanum/f58-sick-axolotl/85263-axolotl-fridging-guide.html

Aslong as the tenperature is consistently between 5-8 degrees Celsius then it should be okay. How old is your Axolotl? Can you upload images of your Axolotl floating?

 

[Fwiorkowski]

Thanks for your response!

They are about 5 lnches long if that tells you the age . . . I'm not sure how old that would be . . .

I've got him fridging right now so I can't take a picture of him floating - but he was up at the top with his legs spread - I read to poke him and see if he went to the bottom but he didn't so I figured it was time for fridging. The other two seem fine - they are just roaming around on the bottom of the tank . . .

Thanks for the info on temperature - I checked it with a laser thermometer and it is within that range

 

[auntiejude]

Why are you fridging your axie? It's not a cure all, or even a treatment for common issues. Floating is normal behaviour, some axies like it, most do it at some point. Unless they are struggling to get to the bottom of the tank there isn't a problem.

Get you axie out of the fridge, let it warm up to room temp and put it back in the tank.

 

[AxolotlChris]

Well to be fair it depends on what type of floating it is. I was suspecting it could be constipation but that's why I asked for images to be able to see exactly what is happening. If it was constipation I've read that fridging helps to excrete any waste. I have also read that if an Axolotl struggles to get to the bottom of the tank due to floating that it can be stressful, fridging is used along with shallow water to reduce the stress.

Fwiorkowski - post some images, you may not need to be fridging your Axolotl.