Random death : /

[SaintMeg]

Really sorry this is a really long post but...

I recently brought 2 axolotls from a local pet store, I was told that they were both around 6 months old when I brought them however after the first week one started floating around and looked like he had been blown up with a pump or something and every time he went down to the bottom of the tank he just floated back up, I had the water tested several times and tried to get more oxygen etc into the tank but he just died around a week later, the same happened with the second axolotl last Thursday night, however he just simply floated up to the top for a few minutes then started swimming around and suddenly died. Again there is nothing wrong with the set up or water etc, Ive had it all checked, brought a new filter too but I just really don't understand why they would just suddenly drop dead as Ive cared for them the same way that I was shown on work experience at a nature center, researched it etc and both have just died suddenly while appearing to be perfectly healthy, the second one died around 2 months after the first.

I did put another axolotl in with Hector [the second of the first two] after horrace died and they appeared to be getting on fine and I have made sure that they have been fed regularly enough etc, however on both of the dead axolotls i have noticed that they seemed to have a different number of toes on each foot which could be a sign of inbreeding [?] Ive been told that sudden heart attacks can occur because of this but I dont quite understand why they would be floating around first because its a sign of lack of oxygen.

The new axolotl that i brought appears to be fine, although i have noticed a massive difference between the other two and this one, being that the others seemed to be really fat and this ones quite thin and alot more active than the others although it is the same age and from the same store. I have noticed that on his back legs he has 4 toes on one leg and 5 on another and on the front he has 4 on one and 3 on the other. Im not sure if odd numbers of toes are normal, however this one seems to be behaving completely differently and seems happy, feeding regularly. He also seemed fine and showed no signs of needing more oxygen while the other one was floating around so I was wondering if anyone else had experienced anything like this or had any idea what could be wrong at all?

Thanks


[Sorry about the long post : /]

 

[Ed]

When they tested the water what did they test for?

What was/is the tank temperature?

Ed

 

[SaintMeg]

They tested for nitrates nitrites ammonia and chlorides, we got a home testing kit too and it came up at 0.1 on ammonia but we used safe water on it and it went down to 0 again. Temperatures about 15 celcius ish at the moment, been pretty much the same all the time.

 

[kapo]

Different number of toes doesn't designate inbreeding. Axolotls regenerate their limbs when damaged, ie through wound/fungal infection or being bitten off by tank mate/companion. When they do regenerate the damaged area it may not regenerate the exact number of toes that were damaged, they may appear webbed not individual and in some cases can have a toe growing at an odd angle.

Did you cycle your tank before adding your first axolotls? see: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

Stress can also cause your axolotl to float depending on water quality, ie your tank not being cycled, temperature, etc...

Also, if you intend getting another axolotl, make sure you quarantine it for minimum of 30 days before introducing it to your current axolotls. This is to ensure it is healthy and won't make your current ones sick.

 

[kapo]

saintmeg, only thing you should be adding to your water is a dechlorinator. If your ammonia or nitrites go above 0, do frequent partial (20%) waterchanges to keep the toxins down. Adding something to rid the ammonia or nitrite just mucks things up and doesn't fix the problem, which the waterchanges do.

 

[SaintMeg]

Thanks, every time ive been to the pet shop ive been told something different by different people, so basically they havent got a clue : /

 

[ianclick]

Hi saintmeg,

I have three axies one has six toes on one front foot another has two, the third one has five on each back leg and four on each front leg. Both axies with abnormal amounts of toes also have been bitten before we got them.

I agree with Kapo that the irregularities could well be due to the regenerative process axies go through.

Both my tanks are cycled and have filters. When I clean the tanks I remove about 20% of the water as part of this process as a result I have not had any water issues as yet "touch wood".

Axies come from glacier fed mountain streams. I assume that because of the water purity in their natural environment, this may be why they are so suseptable to water quality variations.

There is much good advice to be had on this site. you are in the right place.

Best of luck