Phoenixcry
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Hi guys, question on a very stressed axolotl. I was switching over my axolotl's tank to a larger one and after breaking down the smaller tank I ended up with an issue with the larger one so I place my axolotl in a one gallon tub with the intention of doing water changes to keep him happy while I fixed the new tank. I figured since I had one once that had gotten lost in the mail for ten days and suffered no ill effects that a day or so in the tub would be fine. Previous tank was 15 gallons, new one is 29.
The next morning (so about 15 hours in the tub, and a water change before bed) he looked awful. Covered in a stress slime coat, curled tail, and very red. For the past two days I've been keeping him in the tub doing 90-100% water changes two to three times a day, stress coat, and tea bath (no salt). I use a temp gun to determine the water tub and the temp of the water going into the tub (which I also leave on the counter) to make sure no temp shock.
This is a picture from just now in his tub (the background is the counter seen through the clear tub). He looks a LOT better, however he's still clearly very stressed and red in places he shouldn't be. Two days ago his eyes looked all sunken in due to the slime on him. He's still moving, I just tried feeding him before doing a water change but he showed no interest (very unlike him).
He has always had small gills, and he is a 'blue' gill so that really dark almost black in his gills is also normal.
The new tank has been running with some StressZyme and some of the original tank's sand for about two days (also has some live plants).
QUESTION: Is it better to keep him in the hospital tub and continue doing the water changes, stress coat, and tea baths until he looks 100% better or is the tub just causing more stress and should I try to get him back to full health in the tank itself?
My house is very cold so the tub temp is 60 degrees. I use well water that he's always been happy with.
The next morning (so about 15 hours in the tub, and a water change before bed) he looked awful. Covered in a stress slime coat, curled tail, and very red. For the past two days I've been keeping him in the tub doing 90-100% water changes two to three times a day, stress coat, and tea bath (no salt). I use a temp gun to determine the water tub and the temp of the water going into the tub (which I also leave on the counter) to make sure no temp shock.
This is a picture from just now in his tub (the background is the counter seen through the clear tub). He looks a LOT better, however he's still clearly very stressed and red in places he shouldn't be. Two days ago his eyes looked all sunken in due to the slime on him. He's still moving, I just tried feeding him before doing a water change but he showed no interest (very unlike him).
He has always had small gills, and he is a 'blue' gill so that really dark almost black in his gills is also normal.
The new tank has been running with some StressZyme and some of the original tank's sand for about two days (also has some live plants).
QUESTION: Is it better to keep him in the hospital tub and continue doing the water changes, stress coat, and tea baths until he looks 100% better or is the tub just causing more stress and should I try to get him back to full health in the tank itself?
My house is very cold so the tub temp is 60 degrees. I use well water that he's always been happy with.
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