Question: Red tail

[RachaelBlandin]

My axie (Toby) has had a red tail for maybe a week now. It has started to show on his/her hind leg and he/she also has a large middle that looks like a shadow/bruise is on it sometimes (my schedules changed so I don't get a chance to examine Toby alot). Toby still swims and eats :happy: but his balance is off when his on the ground, he sort of floats on his nose with his tail and hind legs floating up.

I just started Uni so I haven't got the money to bring him to the vet unless it's really urgent. Is it possible that Toby is actually a girl and having eggs or should I start borrowing money for a vet bill?

Also, I took some pictures to help ID the problem but I don't know how to upload them. Please help.

 

[Bellabelloo]

What do you have in your tank with your axolotl?

 

[RachaelBlandin]

no other animals, I have a mix of sand, small stones and large rocks and shells as the ground and a filter and spray arm at the top. I don't think the small stones are small enough for him to swallow because I see him spit them out with sand when he nips at the ground.

 

[Bellabelloo]

It is possible that he has swallowed one or some of the stones, and this may have caused a blockage. Would you be able to place Toby somewhere cooler ?.If possible a fridge. The following advice (written by Rayson is excellent!).

Fridging your axie will de-stress it, boost its immune system and render harmful pathogens (both bacterial and fungal) less viable. It also facilitates the passage of impacted material.

- Set your fridge to about 5 degree celsius.
- Put your axie in a container large enough to allow it to stretch its limbs and tail comfortably.
- Fill with fresh dechlorinated water enough to submerge it but not allowing it to float.
- Cover with a lid. You can use a perforated lid or netting to prevent it jumping out.
- Use a tea towel to cover it to keep the environment dark.
- Perform 100% water changes daily with clean dechlorinated water.
- You can pre prepare bottles of water in the fridge.
- Continue to offer a variety of nutritious food daily. Try live wriggly food like blackworms, bloodworms, earthworms. You can also try the usual pellet, offer treats of shrimp and fish etc. Otherwise you can also blend everything in a food processor and then roll the resultant mash into a pea sized ball to try offer your axie. Remove uneaten food within 20 min.

I would try fridging your axolotl for 2 weeks and continually monitor for improvement. Please update on the progress every couple of days.

 

[RachaelBlandin]

I'll fridge him but would he still eat and move around if he had a sore tummy? I hope it doesn't sound silly, but i know i tend to just lay down somewhere when my stomach hurts.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I am not too sure, but I would always offer food just in case...how big is Toby?

 

[RachaelBlandin]

I just put him in the fridge. From nose to tail tip he's about 17cm long (I measured him with a 15cm ruler so it's not exact. I fed him before i put the lid on and he ate five pellets. His tank has been at 21 degrees celcius so he's always rather hungry. I'm just worried that the tummy looks bloated and his tail is red. his behaviour most of time seems normal for me. i've just caught him nose-floating about three times in the past week.

 

[RachaelBlandin]

I've checked on Toby this afternoon and found some of the gravel in his container. it seems likely it was a blockage. I plan to keep him in the frige and continue checking for gravel for about two weeks.

Once his container is gravel free for a week, i should be fine to put him in his tank again shouldn't I.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Sounds like a good plan.