Illness/Sickness: Regurgitation and weird bump.

[quietIdentity]

Hi I recently received an Axolotl from my landlord who runs a Marine biology lab in Wellington. They needed a home for it and I've always wanted one.

He's nearly two weeks in to his stay here now and he's never definitively eaten anything. I tried lamb liver first, then beef heart. Both of which were not appreciated by him. Then, from the pet store, I got some Axolotl food (fish and something else frozen into cubes) and some frozen Blood Worms which were an instant success. However a day later I found the blood worms regurgitated, at least the majority of them. Also a few days later he ate some of the fish cubes which he also eventually regurgitated. He used to be fed topside steak apparently which I have tried to varied effects, but he also was only fed once a week prior to me owning him.


I don't know his current tank temperature, and I have a rather large filter which I'm kinda worried may stress him out although its jet is not very strong and does not cause too much flow around the tank. I make sure it's turned off most of the time as well. I also have been changing the water frequently, he received a full tank change when I received him because it was filthy and every three days since then I have changed around 20-30 percent, I add a chlorine remover to all the water before adding it.

Also a strange bump, almost a perfect half sphere has appeared on his back. I don't know if it's a sign of anything and he might've had it all along but didn't notice it till yesterday. I would take some photos but its night and I don't want to scare him with the flash...

 

[coichards]

I have a possible reason for your problem(other users correct me if you think I am Going down the wrong track). Your axie might have swallowed something bigger than it could manage and it has got stuck in its throat, resulting in the food coming back up again.

 

[sherylbobbins]

Greetings neighbour
How are those water parameters going such as pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? Poor water water quality may very well stress him causing him to not want to eat. It is generally normal though for an axie to spit out a number of bloodworms if you just give him the whole frozen cube. Instead of the lamb liver and beef heart, you should try out earthworms that are pesticide and parasite free. Sometimes the wiggle factor will encourage them to eat. How big is your axie? Adults should be fed every 2 days and juveniles should be fed every day... sometimes even twice if they're spoilt lol. I really don't think something could be stuck in it's throat however. I've had axies throat's close off completely due to swelling. If something was blocking it off that extremely to prevent food, your axie would be dead

Any kind of flow can be stressful to an axolotl unfortunately. Apparently you can stick plants or some sort of obstruction in the flow to break it up. I find that can help because mine was quite powerful too. But dude/dudette, don't turn off the filter! It can kill the good bacteria in there that breaks down the waste products. It's important to keep it on for as long as possible otherwise the tank just doesn't cycle. From the sounds of it, your tank is cycling. I'd boost up those water changes to 20-30% every day to ensure that the environment is relatively safe for your axolotl.

As for that lump, a picture would be lovely

 

[coichards]

If the tempreture is low enough the food in the axies stomach spoils and they regurgitates it