Sick Axie :(

[southy476]

Hey! I have had my axolotl since he was a hatchling, and he just turned a year old. I wasn’t watching his tank closely enough after I added some substrate in last week and although I have researched everything I can I still have some questions. One of his eyes is particularly red, and I’m concerned on how he will be able to recover. He also will rarely accept food, even his favorite (bloodworms). When he does eat, he doesn’t eat much. At most, a tweezer full. His skin doesn’t look quite right, and I want to make sure it’s not a slime coat issue. If anyone can help my baby Leopold we would be very grateful!! Thanks!

Want to add that he is in a “quarantine” 3 gallon tank that is filtered, he is not in his normal tank right now.

 

[wolfen]

what are the water parameters and chemistry in the original tank ie.. temperature, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, if possible kh gh, also any salts/minerals.
make sure that although the quarantine tank is filtered the water is changed daily, this is because the ammonia will become very high very quickly in a small tank faster than the filter will be able to cope with ie.. if an axolotl produces enough ammonia in a twenty gallon to bring it to 2-4ppm, in a ten gallon it would be 4-8ppm, in a 5 gallon 8-16ppm etc..
what substrate was added and how was it prepared ie.. boiled off, microwaved etc..
add 2g/l salt to the quarantine tank, because your axolotl has a red area on tail a vet trip may be required to ensure that there isn't an infection.

 

[southy476]

what are the water parameters and chemistry in the original tank ie.. temperature, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, if possible kh gh, also any salts/minerals.
make sure that although the quarantine tank is filtered the water is changed daily, this is because the ammonia will become very high very quickly in a small tank faster than the filter will be able to cope with ie.. if an axolotl produces enough ammonia in a twenty gallon to bring it to 2-4ppm, in a ten gallon it would be 4-8ppm, in a 5 gallon 8-16ppm etc..
what substrate was added and how was it prepared ie.. boiled off, microwaved etc..
add 2g/l salt to the quarantine tank, because your axolotl has a red area on tail a vet trip may be required to ensure that there isn't an infection.

I haven’t been able to test the water but I believe the ammonia was what the problem one. I’ll start changing the water everyday then! I added sand, and I just rinsed it before putting it into the tank. I followed a youtube video but I would love to know a better method. I’ve purchased an Indian Almond Leaf that should be here soon that I will be putting in with him.

 

[southy476]

I haven’t been able to test the water but I believe the ammonia was what the problem one. I’ll start changing the water everyday then! I added sand, and I just rinsed it before putting it into the tank. I followed a youtube video but I would love to know a better method. I’ve purchased an Indian Almond Leaf that should be here soon that I will be putting in with him.

Also I didn’t find a red spot on his tail when I looked at him earlier, so the picture may have been the issue.

 

[wolfen]

although debris in the sand is annoying is also always best to sterilise the sand before introducing it to remove/kill any bacteria etc.. that is inhabiting it, the most common way to prepare sand it to rinse through and boil to remove any floating debris and sterilise, another way is to microwave the sand until bone dry (this method is mostly useful with play sand which tends to be wet) to sterilise the sand.

 

[southy476]

although debris in the sand is annoying is also always best to sterilise the sand before introducing it to remove/kill any bacteria etc.. that is inhabiting it, the most common way to prepare sand it to rinse through and boil to remove any floating debris and sterilise, another way is to microwave the sand until bone dry (this method is mostly useful with play sand which tends to be wet) to sterilise the sand.

I’m finally back where the usual tank is, and will be taking your advice on how to prepare the sand. Thank you so much!

 

[southy476]

Full update: I will be preparing the sand in the recommended way, but he is looking much better in the small tank I have him in temporarily. The only thing that still looks concerning is his eye, but everything else is looking great. He passed what I think was a very minor impaction the other day, since his stool looked very solid and contained grains of sand that I could see with the naked eye. Since then he has been begging for more food, which is a great sign! Overall, I’m seeing a lot of improvement so thanks for the advice