Sick Axolotl!

[Connor]

First post on here so hi everyone, I have a sick Axolotl and I am not sure what to do. I only received him in Saturday.

He was kept in a tank of gravel, I was also told that he had not eaten in roughly 3 weeks but he had done this before and not to worry. His gills also look in a bad way.

So I set up my own tank taking out the gravel and replacing it with sand. Used water that was left out to allow chlorine to evaporate. I am waiting on the filter to arrive (tomorrow), and the temperature in the tank has stayed between 17C -18C.

This first day he was not very active, I just put this down to the stress of moving and being in a new environment. The following day he was a bit more adventurous.

Then on Monday he started to sit surface and take gulps of air. He done this for a good few hours before I got worried, He eventually went to the bottom of the tank but he was struggling to stay down his tail would float upwards and his head stay on the ground. After a while he would swim(pulling himself up on the side of the tank ) to the surface but this time he would sink back down and seemed to be in control of this. but I noticed his stomach seemed quite swollen.

Basically I have put him in the fridge just now following the guide on here. When I went to do a water change in the container there seemed to be a a sort of mucus floating in the water and his eyes seemed to have be been bulging a little. He also seemed to be 'burping' a few times but he continued to gulp air.

I have also bought water conditioner today that I still need to use.

What should I do now? Could it be impaction? :uhoh:

 

[leandrah]

He sounds like he has some gas with his tail floating upwards. I think that keeping him in the fridge is best for now, because if he has swallowed any stones - it will help him pass them.

On to more important things, I assume that the tank has not been cycled? Was it only set up on Saturday?
Do you have any other fish tanks in the house?

 

[auntiejude]

'Floaty-bum-syndrome' is usually a symptom of impaction or constipation. This may well be due to gravel consumption. If he's in the fridge he may well pass some of the gravel and start to look better.

Surfacing for air is normal.

Can you post some pics of your axie - from above and from the side so we can see if he looks lumpy or bloated?

 

[Elliriyanna]

Sometimes I have noticed Natsu gets the floaty butt when she has to poop.

I agree about cycling, also without a filter there may be low air in the water which would cause the gulping.

If this is a newly set up tank, get a water test kit, api master kits are highly recommended, and test daily, you will need to do frequent water changes to keep the little one happy while his home cycles. If its easier for you I would actually recommend a tub for him if he is little so that 100% changes can be made while his home cycles, you will need pure ammmonia to cycle the tank if you do this though. And the big downside is that this can be stressful
I would recommend a water conditioner as not everywhere uses chlorine anymore. I forget the name of what they use now but it does not evaporate when left sit like chlorine

I know very little about fridging but would that force him to poop or regurgitate any stones if they are small enough?

 

[leandrah]

The fridging usually makes the Axolotl pass stones or relieves them of constipation. I think the cold fridge makes their body relax, and therefore it is easier to pass stones and stuff

 

[Elliriyanna]

I didn't realize fridgung had been mentioned, sorry

 

[Connor]

Had another check when I got home today, Bloating seems to have gone down and he is still 'burping'. There still seems to be no poo or gravel yet. Do I just keep him in the fridge till he has recovered ?


@Leandrah- No the tank was not cycled, I have never owned any fish before and I was unaware of this (ignorant I know). Could you recommend a good guide to this ?

@Auntie Jude- bloating seem to have subsided.

 

[Kaini]

@Leandrah- No the tank was not cycled, I have never owned any fish before and I was unaware of this (ignorant I know). Could you recommend a good guide to this ?

Knowledge of aquarium cycling is important to keeping any aquatic life - time to read up!

Here's a good guide: Scales Tails Wings and Things, What is Aquarium Cycling? How to Cycle your Tank

You'll need a liquid test kit to regularly monitor the water parameters in your Axolotl's tank (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) since the tank isn't cycled there will be spikes of ammonia which are harmful, you'll have to keep up with your water changes. While it is in the fridge you should change the water 100% daily to avoid ammonia buildup.

 

[Connor]

Literally just finished the water test there everything is well within the safe zones, I presume down to him only being in the tank for a couple of days.

Thank you for the link I will get reading.

 

[Kaini]

Literally just finished the water test there everything is well within the safe zones, I presume down to him only being in the tank for a couple of days.

Thank you for the link I will get reading.

Yep, probably. Keep an eye on it though, it'll spike quick. Anything over 1ppm of ammonia/nitrite is considered harmful.

If you have any specifics on cycling feel free to ask, I've kept fish and axolotls for quite a while now and I've cycled a few tanks x3

 

[snuggly time]

Here's another good cycling guide Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling

Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite for now, you don't want them too high otherwise it can harm him. Good luck :happy: