Sick baby :(

[seagull]

Hi all
i just got a cute little 3 inch wildtype axolotl in the mail today
it ate a piece of worm but now i see it has puked it back up
is it sick??

 

[auntiejude]

No, it's probably stressed.

Assuming you have a cycled tank and good water, it's likely to be upset about the travelling, rough handling in th mail etc.

Keep it cool and dark for a day, then try it with some bloodowrms or a chopped earthworm.

 

[Petersgirl]

I agree with Auntiejude. Chief causes of vomiting include stress, a bitter taste (which some worms excrete when stressed), viral or bacterial infection, tummy upset, or the food being too large.

You could try bloodworms like she's suggested - good 'baby food' which appears to bring them around if they're not used to worms. If you feed an earthworm, you need to be sure it's small enough - smaller than his mouth is wide - and you can chop a larger worm with scissors if you have to (cleaner and quicker than knives). Blanching (washing the worm in hot water then cooling with cold) prevents the worm from excreting any yucky slime which can cause puking by putting the worm into shock.

I think it's stress and keeping him dark and cool for a bit will allow him to calm down. Try feeding after a few hours of him being in his new home - a dark hide will be perfect to calm him down.

Hope this is helpful