Sick, need advice!..

[Anubis]

Try fringing him. Put them inside your fridge for 20 minutes in a Tupperware container with clean dechlorinated water, then take them out for 20 minutes. Repeat this till their gills relax and the tip of their tail isn't curled. Since the light will stress them out, I'd drape a towel over the Tupperware container.

 

[robopetz]

Try fringing him. Put them inside your fridge for 20 minutes in a Tupperware container with clean dechlorinated water, then take them out for 20 minutes. Repeat this till their gills relax and the tip of their tail isn't curled. Since the light will stress them out, I'd drape a towel over the Tupperware container.

Thank you! I will try that and keep you posted.

 

[smurfrider]

Try fringing him. Put them inside your fridge for 20 minutes in a Tupperware container with clean dechlorinated water, then take them out for 20 minutes. Repeat this till their gills relax and the tip of their tail isn't curled. Since the light will stress them out, I'd drape a towel over the Tupperware container.

What is the purpose of off and on fridging? The constant temperature fluctuations would surely be stressful on the axie.

Nothing against Anubis, but I would wait for others to chime in on the fridging. I've never had to fridge my axies but from everything I've read on the forum, the axie should stay in the fridge until the animal shows improvements
This link is a fridging guide
Axolotl Sanctuary

 

[HayleyK]

Fridging him for 20 minutes at a time it extremely stressful. They should be left in the fridge for a few days at a time. The fluctuation is just too much especially on an already weak axolotl.

Fridging is usually done for an impacted axolotl or a
severely sick/injured axolotl. In your case it isn't necessary to fridge. Axolotls are great healers given their water is clean and fresh. The fridge will slow down his metabolism and he won't eat so if you're trying to get his weight back up then the fridging is the worst thing to do.

Try tea bathing him instead or add Indian almond leaves to his tank. Brew a cup of black tea, let it cool, and add to 10L of dechlorinated water. You can add it straight to his tub, it will turn brown but that's okay. The tannins will help the slime coat issue. Indian almond leaves do possess an anti fungal property which would help this lotl as there is already a breach in the slime coat.

With feeding - keep offering earthworms daily, if he doesn't eat within a few minutes, take the worm out and try in a few more hours. And try keeping the tub under 20 degrees. The ideal temperature is 16-18 degrees celcius.

 

[Anubis]

What is the purpose of off and on fridging? The constant temperature fluctuations would surely be stressful on the axie.

Nothing against Anubis, but I would wait for others to chime in on the fridging. I've never had to fridge my axies but from everything I've read on the forum, the axie should stay in the fridge until the animal shows improvements
This link is a fridging guide
Axolotl Sanctuary

I'm kinda paranoid about freezing my axie (no matter what setting I have my fridge on, something always freezes), so when I do have to fridge I take them in and out at intervals. I can see if someone doesn't have that problem that they could leave the axie in a fridge for a long period of time. I'd google the fringing protocol,and see what others have done before you try anything OP. That is if you decide to fridge. Like others have said before, I'd wait and see what others suggest you do since I've never had a case like this.

 

[Anubis]

Fridging him for 20 minutes at a time it extremely stressful. They should be left in the fridge for a few days at a time. The fluctuation is just too much especially on an already weak axolotl.

Fridging is usually done for an impacted axolotl or a
severely sick/injured axolotl. In your case it isn't necessary to fridge. Axolotls are great healers given their water is clean and fresh. The fridge will slow down his metabolism and he won't eat so if you're trying to get his weight back up then the fridging is the worst thing to do.

Try tea bathing him instead or add Indian almond leaves to his tank. Brew a cup of black tea, let it cool, and add to 10L of dechlorinated water. You can add it straight to his tub, it will turn brown but that's okay. The tannins will help the slime coat issue. Indian almond leaves do possess an anti fungal property which would help this lotl as there is already a breach in the slime coat.

With feeding - keep offering earthworms daily, if he doesn't eat within a few minutes, take the worm out and try in a few more hours. And try keeping the tub under 20 degrees. The ideal temperature is 16-18 degrees celcius.

I always thought fringing can be done when you have a stressed axolotl to calm them down? If not, what is a good way to calm them down after a stressful episode (I.e. A fight with a tank mate, arriving after a move from one home to another, etc)? Do you just leave them in clean water in a dark, cool, environment?

 

[HayleyK]

I'm kinda paranoid about freezing my axie (no matter what setting I have my fridge on, something always freezes), so when I do have to fridge I take them in and out at intervals. I can see if someone doesn't have that problem that they could leave the axie in a fridge for a long period of time. I'd google the fringing protocol,and see what others have done before you try anything OP. That is if you decide to fridge. Like others have said before, I'd wait and see what others suggest you do since I've never had a case like this.

Maybe you should check out your fridge as that shouldn't happen at 5-8 degrees celcius . I really wouldn't recommend doing those intervals... Surely it would stress them out more. Being in the fridge would only fluctuate the water by a few degrees, so you could be bringing the temperature up and down by several degrees by doing so. If normal tank temperature water (which is what I'm guessing you put in his tub) is, say, 18 degrees celcius and 20 minutes in the fridge would bring it down a few degrees at around what, 16-14 degrees celcius that's not technically "fridging" and would not be beneficial whatsoever. I hope this makes sense

If you need to fridge an axolotl in the near future it should be done for gas problems, floating, impaction or severely sick/injured. I've been told and read on here (by reputable users) that gills being "curled" in adults is not a sign of stress, some just occasionally do so. Regardless if it's stressed or not fridging shouldn't be done to "uncurl" a gill. Curling is usually a sign of stress in younger lotls.

 

[HayleyK]

I always thought fringing can be done when you have a stressed axolotl to calm them down? If not, what is a good way to calm them down after a stressful episode (I.e. A fight with a tank mate, arriving after a move from one home to another, etc)? Do you just leave them in clean water in a dark, cool, environment?

A fight with a tank mate that is just a nip with no break in the skin - I personally would leave him there as using a net or grabbing him out would just be unnecessary stress. If there was a break in the skin I would separate for a few days in a tub of fresh, cool, treated water with daily changes and like you said, preferably dark.

If they're arriving from a move I would float them in their permanent set up (if it's cycled) and after 20 minutes I would put him in his tank. Again if you put him in a tub and then in it's just unnecessary stress hope that helps.

If they are stressed in their tank, make sure there are plenty of hides and avoid switching the lights on / off (room light, don't even think about an aquarium light if you use one) and of course - the right temperature and water parameters

 

[leandrah]

I would listen to Hayley Robo, she has given me plenty of good advice.

 

[auntiejude]

Put them inside your fridge for 20 minutes in a Tupperware container with clean dechlorinated water, then take them out for 20 minutes. Repeat this till their gills relax and the tip of their tail isn't curled.

This is one of the worst things you can do to an axie. Constant temperature fluctuations will stress your axie, and this type of repeated huge swing can kill.

I always thought fringing can be done when you have a stressed axolotl to calm them down?

No, if your axie is stressed you need to keep it cool, not cold, and dark. Fridging slows their metabolism and makes them lethargic, dark calms them after a move or fight.

 

[robopetz]

Thanks for all the input y'all. I am very sad to say that he had passed last night after I did a 100% clean chlorinated water change.

I did the water change. Left for the pet store to go get test kits. They only had ammonia, citrate, and ph test kits. They did have one type of nitrite test kit but was 30 dollars and I could not afford it this moment. Went home and tested the tank water and the clean chlorinated tap water. Tank water (which is half from my current tank I've had for awhile and other half clean chlorinated tap water) came up as ammonia normal, ph normal, and nitrate was really high. The clean chlorinated water came up as normal for all but nitrite because that I couldn't test.

So I did a 25% water change with the current axolotl tank and immediately noticed my bigger axie started to blink her gills allot. What's this mean? Woke up this morning to see that now my other axie's tail is a bit curled too. No curled or red gills though. What's going on? Is it the nitrate being too high? Or could it be nitrite, that I can't test at the moment? But I did a water change and now she blinks her gills and I woke up to a curled tail?

I was thinking of doing a 100% water change but with spring water or those bottled betta water they have a petco, is this a good idea? Is it just a coincidence that this happens after I do water changes? I am in a fight to save my other axies life. I really don't want the same to happen to this one.

 

[Anubis]

A fight with a tank mate that is just a nip with no break in the skin - I personally would leave him there as using a net or grabbing him out would just be unnecessary stress. If there was a break in the skin I would separate for a few days in a tub of fresh, cool, treated water with daily changes and like you said, preferably dark.

If they're arriving from a move I would float them in their permanent set up (if it's cycled) and after 20 minutes I would put him in his tank. Again if you put him in a tub and then in it's just unnecessary stress hope that helps.

If they are stressed in their tank, make sure there are plenty of hides and avoid switching the lights on / off (room light, don't even think about an aquarium light if you use one) and of course - the right temperature and water parameters

I couldn't agree more with you about my fridge. We really need a new one (it's really old). Im glad I haven't had to fridge anyone in a while, and I feel very fortunate that I haven't had any issues in years. This is all good to know in case anything comes up for me (or anyone for that matter) in the future. Thank you.

 

[Anubis]

Thanks for all the input y'all. I am very sad to say that he had passed last night after I did a 100% clean chlorinated water change.

I did the water change. Left for the pet store to go get test kits. They only had ammonia, citrate, and ph test kits. They did have one type of nitrite test kit but was 30 dollars and I could not afford it this moment. Went home and tested the tank water and the clean chlorinated tap water. Tank water (which is half from my current tank I've had for awhile and other half clean chlorinated tap water) came up as ammonia normal, ph normal, and nitrate was really high. The clean chlorinated water came up as normal for all but nitrite because that I couldn't test.

So I did a 25% water change with the current axolotl tank and immediately noticed my bigger axie started to blink her gills allot. What's this mean? Woke up this morning to see that now my other axie's tail is a bit curled too. No curled or red gills though. What's going on? Is it the nitrate being too high? Or could it be nitrite, that I can't test at the moment? But I did a water change and now she blinks her gills and I woke up to a curled tail?

I was thinking of doing a 100% water change but with spring water or those bottled betta water they have a petco, is this a good idea? Is it just a coincidence that this happens after I do water changes? I am in a fight to save my other axies life. I really don't want the same to happen to this one.

I'm very sorry to hear this I hope the other does well. I'm not sure what else to do at this point, but I'm sure the others would.

 

[smiley1996]

Sorry for your loss :-( wish the best of luck for the other beautie

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[Ai]

This sounds a lot like when i first got my axies. One axie swimming wierd and upside down that died.
And a cycling problem after that. I got the advice to do only water tests and 30% daily water changes for a couple of weeks. Then less often.
And it actually all turned out great in the end. It took a lot of effort and time but fixed it, and nature took care of the cycling with time. My other two axies never got sick during.

I believe that trying to speed up the cycling might be hard if you're new to all this, I would never dare to try that.

Blinking gills doesn't have to be alarming. And red gills are normal as far as i know. They can turn bright red if your axie is active, and go white if they've been chillin out. So even if the gills would be red, it is normal.

And One of my axies has always had curled gills, and the other one gets it after feeding and goes back to normal after a while. So it's great stress signs sometimes but all this can be normal to.

My problem has always been to keep calm, me stressed has made me act in ways that stressed my axies more.

I'm still very new to all this. But i know how hard and stressful this must be for you and a plan to follow might calm you aswell.

I would say If your axolotl is acting normal, try not to worry and just give it time. water changes, tests, check temperature, and keep it dark.
It's advice people here has given me many times and it's always worked.

Best of luck to you! And sorry for your loss.


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[Ai]

And i've been told never to do 100% water changes in the tank, just if kept in seperate tub.


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[Boomsloth]

Thanks for all the input y'all. I am very sad to say that he had passed last night after I did a 100% clean chlorinated water change.

I did the water change. Left for the pet store to go get test kits. They only had ammonia, citrate, and ph test kits. They did have one type of nitrite test kit but was 30 dollars and I could not afford it this moment. Went home and tested the tank water and the clean chlorinated tap water. Tank water (which is half from my current tank I've had for awhile and other half clean chlorinated tap water) came up as ammonia normal, ph normal, and nitrate was really high. The clean chlorinated water came up as normal for all but nitrite because that I couldn't test.

So I did a 25% water change with the current axolotl tank and immediately noticed my bigger axie started to blink her gills allot. What's this mean? Woke up this morning to see that now my other axie's tail is a bit curled too. No curled or red gills though. What's going on? Is it the nitrate being too high? Or could it be nitrite, that I can't test at the moment? But I did a water change and now she blinks her gills and I woke up to a curled tail?

I was thinking of doing a 100% water change but with spring water or those bottled betta water they have a petco, is this a good idea? Is it just a coincidence that this happens after I do water changes? I am in a fight to save my other axies life. I really don't want the same to happen to this one.

100% clean chlorinated water change? Most tap water contains chlorine and chloramines which is just as bad as ammonia. Also that chlorine will kill your cycle basically meaning you will have to do daily large water changes to keep ammonia down. Make sure the water you add into the tank is the same temperature as the tank water.

 

[Boomsloth]

And i've been told never to do 100% water changes in the tank, just if kept in seperate tub.


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You can never really change too much water, as long as its the same temperature and has been treated for chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals. Its the same concept as the tub, in fact I remember one user doing 100% changes every few days and her axolotls were in amazing health.

 

[leandrah]

I think that you have a Nitrite problem and that you need to do a big water change with dechlorinated water

 

[Ai]

You can never really change too much water, as long as its the same temperature and has been treated for chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals. Its the same concept as the tub, in fact I remember one user doing 100% changes every few days and her axolotls were in amazing health.

If you change all water, it's a big risk the tank has to cycle again. Mine started over when I did and made so much more work, and not as safe for the animals as it should be.
On all kinds of forums people recommend not to ever do a 100% water change, That it is common for new people to panic and change all the water, but it is likely that it will hurt your axolotls more then just doing smaller water changes often.

If you do it like her you're talking about well then ammonia never builds up so i can see why that works, she never lets the tank cycle. But what a Incredible wasteful thing to do! Using so much water. If you have to for some reason for a while, ok. But as a way of taking care of a tank no.


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