Stress causes

[Olivia97]

My axie looks as if he may be stressed. His gills aren't forward and is still eating but he does have a hooked tail. There's minimal flow, temp is 19, nitrite and ammonia 0, nitrate 20. There's plenty of hides for visual barriers, his only tank mates are two other axolotls. So really what could be stressing my axie?

 

[Olivia97]

Anyone?

 

[Methodzki]

How long is it like that? Maybe he got bitten few times in a row? Is he getting along with the other two?

 

[Kaysie]

Are you a hover-er? Do you hover over the tank all the time? This can be stressful to younger axies, to whom you look like a giant predator.

 

[Olivia97]

No, I use a turkey baster when i see poop but that's it, I usually try to siphon and do water changes when they are in their hides. He hasn't been bitten. It's like this Axolotls - Health & Diseases the picture there. And they all get along just fine.

 

[Olivia97]

update:
He's gone all veiny! I've put them in the dark in the hope to de-stress him

 

[Bellabelloo]

Can you add a photo so we can see?

 

[Olivia97]

I've tried heaps and it doesn't show, but it just looks all red and tiny veins are visible. His eyes look different too.