Swimming in circles and upside down

[JaSouthwick]

I’ve had Coral for just under a year. She has one tank mate whom ive had for a year and she is thriving and from the same gene pool. After a lot of research my gut is saying the problem is that my tank water got too warm and I waited too long to quartine her. I am posting some pictures of what has been going on with her over the last 3 weeks. She was looking like she was getting better last week but the last 2 days she has been floating on her side and upside down. I’ve been doing 100% water changes for her and the lowered water temp has seemed to help her. She has been eating fine and pooping fine but I’m still very concerned that I am going to lose her. I’m new to Axolotls. Can you all help me please. It’s a little embarrassing but I just don’t want to lose her or make the wrong call here.
It all started when she got what looked like an air bubble on the top of her head and then it quickly turned into almost a zit type thing which within days worked its way out of her head as you can see. She wasn’t eating well for that week and I should have quartined her then but I didn’t and that’s where I went wrong I’m sure but she started to eat and seemed to be acting more like herself other then not being able to keep her balance. Her tail kept floating up so I thought she was just impacted but then I saw she had a big bowel movement and assumed she was just recovering. I did a 75% water change of the tank and went about my week.
I don’t have a spare tank so I have been using a large cooler with the lid off in the coldest room in my house to help make sure she has been staying cool as I can’t seem to get my main tank water to stay under 72 degrees yet. (It’s been a super hot week) but I know it isn’t cool enough yet for them as it should be under 70 degrees at least. Which if I’m not mistaken is most likely how she got sick in the first place.

Any advice is appreciated advice. My kids and I are really upset and trying not to lose her over my mistakes.Thank you in advance.

 

[musicskip]

same problems here.... So I hope to get some answers as well. Our Axolotl suddenly lost control in swimming. a few weeks ago. Did not eat and had a lump on his head. We separated him from his mother and gradually he started eating again and acting normal. But it started all over again. No lump this time , but swimming upside down, sideways and it seems he has lost control in swimming and floating ability. Eats normal......but I am wondering what we do wrong......

 

[Calgarycoppers]

How old? How big?
What does he/she eat? what substrate?

same problems here.... So I hope to get some answers as well. Our Axolotl suddenly lost control in swimming. a few weeks ago. Did not eat and had a lump on his head. We separated him from his mother and gradually he started eating again and acting normal. But it started all over again. No lump this time , but swimming upside down, sideways and it seems he has lost control in swimming and floating ability. Eats normal......but I am wondering what we do wrong......

 

[musicskip]

my daughter got it as a baby from school last september, so he/she is 10 months old. Approx. 25-30 cm long and a lot fatter than her mother. She gets special perles for Axolotls and occasionally earthworms

 

[Calgarycoppers]

I would tub the axolotl asap with just enough water to cover the body and allow it to stay upright

Can you post a picture of the tank?

What are your water parameters
temp
pH
High range pH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Do you add any Salts, johns, holtfreters?

 

[musicskip]

right now he is seprated from the other axolotl because I did not know if he was contagious. So it is just a big plastic container. All I do is keep the temperature below 20 degrees Celsius. All the at other things you mention i do not know much about….
And how do I keep it upright, .........

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Ok

Change the water in the tub daily using Seachem Prime to condition the water.
Only put enough water to cover the axolotl.

Is there substrate in the tank?

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

you really need the water to be under 68 or they get stressed and their immune systems get compromised. I would float frozen water bottles ( as many as you need to get the temperature down, even four) and swap out for fresh ones when those melt. I would say that she was very stressed about the temperature, causing her to get sick. From what, I can’t tell. I would follow what Calgary said, and maybe add the correct amount of Furan2 into the tub for how many gallons you got. I can’t tell what it has, but Furan2 or Methylene blue is my go to for most sicknesses. Or you could do a tea bath, black tea or green tea works. Black tea is better, but green tea still has tannins. I would recommend using api stress coat instead of Seachem Prime, because its used to reduce stress. However each work great.

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Ok

Change the water in the tub daily using Seachem Prime to condition the water.
Only put enough water to cover the axolotl.

Is there substrate in the tank?

Do you think it could be a tumor of some kind? You’ve kept axies longer than I have

 

[Calgarycoppers]

NOOOO

Stresscoat is toxic!!

Do not treat with furan 2 or meth blue or tea baths none of that will work or help right now.

Prime is the best water conditioner for so many reasons - best being no aloe!

you really need the water to be under 68 or they get stressed and their immune systems get compromised. I would float frozen water bottles ( as many as you need to get the temperature down, even four) and swap out for fresh ones when those melt. I would say that she was very stressed about the temperature, causing her to get sick. From what, I can’t tell. I would follow what Calgary said, and maybe add the correct amount of Furan2 into the tub for how many gallons you got. I can’t tell what it has, but Furan2 or Methylene blue is my go to for most sicknesses. Or you could do a tea bath, black tea or green tea works. Black tea is better, but green tea still has tannins. I would recommend using api stress coat instead of Seachem Prime, because its used to reduce stress. However each work great.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

No -axolotls rarely get tumors of any kind

Do you think it could be a tumor of some kind? You’ve kept axies longer than I have

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

No -axolotls rarely get tumors of any kind

That’s what I thought, because axolotls are immune to most cancer and such. I’ve personally used stress coat, and never had any problems. Dosage is key I’ve read, to much is harmful. However I will plan to switch over from stress coat into Seachem Prime after I finish my bottle

 

[musicskip]

Ok

Change the water in the tub daily using Seachem Prime to condition the water.
Only put enough water to cover the axolotl.

Is there substrate in the tank?

got the water tested , that is Ok. it is pribably some genetic defact or something wrong with his swim bladder

 

[musicskip]

you really need the water to be under 68 or they get stressed and their immune systems get compromised. I would float frozen water bottles ( as many as you need to get the temperature down, even four) and swap out for fresh ones when those melt. I would say that she was very stressed about the temperature, causing her to get sick. From what, I can’t tell. I would follow what Calgary said, and maybe add the correct amount of Furan2 into the tub for how many gallons you got. I can’t tell what it has, but Furan2 or Methylene blue is my go to for most sicknesses. Or you could do a tea bath, black tea or green tea works. Black tea is better, but green tea still has tannins. I would recommend using api stress coat instead of Seachem Prime, because its used to reduce stress. However each work great.

what do you mean by a tea bath???

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

I don’t think it will help, but it doesn’t do any harm. Boil tea bags, either green tea or black tea, and take the tea bags out after 15 minutes. Then wait for the water to cool, you can add an ice pack or frozen water bottle after it’s cooled a little, then pour into a tub and soak your lotl in there. Don’t forget to dechlorinate your water before u put the tea bags in!

 

[Chardog03]

I’ve had Coral for just under a year. She has one tank mate whom ive had for a year and she is thriving and from the same gene pool. After a lot of research my gut is saying the problem is that my tank water got too warm and I waited too long to quartine her. I am posting some pictures of what has been going on with her over the last 3 weeks. She was looking like she was getting better last week but the last 2 days she has been floating on her side and upside down. I’ve been doing 100% water changes for her and the lowered water temp has seemed to help her. She has been eating fine and pooping fine but I’m still very concerned that I am going to lose her. I’m new to Axolotls. Can you all help me please. It’s a little embarrassing but I just don’t want to lose her or make the wrong call here.
It all started when she got what looked like an air bubble on the top of her head and then it quickly turned into almost a zit type thing which within days worked its way out of her head as you can see. She wasn’t eating well for that week and I should have quartined her then but I didn’t and that’s where I went wrong I’m sure but she started to eat and seemed to be acting more like herself other then not being able to keep her balance. Her tail kept floating up so I thought she was just impacted but then I saw she had a big bowel movement and assumed she was just recovering. I did a 75% water change of the tank and went about my week.
I don’t have a spare tank so I have been using a large cooler with the lid off in the coldest room in my house to help make sure she has been staying cool as I can’t seem to get my main tank water to stay under 72 degrees yet. (It’s been a super hot week) but I know it isn’t cool enough yet for them as it should be under 70 degrees at least. Which if I’m not mistaken is most likely how she got sick in the first place.

Any advice is appreciated advice. My kids and I are really upset and trying not to lose her over my mistakes.Thank you in advance.

Honestly to me that looks like a tumor, I would take her into an exotic vet asap!

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

Honestly to me that looks like a tumor, I would take her into an exotic vet asap!

Axolotls don’t get tumors. They are immune to pretty much every cancer, so I highly doubt it’s a tumor.