Thor has curled gills

[Dragonfire]

Re: Help ASAP

Yes that looks good. Is he eating? It might be his food, have you changed it recently? Also you could try putting him in a smaller container with 100% water changes daily for a few days and see if that helps.

If he seems uncomfortable and in paint think about seeing a vet specialised in amphibians and see what they find.

Also he eats night crawlers, blood worms, shrimp pellets, and he gets the occasional de-shelled ramshorn snail

 

[Smoxolotl]

Re: Help ASAP

Maybe your axol isn't used to well water, or doesn't like it? I hope you've contacted your seller already about Thor's condition.

 

[Dragonfire]

I wonder if he swallowed something gravel etc. before you got him. That would explain the lack of appetite. If he's not snapping at his favorite meal, and he's not full, then something is bothering him. How long have you had him, and how old is he?

He's my profile pic so about 4 1/2 inches and he wasn't kept on gravel or any substrate before I bought him. Also he's pooped so I think impaction isn't possible. I've had him for 5 weeks but he has been normal until 2 days ago though.

 

[Dragonfire]

Re: Help ASAP

Maybe your axol isn't used to well water, or doesn't like it? I hope you've contacted your seller already about Thor's condition.

No I haven't yet

 

[Bellabelloo]

I've merged both your posts together so all the information is in one place. It will stop questions being repeated.

 

[Dragonfire]

I've merged both your posts together so all the information is in one place. It will stop questions being repeated.

Thank you

 

[Dragonfire]

Here his picture in his bad state

 

[Dragonfire]

Again Thor in his bad state

 

[Dragonfire]

I'm not sure what to do he's in a new container with fresh water (yes it's aged and I used aquasafe) but he isn't better I think he might not live (seems very weak) but I am go an fridge him. I'm not sure if I can do anything else.

 

[michael]

It is important that you balance the tank. If you turn the filter off you kill any beneficial bacteria. Their are so many variables it is tough to have a good guess at the problem. I would guess that it has something to do with water quality.

Water quality problems can be direct from tap. To naturally soft water can be a problem. Water through a water softener can be a problem. Chemicals, sprays, insecticides, air fresheners, etc. can pollute water. Non fish safe ornaments, used equipment, anything added to the tank can be a problem.

I'm not familiar with the aquaponic filter. It sounds kind of like a hydroponic system.

I think the important to get the water straightened out and have a filtered tank. Constant water changes can be stressful.

If the gills were curled and nothing else odd was going on it would not be an indication of a problem. Lots of healthy axolotls have curled gills.

 

[ThickAsaBrick]

Before I even start I would suggest you call around to find a vet that handles amphibians. If he cannot move limbs his condition certainly justifies a vet visit.

Have you ever had your well water tested? Maybe there is something in the water before you even put it in the tank. Certain metals like copper can be very bad. If there has been a lot of rain recently you might even have some runoff of something depending in we'll depth, etc. I'm don't have well water but that seems like that could be introducing something you don't expect.

Since you have him in a smaller container for now you could buy a gallon if spring water - not distilled, not reverse osmosis, not filtered tap. That should be a neutral environment. Not a financially sustainable long term option but a chance to eliminate other variables in water quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[michael]

My best guess is overfeeding and poor water quality. Loss of mobility sounds like it could be blockage. A couple days without food won't hurt a healthy axolotl. Feeding heavy every day will hurt them.


When is the last time he ate? Do you have any recent pictures?

 

[Dragonfire]

Ok so my well is pretty deep and it's been tested and its just a little hard but otherwise safe plus I used aquasafe on the water. The filter was turned back on after I removed him from the tank to keep it cycled and he is already seeming better. I also noticed he's capable of leg movement again in the fridge just isn't choosing to use them as he used them when I put him in his fridging container to land on the bottom without flipping on his back.

 

[Dragonfire]

Also I'm pretty sure the water is safe as I've kept freshwater stingrays, ghost knife fish, and All my newts in my tap water after using aquasafe and all my snakes and bird drink it untreated his water quality was also pretty good. He did happen to eat two large shrimp pellets the day before symptoms developed so they may have caused a blockage by expanding in his stomach so as far as I'm aware fridging him was the right choice for a blockage. So we will see what happens.

 

[Dragonfire]

My best guess is overfeeding and poor water quality. Loss of mobility sounds like it could be blockage. A couple days without food won't hurt a healthy axolotl. Feeding heavy every day will hurt them.


When is the last time he ate? Do you have any recent pictures?

Also the pictures up top are from today and he ate every day but lightly or every other day. But he did eat two large shrimp pellets a day before the problems began.

 

[Boomsloth]

I think the important to get the water straightened out and have a filtered tank. Constant water changes can be stressful.

I'm just curious what would constitute as constant for water changes and why would they be stressful if done properly? Assuming you're not removing the axolotl and the water is added slowly at the same temperature shouldn't it be an improvement on water quality?

 

[Dragonfire]

Yeah I only changed it once every 6 days cus he's little and it's a 20 gallon tank.

 

[michael]

I'm just curious what would constitute as constant for water changes and why would they be stressful if done properly? Assuming you're not removing the axolotl and the water is added slowly at the same temperature shouldn't it be an improvement on water quality?

For deep well water the water could contain less oxygen than the water in a circulating tank. Juveniles and larvae often do better in aged filtered water than dechlorinated water directly from the tap. Tap water chemistry can have huge swings due to conditions at the water plant. Water chemistry will change after water comes out of the tap. Tank water quality in a balanced tank is more stable. ...

 

[Dragonfire]

Ok so he's been fridged for 3 days now and can move/ is using his front legs when I check on him. Also his gills which turned whitish and unhealthy before I fridged him are turning red again.

 

[Boomsloth]

For deep well water the water could contain less oxygen than the water in a circulating tank. Juveniles and larvae often do better in aged filtered water than dechlorinated water directly from the tap. Tap water chemistry can have huge swings due to conditions at the water plant. Water chemistry will change after water comes out of the tap. Tank water quality in a balanced tank is more stable. ...

Thank you for clearing that up!