Tiny axolotl floating on his side

[Lemi]

My mom is watching a three inch axolotl for me and he's quite bloated. He usually seems fine, pretty active. He has had forward facing gills since we brought him home, but none of the others did, so I'm thinking maybe he was just born like that. His water is usually about 68 degrees, but I don't have a water test kit at the moment. There's no substrate, so there should be no impaction. I don't trust her to fridge him because she keeps it so cold in the fridge the black worms have been known to freeze and she will not turn it up. I have been feeding frozen earthworm pieces because I've seen better growth on them than the live black worms.
I haven't noticed any other sign of stress or illness. His tail is always straight and he's never had fungus, patches, wounds, or anything else.

 

[Petersgirl]

Could it be an air bubble? If your baby is albino, you should be able to see his tummy. Does it look liquid, or does it look more like air puffing up his tummy?

Air bubbles can be caused by not eating enough or swallowing air, or there's Air Bubble Disease, but this takes the form of bubbles actually under the skin, not in the stomach, and this is unlikely if his home isn't saturated with air. Apparently, according to another board, another cause is BBS Eggs.

Here's the link: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ae-all-have-visible-bubbles-their-bellys.html

They recommend water changes and there are also a few more tips on there. Shame about the fridge - I feel your pain! My parents have been very patient but I have a feeling they'd draw the line at Toothless taking up the space my Dad has lovingly preserved for his cheese...lol! Hope this helps!

 

[Lemi]

My mom says she thinks he's dead.
He's not moving, but he's not floating so...