Tubbed Axolotl - Food Goes In, Nothing Comes Out

[marywithani]

Please Help!
First axolotl... About 4 mos old. We had him for a month or so in what I thought was a cycled tank, but which was not fully cycled and didn’t have an adequate filter. I noticed he started acting weird, found there were nitrites, got him tubbed, and shortly after, he stopped pooping. In his tank, there was no substrate, no snails, no small anything.

He had a good poop around 2 weeks ago, then another little poop after I gave him salmon about 5 days ago or so. Since then, nothing. Other axie owners said if he’s still hungry and looks healthy otherwise, I could keep feeding him, so I have. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop. I cant keep putting food in him if nothing’s coming out. My daughter (12) loves this thing SO much and has anxiety and OCD and is already starting to worry about accidentally killing him.

He’s tubbed in a Sterilite tub with an air stone in one corner and his favorite coconut hide plus one other, a small plant and an IAL. Water treated with Prime, changed every day, and kept around 60°F. (I’ve experimented with gradually going down to 58 and up to 67, but nothing seems to help). I do have some SeaChem Stress Guard (which does NOT have aloe in it; I checked), but I hesitate with anything with these guys.

HELP!

 

[axolotl nerd]

honestly, i think just keep feeding. i had a similar problem for about a week with my own axolotl and just kept feeding him and eventually he had a bowel movement. i hope your daughter forms a strong relationship with your little friend

 

[marywithani]

honestly, i think just keep feeding. i had a similar problem for about a week with my own axolotl and just kept feeding him and eventually he had a bowel movement. i hope your daughter forms a strong relationship with your little friend

He LOOKS healthy... No curved gills or tail, no swollen cloaca... good color, good skin...

 

[CrazyForLotls]

Please Help!
First axolotl... About 4 mos old. We had him for a month or so in what I thought was a cycled tank, but which was not fully cycled and didn’t have an adequate filter. I noticed he started acting weird, found there were nitrites, got him tubbed, and shortly after, he stopped pooping. In his tank, there was no substrate, no snails, no small anything.

He had a good poop around 2 weeks ago, then another little poop after I gave him salmon about 5 days ago or so. Since then, nothing. Other axie owners said if he’s still hungry and looks healthy otherwise, I could keep feeding him, so I have. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop. I cant keep putting food in him if nothing’s coming out. My daughter (12) loves this thing SO much and has anxiety and OCD and is already starting to worry about accidentally killing him.

He’s tubbed in a Sterilite tub with an air stone in one corner and his favorite coconut hide plus one other, a small plant and an IAL. Water treated with Prime, changed every day, and kept around 60°F. (I’ve experimented with gradually going down to 58 and up to 67, but nothing seems to help). I do have some SeaChem Stress Guard (which does NOT have aloe in it; I checked), but I hesitate with anything with these guys.

HELP!

Try not to change the temperature too much, especially in large swings. That can stress them out. I've also been told that the water current from airstones can be stressful... What are your water parameters? What do you regularly feed him and how much? I have a juvenile that I feed every day (a bit under four inches) and it gets a red wiggler one day, cut into four pieces, and some salmon pellets the next day. Are you sure that yours hasn't pooped? I also have a subadult axolotl and most of the time his droppings disintegrate and float away before I even see them because he walks through them. If your axolotl doesn't appear bloated, swollen, or stressed at all it should be okay to keep feeding it. I'm not 100% sure though, just giving you my thoughts. It would probably be good to wait for some more opinions and advice.

 

[axolotl nerd]

He LOOKS healthy... No curved gills or tail, no swollen cloaca... good color, good skin...

i think that if the animal seems otherwise healthy, it will ultimately be fine. unless something changes, i wouldn’t worry about it
keel us updated!!

 

[CrazyForLotls]

i think that if the animal seems otherwise healthy, it will ultimately be fine. unless something changes, i wouldn’t worry about it
keel us updated!!

I second that

 

[marywithani]

Try not to change the temperature too much, especially in large swings. That can stress them out. I've also been told that the water current from airstones can be stressful... What are your water parameters? What do you regularly feed him and how much? I have a juvenile that I feed every day (a bit under four inches) and it gets a red wiggler one day, cut into four pieces, and some salmon pellets the next day. Are you sure that yours hasn't pooped? I also have a subadult axolotl and most of the time his droppings disintegrate and float away before I even see them because he walks through them. If your axolotl doesn't appear bloated, swollen, or stressed at all it should be okay to keep feeding it. I'm not 100% sure though, just giving you my thoughts. It would probably be good to wait for some more opinions and advice.

I really haven’t been changing the temp too much; it’s mainly been about 63 most of the time he’s been tubbed (since March 6th). And I’ve read that an air stone in a tub can help keep it oxygenated, so I put it in a corner, but i’m not opposed to taking it out. He really doesn’t show signs of being too stressed, I guess he just doesn’t seem his super happy self, but he’s in a plastic tub, so what do I expect lol.

 

[CrazyForLotls]

I really haven’t been changing the temp too much; it’s mainly been about 63 most of the time he’s been tubbed (since March 6th). And I’ve read that an air stone in a tub can help keep it oxygenated, so I put it in a corner, but i’m not opposed to taking it out. He really doesn’t show signs of being too stressed, I guess he just doesn’t seem his super happy self, but he’s in a plastic tub, so what do I expect lol.

Your temperature sounds good. I had an air stone in my tub as well, but was advised to take it out even though my little guy looked okay. Ultimately, it's up to you. I was told that they didn't need any extra air if you are doing daily water changes and they can also come up for air if they want to. If I were you, I would keep an eye on your axolotl but continue to feed it. When I first got my subadult he didn't leave any droppings for over a week, and he was being fed every other day. His cloaca got really swollen looking but he eventually passed whatever it was that was blocking him up. He has been eating and "going" normally ever since. Best wishes and keep us updated!

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

I really haven’t been changing the temp too much; it’s mainly been about 63 most of the time he’s been tubbed (since March 6th). And I’ve read that an air stone in a tub can help keep it oxygenated, so I put it in a corner, but i’m not opposed to taking it out. He really doesn’t show signs of being too stressed, I guess he just doesn’t seem his super happy self, but he’s in a plastic tub, so what do I expect lol.

If he look healthy and isn't lethargic, he's probably fine. they have really slow metabolisms to begin with. Low tank temperature will slow it down even more. It's also quite possible that he is going to the bathroom and either spreading it around OR eating it before you see it. Continue to feed him daily and monitor his behavior. 100% changes on the tub daily as well to keep him happy.

 

[marywithani]

Please Help!
First axolotl... About 4 mos old. We had him for a month or so in what I thought was a cycled tank, but which was not fully cycled and didn’t have an adequate filter. I noticed he started acting weird, found there were nitrites, got him tubbed, and shortly after, he stopped pooping. In his tank, there was no substrate, no snails, no small anything.

He had a good poop around 2 weeks ago, then another little poop after I gave him salmon about 5 days ago or so. Since then, nothing. Other axie owners said if he’s still hungry and looks healthy otherwise, I could keep feeding him, so I have. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop. I cant keep putting food in him if nothing’s coming out. My daughter (12) loves this thing SO much and has anxiety and OCD and is already starting to worry about accidentally killing him.

He’s tubbed in a Sterilite tub with an air stone in one corner and his favorite coconut hide plus one other, a small plant and an IAL. Water treated with Prime, changed every day, and kept around 60°F. (I’ve experimented with gradually going down to 58 and up to 67, but nothing seems to help). I do have some SeaChem Stress Guard (which does NOT have aloe in it; I checked), but I hesitate with anything with these guys.

HELP!

Adding a few photos. I Just don’t think I would be missing poops in this tub... I sit next to it most of the day and have been feeding him around 11pm, right before a daily water change.

Please Help!
First axolotl... About 4 mos old. We had him for a month or so in what I thought was a cycled tank, but which was not fully cycled and didn’t have an adequate filter. I noticed he started acting weird, found there were nitrites, got him tubbed, and shortly after, he stopped pooping. In his tank, there was no substrate, no snails, no small anything.

He had a good poop around 2 weeks ago, then another little poop after I gave him salmon about 5 days ago or so. Since then, nothing. Other axie owners said if he’s still hungry and looks healthy otherwise, I could keep feeding him, so I have. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop. I cant keep putting food in him if nothing’s coming out. My daughter (12) loves this thing SO much and has anxiety and OCD and is already starting to worry about accidentally killing him.

He’s tubbed in a Sterilite tub with an air stone in one corner and his favorite coconut hide plus one other, a small plant and an IAL. Water treated with Prime, changed every day, and kept around 60°F. (I’ve experimented with gradually going down to 58 and up to 67, but nothing seems to help). I do have some SeaChem Stress Guard (which does NOT have aloe in it; I checked), but I hesitate with anything with these guys.

HELP!

UPDATE: SCHMITTY POOPED!! I went to do my nightly change after his dinner of chopped red wiggler, and behind the IAL was a BIG poo!! My husband thinks I’m an idiot over how happy I was!

Crisis averted. And if the parameters hold as they are for the next couple days, he could even be in his new digs this weekend.

Thanks all.

 

[CrazyForLotls]

Adding a few photos. I Just don’t think I would be missing poops in this tub... I sit next to it most of the day and have been feeding him around 11pm, right before a daily water change.

UPDATE: SCHMITTY POOPED!! I went to do my nightly change after his dinner of chopped red wiggler, and behind the IAL was a BIG poo!! My husband thinks I’m an idiot over how happy I was!

Crisis averted. And if the parameters hold as they are for the next couple days, he could even be in his new digs this weekend.

Thanks all.

Thanks for the update! I'm glad to hear that. Adorable axolotl!

 

[marywithani]

Thanks for the update! I'm glad to hear that. Adorable axolotl!

Thanks!