What do you all think?

[siany]

Its my year and a half old axie 'Pan.
About a month ago he started to go off eating worms and this week he just spits them out. He still eats pellets fine. Today I came home and noticed his stomach is distended and his tail is pink. I thought he may have been like this yesterday but was unsure, today I am sure and worried.
He has also had a problem all his life when he gets a small spot of fungus on one gill which I cant get to the bottom off. We have tried salt baths but it shows up every few months.
He has always lived with another axie who has always been fine and around 3-4 months ago I introduced another axie into their 4ft tank. I did notice a change in his behaviour at this point, he has been quieter since as the other two get along so well. Both these two are healthy and I have never had a problem with them.
Current water parameters ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 25. temp 16.4. They live on sand and are fed a mixture of pellets and earthworms.
Suggestions as to what to do next? could an xray be implicated to see if he is impacted or should I fridge him? why the red tail? isnt this usually poor water? but the waters fine!
Any ideas greatly welcomed

 

[layna]

Could you post a picture of your axie? This would help us identify the problem.
As for the fungus, indian almond leaves have mild antifungal properties, you could add some to his tank to help with the fungus.

 

[siany]

He is the golden albino one.

 

[siany]

oops, I meant to post this one too...

 

[Petersgirl]

To be honest, he doesn't look impacted and pink tails seem quite common with light coloured axolotls if they're active. It may also be because he's constipated and has been straining to pass waste.

Is there any chance that he could be impacted? I can see that he is on fine sand but how have you been feeding him? Is there a chance he might have swallowed some sand.

Failing that, is he simply a bit bunged up and perhaps a little constipated? It sounds like he's been eating very filling food and there's a chance he's maybe just a little stuffed.

The most innocuous reason might be that he's on hunger strike. My male often hunger strikes and he's about a year old - give him a few days, keep offering food and see if he takes it. If you suspect an impaction, fridge. If he's constipated - I know this sounds mad, but it worked for me - you can place him in a separate tank and water change it daily. For some reason, the moment I popped my male in a fresh tank with aged, dechlorinated water he...well, let's just say he relieved himself rather heavily. (Sorry for the graphic description but it did seem to work for him!) Keep feeding while he's in quarantine. I have no reason to justify why it worked, but it did for me

Hope he is better soon. I think this is a minor health blip.

 

[siany]

Thanks for your reply :happy:

I too think he is perhaps constipated so he is now in a separate tank so I can monitor whats coming out the other end. The only thing he could have eaten apart from his food is sand. If he were female you would think he was full of eggs. The photos I posted aren't the best but Im used to seeing him every day so I know this isn't normal for him and with the fungus he gets and the obvious disapproval at the introduction of a third tank mate I know I overly worry about him .
Indian almond leaves ordered and see what he does next.... He is otherwise fine.

Thanks for the advice and reassurance

 

[layna]

I cant personally see that your axie looks too large, mine are all that size and a 'healthy weight' for an axie is for their tummy to be as wide as their head.
Have you considered hand/tong feeding your axies? Or using a feeding dish/jar? This would vastly help with them not consuming sand if your worried this is what your axie has been doing

 

[Bellabelloo]

Are you sure the gold one is a male? It's current body shape looks female to me.

 

[Petersgirl]

Julia may be right. Is there a chance 'he' is actually a 'she?' My Golden Albino female looks pretty...umm...curvaceous owing to her storing lots of eggs (that, and she's probably a little bit fat.. I keep debating whether she needs to go on a diet, in all honesty).

 

[Sweetie]

I agree. Looks female to me - a male would have a distinct cloacal bump or two by now and this lotl doesn't. She may therefore have a very good reason for being a bit chubby, assuming one or both of her tank mates are male! Or she may just need a big poop. Overall, though, she looks very healthy.

 

[siany]

Im pretty sure Pans male but I agree that he shape is feminine, larger than my other male with round head and body too at the moment, but he does have a cloacal swelling on both sides. Not best photo but....

 

[siany]

As for how Pans doing... Passing faeces, still only eating the pellets (I do hand feed them too), still has red tail (maybe it is normal and has recently developed?) Still seems overly round for Pan, maybe I am wrong and he is she and full of eggs... I have 2 others in the tank, one of which has been laying eggs this year so if this is the case I will know very soon. Will keep ya'll posted. Thanks for advice. Im not so worried anymore :happy: