What Happened???

[mary]

This is really sad! 20 of my babies died today! I'm not sure what happened.....so any suggestions would be good.

I have these 1 Lt plastic tanks, and there are 20 axolotls in each, there are more tanks on the way so that I can split them up further as they get bigger. There are some stones and some planst in each, and an air stone that has a very low flow, I change the water dialy - although the water stayes pretty clean. Today all of the axi's in one tank were dead! They were kind of shriveled up and had huge buldging black eyes. I should have taken a picture of them but I only thought of it after I flushed them!

They all seemed fine yesterday, so what happened? All of the other tanks have been treated the same way - all have the same water, stones, plants etc... So what made all my babies in this tank die?

Also I have this one axi who I think is on the way out - I'll post a pic - but It looks like gas bubbles - I don't know how he would have gotten it though???? His name is Spiney - cause he has a crooked spine. He swims and eats ok - except he swims in circles! But now he is all filled with air and has these bubbles on him, and he doesnt move unless you push him. He's in a speerate container now, I'll try and get a good photo of him to show you. Do you think I shoud put him out of his missery???

 

[mary]

Ok, I just went in to take a photo of Spiney, and his gas bubbles have gone!!! Well there is one little one on his side - but you can't see it in the pic. But anyway, you can see how croked he is.

 

[mik]

Mary I'm guessing the water change killed them. If the water was fresh from tap you already know about chlorine etc. Bit I think maybe there was a temperature difference. Sometime the Delta-T is so significant it just knocks them right out. I've had this with baby mollies and lost about 10% from not being too careful.

 

[kaysie]

Spinners (such as spiney) should be culled, as they usually dont make it to adulthood. Sorry!

 

[mary]

oh - poor baby died last night anyway.

Mik: I have the water in a bucket for at least a day before I change it and I put neutraliser in it as well (you should see my room - it's full of buckets and containers and <font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font>!) The tep. should have been the same - and if it was different it would have been only 1 *C either way - but I test it so it would have been the same i think.

 

[katy]

could something have fallen into the tank and contaminated it? maybe you should get some mesh or something to cover them with?

 

[mary]

all the tanks have lids, and there was nothing in the tank that was not ment to be there.

 

[mik]

Mary as I said before, I'm sure you know all about letting water stand etc.

Just re-read your 1st post...all axies in one tank are dead...trust all other tanks are good.
I'm thinking it's got to be infection. If you put hands in water of one tank be sure to wash them before putting in another...again I'm sure you know the drill.

Afterthought:
Are both parents wildtype, melanoids sometimes have a curvature of spine problem and axanthics normally die before adulthood. There are a number of cell lethal genes that don't become apparent for a couple of weeks after hatching. I kmow you don't want to hear that now, but your a big girl and I really think one of your young'uns got sick and the infection spread to wipe out that tankful.

 

[mary]

yeah i think it was an infection or somthing - cause it was every single one it the tank died the same way - but all of the other tanks are fine. i always wash my hands before i put them in the tank - but i do use a bamboo kababstick and i dont usually wash it before putting it in another tank. Lucky the dead tank was the last one i checked last night - so the stick is in the bin now!!!!

I think one of the parents is a wild type, I think the mother is a very dark one, but the father is that freaky thing that might be an albino with some kinky genes!

there was only one babie that had the spine priblem - the rest seem fine. but i'll keep an eye on them.

 

[kaysie]

Well Mary, if you want to look on the bright side (sort of), thats less babies to feed. And more space to spread the others.

Hope the rest do well

 

[mik]

Mary when they are a bit older try to categorise them if you can and work out %ages of wildtype/dark/leucistic/albino/whatever. I'd be interested to discuss with you further at a later date.