What might've caused this?

[Morrison]

First: Sorry for my crappy English.

Okay. Today my wildtype female Spotl died. She was all bloated. I contacted a vet but he had no time until wednesday next week so I tried to keep the tank extra clean and cool. That was pretty much all I can do.

Her belly, neck and feet were all swollen. But I don't know what happened. My other axies are fine (they have weird pigmentation that comes from out of nowhere but they're fine...) But last week I noticed that Spotl had that 'stress tail' and she was a bit uncomfy.
A few days ago I noticed that she was a little bloated. Or at least "I thought so". Next day I immediately saw that she was bloated. She always had a round belly but now I also noticed that her neck was swollen.

Today her lower jaw looked like it was filled with air/gas/a fluid/I-don't-know as well. This afternoon she died. :<

I sometimes read about heart faillure, that it might cause bloat in axies.
Then I saw this picture I once posted on this forum (see below).
This dark area, isn't that were their heart pretty much is? And is it possible that this had anything to do with it? Nobody was able to tell me what it was.

Now that I've finally found a vet nearby... my axie is gone.

 

[snuggly time]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your loss.
Do you have any more axies in the same tank? If so I'd keep a very close eye on them.
If your water parameters are fine I wouldn't have a clue but maybe more experienced members might be able to help.

 

[Morrison]

Yes, they're in the same tank. I did a big water change. Checked the parameters. Nitrates were a bit too high but not 'deadly'.

The only thing that's new to the tank is a new ornament I've bought. But I rinsed it very well before putting that in the tank. And if that's the badguy, I guess my other axies would've suffered as well.

The good thing is that one of the axies in the tank actually looks better than when I got him. Bigger gills, red and he finally ate a worm

 

[oceanblue]

I'm sorry about your loss. Axolotls tend to develop odd pigmented blotches with age. A few of them may be malignant tumours which spread and cause death but this may just be an odd patch of pigmentation. I doubt a vet would have advised surgical removal of this pigmented area if you had taken it to him when you saw it. Although it is over the heart it almost certainly has no direct effect on the heart.

 

[auntiejude]

I'm sorry Morrison, that's really sad.
Basic biology says bloating is often caused by organ failure, usually kidneys or sometimes liver.
If this is the case then there's probably nothing you could have done - it's usually genetic. If it were something environmental you other axies would be sick too.
I know it's cold comfort, but it's likely not anythig you have or haven't done - and you made her as comfortable as you could.

 

[Morrison]

Thanks!
It also looked more like a weird blotch to me. On a weird spot.

I'll go to the vet on wednesday anyway. I have the weird 'sudden pigmentation problem' for a year now and still don't know what it is. Every leucistic I add to the tank will turn out all freckly and gross in no-time. The wildtypes will get a weird greyish-green layer and the golden has weird white-yellow patches. More than usual.
It looks like normal pigmentation but every axie has it and I wonder what's causing it.
There's something in the water...