Illness/Sickness: Worried about my baby axie

[Jtrojan1115]

I bought my axolotl on Saturday. I did have the tank all ready and filtered through prior to bringing him home. Saturday, Sunday and Monday he did great! For some reason, on Tuesday he started acting funny and stopped eating. He has not ate since Tuesday evening. We tried changing the water and also removing the sand because the worms we fed him started hiding and mucking up the water. I tested the water and all of the chemical levels are ideal, the temperature is at about 20 degrees celcius. When we first through him home we didn't have very many hides, so I am thinking he is just anxious, I am just wondering what else I can do to make him better. I don't want to lose him

 

[rachel1]

What tests did you do on the water? Did you cycle the tank with an ammonia source before you put in your axolotl? I would suspect ammonia buildup, but it is not clear in your post if you have already tested the ammonia levels. If you haven't, I would immediately do a 100% water change with fresh dechlorinated water, and read up on the nitrogen cycle and how to cycle a new tank. Specific symptoms of how he is acting "funny" would be helpful as well.

 

[SilentBenjam]

also what sort of filter do you have? if the water flow is strong then your axolotls will get stressed and not eat. If you post a picture of your setup we could probably help you further.

 

[Jtrojan1115]

Oh no, I don't think the strips that I bought tested for ammonia... I am going now to buy the ammonia testing strips and also an ammonia source to filter the tank. He hasn't ate anything in over a day, he has been squeezing himself between his hide and the side of the tank and will not move. Although when I do try to put food in the tank or move things around he will swim around. The first two days he was very energenic and swimming all around the tank, now he's staying still most of the time.

I will post a picture of the set up as soon as I get back home. When I filter the tank with the ammonia source, do you think I should just keep him in a bowl of the same water? I'm not sure how to go about switching out the water in his tank if his water is contaminated.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[SilentBenjam]

Dont buy strips, they are inaccurate, buy the proper testing kit.
And don't add ammonia to water your axolotl is in.
Keep him in a separate tank for now, doing 100% water changes with dechlorinated water every 2-3 days, making sure you leave the water in the same room the axolotl is in for a while until the temperatures match.

 

[SilentBenjam]

Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander

Study that website.

 

[ToothlessTheAxi]

As everyone has already said, it is very important that you test your water and make sure that everything is okay! But if it makes you feel any better, my axie did this too.. When I first got him he ate like a piggy and seemed to like his tank, swimming around and all and then the next day he just stopped eating and sat in the corner. I think he still might have been a little stressed because he started eating again and acting normally after a few days!
Unless there is something wrong with your water, then I would try not to worry too much! Like mine, your axie could still be a little stressed from the move.
Hope he gets better!