Worried New Axolotl Owner!

[FridaDiego]

Hello Axolotl Community,
Hoping you might have some helpful advice for a new axolotl owner. We've got two of the dark morph ones that we've had for about 2 months, still pretty small, about 3 inches. They were both doing good, eating all their blood worms, pooping, etc. Then the larger one, Diego, started floating, and not just the occasional float, for 2 days! We cleaned the tank, checked all the water chemistry, etc. Everything seemed to be normal. We had noticed less poop in the tank so we thought they might be constipated and tried the refrigerator technique described on here. We kept him in all week, but no regurg or poop, so we reacclimated him back to the tank. Still floating! And now the other axolotl (Frida) occasionaly has been floating too but will go back down after a few hours. No idea what to try next! The pet store said to feed them some brine shrimp because that helps with constipation but neither really seemed interested. Feel awful and don't know what the next best step is. Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

[Sarramy]

I am having a similar problem with one of my adult axies. I took her to the vet and he was no help at all. I hope someone here has some ideas. Good luck!

 

[FridaDiego]

Getting so stressed and sad! I've been combing through all the forum conversations to try to find any help. Diego has been floating for over a week now. The last few days we have been taking him out in the morning and evening and putting him in a small container with just enough water where he can touch the ground just to give him a break from floating. In the evening I put in a little food but he doesn't really seem to be eating. I've tried switching from frozen blood worms to small night crawler chunks but no interest. He has been gulping air when he is in the smaller container. We return him to the larger tank in the evening. This morning he didn't look great, not really responsive. So sad he's going to die?! Just don't know what the problem is and don't want the same thing to happen to the other one. They're both pretty young, 6 months. Not sure if its a diet issue because she will also float occasionally after eating. Any input would be helpful!

 

[AxolotlChris]

I wouldn't move them around much more, the constant move from tank to containers and the potential change in water chemistry is stressful enough.

I have had floating Axolotls rear up before, it usually is trapped gas/constipation. I would just keep feeding and making sure the water chemistry is correct and see what happens.

Not all Axolotls make it, I had 10 coppers, one day I came home and one was just dead floating on the surface and looked perfectly healthy.

Take some pictures.

 

[FridaDiego]

Thanks for the reply and input Chris. My other concern is that when he is floating in the tank, he isn't able to eat, that's why i put him in the container. But he still doesn't seem to be eating. I also read that floating for extended periods and not being able to touch the bottom is stressful? Any suggestions on other food items to try to get him to eat? He's less than 3 inches so I feel slightly limited on options. I've been feeding frozen blood worms. I tried frozen brine shrimp and also night crawler chunks and there was no interest in either.

 

[Biev]

Try putting the bloodworms in the palm of your hand so he can eat even while floating. According to the researchers at Blackburn College, an axolotl can float for a year and still be fine. Their lungs may not be working normally but they'll breathe through their gills. It's a genetic thing.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Have you tried offering them small earthworms?

 

[FridaDiego]

I think I find a solution that might help out other folks with floating axolotls! I got a floating magnetic island from the pet shop that you can put in the tank and it offers a slanted rock island that allows the axolotl to be in the tank but also touching the ground to get a reprieve from the floating. I had to add some weight to get it submerged to the level I wanted but I think it would also work if I got more and stronger magnets to keep it down in the water. My axolotl, Diego, has been floating and not eating for the last two weeks and I tried so many different things and this seemed to be a great option and after only being on the island for 30 minutes, I offered some food and he actually ate! Really hope this relieves the stress until the floating problem corrects itself. The picture isn't the greatest but hope it helps! Its from exo-terra and its called Turtle Bank Magnetic Floating Island. Hope this helps the other floaters out there!

 

[Betty18]

Is you Axie getting any better?

 

[AxieLover21]

mine was floating the other night but hes normal now,,

 

[Biev]

Oh I hadn't thought of suggesting this, but now that you brought it up: floating plants would probably be a good idea too, as it would give the axolotl something to anchor itself to, while providing some cover so it doesn't feel so exposed and vulnerable. My lotls can spend all day up in the plants, just for fun.

 

[FridaDiego]

Diego is doing much better! He moved from the floating island down to other structures and was wedging himself to prevent floating. He ate more last night and this morning he was hanging out on the bottom without using any tank features to keep him down, yipee!!

 

[Betty18]

Yay! ��������

 

[Sarramy]

I'm so glad he's doing better! Mine is still bloated and floating and it's about 3 weeks now. Really hoping she gets better soon. She did a little poop last night though, so maybe soon.