Question: Yet another post about stress

[axigeek]

I went away for 3 days last week end, but before I went, I made sure to change Juvi's water and fed it a few times. I came home and found something in it's container (I don't know what), but I changed the water and fed the axolotl, which it ate quite normally. Ever since I came home though, poor Juvi has been showing signs of stress: gills forward, tail curled and not as active as it was.

I tested the water and there is no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite in it and the temp has been cold enough, however, last time I checked the ph of my tap water, it was about 8.5, but now I find it's at 7.5. You'd think that's good right? Well, although Juvi is eating as normal, I'm just a little bit worried that it's gills are still forward and tail curled.

Is Juvi just stressed due to the ph change and I'm worrying for nothing?

 

[yellowpebble]

the PH change should not have stressed him, they are very tollerant to PH issues. What did the strange thing in his container look like? Maybe it was toxic?

did the water get too hot maybe?

i hope he is OK

 

[axigeek]

I don't know what it was. It looked like a small bit of onion that had been peeled off one of those round types of onions, which would be weird cause I don't have onions. Fortunately, Juvi's gills are looking better today, but it's tail is still hooked. I tried to take some pics, but my phone camera is not very good at close ups so I only managed to get one.

 

[dad of axle]

Could it be that some kind of bug/insect creature got into the tank (like a millipede ) and yoru axi tried to digetst it?

 

[yellowpebble]

i have no clue what it could be

i guess from now just try to keep him cool and clean and he should get better! and we can forget about the mysterious onion ring

good luck!

 

[axigeek]

:rofl: @ onion ring. Thank you for the suggestions and something like a bug could've gotten into it's container, even though it was mostly covered, and Juvi ate it. Now I just have to hope it gets better and keep an eye on my axi. :happy:

By the way, I keep saying 'it', because I don't know if Juvi is a boy or a girl yet

 

[axigeek]

Juvi's gills are still curled forward but the tail is unhooked. The bad news is, last night and tonight, it's refusing food by just ignoring and not even taking any notice of it. Something is definitely not right. Any idea's?

 

[dad of axle]

I sort of wonder if parts of axies bodies go into a kind of hibernation when they have had some bad experience and that maybe that is why your juvi isnt eating now. I am only guessing because i am a complete novice to this wonderful world of axolotls.

Also what is the temperature like in your area today- could it be warmer in the tank? today it got to 31 degrees C in Adelaide and the same again tomorrow.

maybe if you cool down the tank a bit it will help settle your juvi.

I don't know what else to suggest. Can axolotl's be put through an xray to see if there is a digestive problem from something it ate. That is why I suggested the millipede because i thought that it might have troube digesting the outer shell of the critter.And I know that milipedes are attracted to dampness. I lived in Ballarat once and we had lots there,
good luck

p.s I say he when i refer to my Axle because i dont know yet he/she only just 4 months old but already upto 16 cm long.