Axolotl is catatonic, any help would be appreciated.

[FalcorAxolotl]

Hello all, new to the forum, been reading posts for years but never had to post.

Sadly this hasn't been a good week for my axie. Went on a 3 day vacation and came home to her floating, somewhat sideways. Floating is pretty normal for her when she needs to poop so I didn't think much of it. She ate a dried cricket voraciously that evening. Usually after I'm gone for a few days she "punishes" me and won't eat at all for a couple of days so I was happy she ate.
The next evening she's still floating, which is unusual to last that long and still wobbling to one side, she lazily tried to eat but gave up after a few gulps. A little while later she is floating under the little water fall produced by the filter. (I usually keep the tank pretty full so it doesn't make noise or disturb the water much). I gently pulled her from under the filter and out in the open water and she irritatingly swims back under the filter output. I left her be, maybe it felt good? Dunno.
The next morning she's laying at the bottom of the tank on her side and I thought she was dead. Ok, fridge time. I grab the Tupperware and scoop some water into it then put her in and her gills flicked a couple times, still alive, but she didn't move otherwise.
I tested the water and everything is perfect except for the PH which was pretty high (The water quality where I live fluctuates more than it should and I guess it changed from our last clean out. I live in a dry place and I regularly have to top the tank off.)

Here's the deets:
Falcor is approximately 13-15 years old, Leucistic, only medical issues were the loss of an arm before I got her and a white fungus about 4 years ago, treated and recovered well.

Water levels before treatment:
PH 8.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

After adding API Proper PH last night
PH 6.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I use Api turtle water dechlorinator at every water change and have for over 5 years. She eats dried crickets, usually 1 large or 2 small per night and has done so her whole life. Blood worm treats once every few months, but she never seemed to like them all that much. Used to give her feeder fish which she liked, but after the fungus incident I stopped doing that. No substrate in the tank, just a couple pieces of river rock that are each larger than her head. Filter is basic carbon and replaced about once a month. Nothing has changed at all in her environment, no new chemicals, filter types, tank decorations etc. Her last tank clean out was 2 months ago and the water tested with normal parameters and the tank is regularly topped off with new water.
Her current status is fridged for day 2, catatonic, no gill flicks that I've seen since before fridging. Blood flow still occurring (thankfully leucistic or I would have thought dead), gills are pure white though, no blood flow to them, eyes are clear.

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm sadly starting to think I can't win over old age, but hopeful she still has a few years left. All the research I've done on PH and this shouldn't be the result of the PH level but maybe I'm wrong. The floating doesn't equate. Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

 

[Lyv3wyr3]

Okay so first off axolotls and chemicals don't mix. I have no idea about the products you use, but I am not sure that they are safe for axolotls (and yes it is possible that it has taken them this long to take effect.) A minimum of a 25% water change should be done once a week, so even if your conditions are fine that could be the problem. If you randomly after two months of deteriorating water conditions did a 100% water change (which is the only reason I can think of nitrates being 0) then it could have been a major shock to her system. Have you cycled your tank? It's a bit odd that nitrate is 0. I've just never seen that before in a cycled tank.

First things first I would get her in a tub of dechlorinated water (I'd use prime) and out of that tank water. If shes under the filter it might mean she's having trouble breathing, but I don't really know what to do about that. Make sure the tub water is tall enough to cover her, but not tall enough for her to float then get her in the fridge (make sure the fridge isn't below 45F) I've never heard of this happening before so I don't know if this will work, but it's a good fix for until you can consult an actual vet.

There is also the matter of her being 14. It may also just be that she's getting old. I'm so sorry your axolotl isn't feeling well. Best of luck!

 

[FalcorAxolotl]

Okay so first off axolotls and chemicals don't mix. I have no idea about the products you use, but I am not sure that they are safe for axolotls (and yes it is possible that it has taken them this long to take effect.) A minimum of a 25% water change should be done once a week, so even if your conditions are fine that could be the problem. If you randomly after two months of deteriorating water conditions did a 100% water change (which is the only reason I can think of nitrates being 0) then it could have been a major shock to her system. Have you cycled your tank? It's a bit odd that nitrate is 0. I've just never seen that before in a cycled tank.

First things first I would get her in a tub of dechlorinated water (I'd use prime) and out of that tank water. If shes under the filter it might mean she's having trouble breathing, but I don't really know what to do about that. Make sure the tub water is tall enough to cover her, but not tall enough for her to float then get her in the fridge (make sure the fridge isn't below 45F) I've never heard of this happening before so I don't know if this will work, but it's a good fix for until you can consult an actual vet.

There is also the matter of her being 14. It may also just be that she's getting old. I'm so sorry your axolotl isn't feeling well. Best of luck!

Well the only chemical I use regularly in the water is the API turtle water dechlorinator after changes and fill ups because it doesn't affect the natural slime on the axies skin. The guy I got my Axie from has been breeding and keeping them for 20+ years and I've never used or fed anything he didn't recommend. Sadly I've lost touch with him at this point otherwise would have asked him what's going on here.
We live in a desert so the water naturally evaporates quickly and she gets between 1 and 2 gallons of fresh water per week. Nitrates are ideally 0 if I'm not mistaken? I keep her tank very clean (turkey baster is a great help).
She is currently tubbed and fridged in dechlorinated water with the tested levels shown above.

 

[Lyv3wyr3]

Well the only chemical I use regularly in the water is the API turtle water dechlorinator after changes and fill ups because it doesn't affect the natural slime on the axies skin. The guy I got my Axie from has been breeding and keeping them for 20+ years and I've never used or fed anything he didn't recommend. Sadly I've lost touch with him at this point otherwise would have asked him what's going on here.
We live in a desert so the water naturally evaporates quickly and she gets between 1 and 2 gallons of fresh water per week. Nitrates are ideally 0 if I'm not mistaken? I keep her tank very clean (turkey baster is a great help).
She is currently tubbed and fridged in dechlorinated water with the tested levels shown above.

Nitrates are ideally 5-40ppm, but I mean I guess the less the better? I don't know, don't quote me on that. and 1-2 gallons is not enough water since they should have a 20 gal tank minimum. even 2 gals are only 10%. Is her water temp kept below 69F? Because if not that very well could be a big part of the problem. Can I see some pictures of her, as well as some morph info?

 

[FalcorAxolotl]

Nitrates are ideally 5-40ppm, but I mean I guess the less the better? I don't know, don't quote me on that. and 1-2 gallons is not enough water since they should have a 20 gal tank minimum. even 2 gals are only 10%. Is her water temp kept below 69F? Because if not that very well could be a big part of the problem. Can I see some pictures of her, as well as some morph info?

I appreciate your feedback, I really do, and not to be grumpy about it but right now she's getting 100% water changes per day and her temp is, well, refrigerated and I'm really trying to figure out how to bring her back from the brink. If I think about it tomorrow morning when I change her water I'll snap a pic, for now, trying not to disturb her.

 

[Lyv3wyr3]

I appreciate your feedback, I really do, and not to be grumpy about it but right now she's getting 100% water changes per day and her temp is, well, refrigerated and I'm really trying to figure out how to bring her back from the brink. If I think about it tomorrow morning when I change her water I'll snap a pic, for now, trying not to disturb her.

I understand. It's fine dude. I'm sorry if I seem snappy, but I lost an axie a while ago due to water parameters, so I'm very serious abt that stuff.

 

[FalcorAxolotl]

Hello all, new to the forum, been reading posts for years but never had to post.

Sadly this hasn't been a good week for my axie. Went on a 3 day vacation and came home to her floating, somewhat sideways. Floating is pretty normal for her when she needs to poop so I didn't think much of it. She ate a dried cricket voraciously that evening. Usually after I'm gone for a few days she "punishes" me and won't eat at all for a couple of days so I was happy she ate.
The next evening she's still floating, which is unusual to last that long and still wobbling to one side, she lazily tried to eat but gave up after a few gulps. A little while later she is floating under the little water fall produced by the filter. (I usually keep the tank pretty full so it doesn't make noise or disturb the water much). I gently pulled her from under the filter and out in the open water and she irritatingly swims back under the filter output. I left her be, maybe it felt good? Dunno.
The next morning she's laying at the bottom of the tank on her side and I thought she was dead. Ok, fridge time. I grab the Tupperware and scoop some water into it then put her in and her gills flicked a couple times, still alive, but she didn't move otherwise.
I tested the water and everything is perfect except for the PH which was pretty high (The water quality where I live fluctuates more than it should and I guess it changed from our last clean out. I live in a dry place and I regularly have to top the tank off.)

Here's the deets:
Falcor is approximately 13-15 years old, Leucistic, only medical issues were the loss of an arm before I got her and a white fungus about 4 years ago, treated and recovered well.

Water levels before treatment:
PH 8.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

After adding API Proper PH last night
PH 6.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I use Api turtle water dechlorinator at every water change and have for over 5 years. She eats dried crickets, usually 1 large or 2 small per night and has done so her whole life. Blood worm treats once every few months, but she never seemed to like them all that much. Used to give her feeder fish which she liked, but after the fungus incident I stopped doing that. No substrate in the tank, just a couple pieces of river rock that are each larger than her head. Filter is basic carbon and replaced about once a month. Nothing has changed at all in her environment, no new chemicals, filter types, tank decorations etc. Her last tank clean out was 2 months ago and the water tested with normal parameters and the tank is regularly topped off with new water.
Her current status is fridged for day 2, catatonic, no gill flicks that I've seen since before fridging. Blood flow still occurring (thankfully leucistic or I would have thought dead), gills are pure white though, no blood flow to them, eyes are clear.

Anyone have any thoughts? I'm sadly starting to think I can't win over old age, but hopeful she still has a few years left. All the research I've done on PH and this shouldn't be the result of the PH level but maybe I'm wrong. The floating doesn't equate. Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

Update: Falcor died at some point through the night last night.