Question: Axolotl is on his back and doesn't eat.

[Roeland]

My axolotl hasn't eaten for over 2 weeks, and in the last month I've only been able to feed him one small peace of raw chicken. Usually we feed worms, but they struggle and he didn't manage to keep them down. The last few weeks he didn't even bite anymore.

What's more, since a week ago he started slanting to one side whilst laying still, as if having trouble to keep his balance.

This morning, I found him almost completely turned over on his back. He looked dead, but moved when I went to touch him.
by now, he has been able to turn himself back over onto his stomach.

what might be happening to our axolotl, and what can we do?

we checked the water quality this morning: everything looks alright.
temperature is around 18°C. Might be a bit too warm, but he didn't seem to mind last summer.

 

[tammyaxie]

I would put him in the fridge. Has he pooped? If not he could be constipated. This might be why he is refusing food. It could also be bloating. Is he bloated?

 

[charleybambino]

He doesn't look bloated in the picture.......perfect...But upside down....sorry can't offer advice

 

[Roeland]

I would put him in the fridge. Has he pooped? If not he could be constipated. This might be why he is refusing food. It could also be bloating. Is he bloated?

He doesn't look any more bloated to me than before... Not really sure whether he has pooped recently. Might be he hasn't. What would you suggest we try and do about that?

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

The tail looks kind of reddish in that picture, is it's tail normally that red?

 

[tammyaxie]

He doesn't look any more bloated to me than before... Not really sure whether he has pooped recently. Might be he hasn't. What would you suggest we try and do about that?

You don't know if he pooped? I don't know what to recommend if u don't know. If he is constipated fridging would be a good remedy.

 

[Roeland]

His tail doesn't look more red than usual.

I don't think he pooped recently, I certainly didn't see any poop. It's possible that he's constipated, but maybe he just doesn't poop because he doesn't eat?

We're keeping fridging as an option, but today he ate a small worm (with some difficulty keeping it down) for the first time in a few weeks, so maybe we should wait a little longer and see how it goes?