Hi Runi,
In addition to April's excellent advice, I would strongly recommend an immediate change of diet. Jack's bulk is setting off a few alarm bells for me (he looks quite overweight), as he does not look like an axolotl that has gone without food for four weeks. Beef, fish, and pork are not a suitable staple for axolotls as they contain very little nutrition and if fed to excess can lead to major health problems; such as disease and organ failure (bloat).
I would encourage you to try earthworms as they contain all the nutrition an axolotl needs in one wriggling package. Worm portions should be about as long as the axolotl's mouth is wide (some axolotls can manage longer worms and if you witness the worm dissapearing down that seemingly endless gullet, this it will totally put you off eating spaghetti ever again - you've been warned
). You may need to cut the worms if they are too long.
If you do not wish to cut worms up, axolotl pellets (or salmon and trout pellets) are a complete diet for axolotls. To add some variety (recommended) to the menu, these articles will help you:
- Expanding the menu? Read me!
- Nutritional information on foods acceptable for axolotls.
- Worms as ideal staple.
- What to do with a large worm.
Is there any water current going on in the tank? Axolotls prefer still water and find water movement to be highly stressful - when stressed, axolotls will not eat.
Axolotls are cold water critters, the cold temperatures of the fridge provide a relaxing and stress free environment for them, as well as easing the discomfort of passing the stones (if any have been ingested).
Please, please, please remove those stones, as impaction can be fatal. Axolotls have very large cup like mouths and are capable of swallowing stones that are up to 2-3 centimeters long.
Stones used as a substrate also trap a great deal of grot underneath which can wreak havoc with water quality if not promptly removed, the only way to get the grot out is to move each and every rock; adding a great deal to tank maintenance. Axolotls are complete slobs and any leftover food (or regurtitated food) will sift between the stones and get trapped underneath causing ammonia spikes (highly toxic - very dangerous).
Bare bottom tank or sand are the safest substrates for axolotls and very easy to keep clean.
Your tank is an acceptable size for two axolotls, bigger is always better though. The bigger the tank water volume, the easier it will be to maintain water quality and keep the temperture cool.
