Axolotl Regurgitation Issues

[nickjwes]

I know this isn't all that new of a scenario but I figured it may depend case to case. I have a wild type GFP axolotl in a 30 gallon breeder along with a black melanoid and a golden albino. I just changed them over from sand (in a smaller tank) to a bare bottom in my 30 to this new larger gravel. Today I was feeding them all some red wrigglers which they seem to absolutely love. Well after a little I noticed my wild type looked to be coughing. I didnt watch him the whole time he was eating because they started scavangiung for the worms they missed at first. Well my wild type ended up regurgitating up a couple red wrigglers (I assume it was regurgitation because they weren't really digested). I wasn't sure if he may have swallowed a piece of his gravel while i wasnt looking or he simply had too many worms at once? If he possibly did swallow a piece of gravel, is there a way to possibly have him open his mouth to see if its in his throat or something? I haven't noticed much "coughing" since he got the worms and such back up, I'm just not sure about this newer gravel it still has me worried. Anybody have any thoughts? This is the picture of the one I am worried about. He is about 6.5-7 inches long and sitting on an angle by the corner:

I was thinking about possibly draining the tank one more time and trying to get a slab (or a couple) of slate and turning my 30 gal breeder into a slate bottom by simply drying it out and cleaning it up then laying the slate in and silicone-ing around the edges. I think that would be better for them to grip without being able to swallow it but i don't know how they do on slate.

 

[axolotlgangster]

That happened to me too it sucks it smells and then i have too do a full water change.Other then that thay are ok no stress thay still eat like pigs but i think thay do that from over feeding.

 

[Darkmaverick]

The gravel is not suitable. They are of an impaction causing size. Please do remove them.

It is quite common for axies to regurgitate or spit out food. They normally do so to 'adjust' the alignment of the food in the mouth. Sometimes they do so when the food is turning bad or their digestion rate is slowed down such that it may not cope with the ingested matter.

On another note, why are you posting so many identical posts??

 

[Bellabelloo]

I totally agree with Rayson about the stones. I do not have any substrate in my axolotl tank at all and the chaps have absolutely no problem moving around the tank.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I too am in agreement with Rayson and Julia on the size of gravel in that tank.

Have a go at this: Aquatic Substrates


Occasionally my axolotls will regurgitate food after heavily gorging themselves at feeding time.

 

[nickjwes]

Thanks guys, I also has no substrate before but they couldn't seem to grip the bottom at all, would the slate idea be acceptable? Also the multiple posts was because I kept screwing up the pohoto and didn't realize each time i tried to go back it made a new post. Thanks!