Axolotl w/ Air bubbles in stomach

[roughruff4]

Hi, I'm new to Caudata and this is my first post.
I have a very sick Axolotl.
He is an adolescent, about 4inches long. He is kind of see through, idk what kind that makes him. We've had him for about 2 months in a 10 gallon tank. The water is 75*, dechlorinated and RO. There is no air stone or air bubbles at all. We feed him small earth worms (usually cut in half). I use large gravel, a black light and a small water filter. I think that is every thing you might need to know. Here's the problem...

I fed him an earth worm and a few hours later I found him floating upside down on the surface of the tank. Because he's see through I could see the air bubble that look like they're just under the skin. I'm assuming that it's actually in he's intestines because the 4 bubbles haven't merged into one big one.
I've put him in the fridge in shallow water and covered to cut out the light. Going to change water every 24 hours. He seems fine but it's been 24 hours and he is still stuck upside down. The bubbles don't seem to be any smaller either.

I'm kind of hoping that nature will work this out for him but I've also had the crazy thought of using a very small gage syringe to suck the bubbles out. Any thoughts?

Any advice on how to fix this or how it happened would be great.
Pic attached
Thanks

 

[Kaini]

D:

That is a very sick Axolotl and honestly you have done just about everything wrong that is POSSIBLE to do wrong to an Axolotl, I'm so sorry to say. You need to first correct your husbandry RIGHT NOW if it has any chance of survival.

1. Temperature - Axolotls are cold water animals and need temperatures BELOW 70 degrees F. 60-68 is best. At 75 degrees they are prone to heat stress and open to illnesses. In a pinch you can use a fan to cool the water - pointed across the water rather than straight at it.

2. RO water is not good for Axolotls. At all. You should be using de-chlorinated tap water.

3. Gravel - Gravel is a HUGE no-no in Axie tanks - Axolotls swallow anything smaller than their heads and will swallow it and get impacted from it.

4. The blacklight - shining a blacklight on Axies is considered rather cruel - they have no eyelids, and the light is very stressful to them.


For the moment, I'm not sure exactly what to do about those bubbles - but DO NOT try to remove them yourself by any means, you're likely to harm the animal more than do any good. Keeping it in cool, clean water (ditch the RO water!) with daily 100% changes is a good start, but I would advise you to find a vet in your area that specializes in exotics and has some experience with Axolotls.

 

[Skudo09]

I honestly think it is probably best to find a vet asap in this case. He is not in good shape and I am sorry to say I don't think he has too long

I agree with Kaini. I would not be attempting to drain the air bubbles yourself. You may cause more harm than good.

 

[auntiejude]

Did you do any research before you got your axie? A quick search on the internet would have given you the basics of temperature, water, gravel (or not as the case is), and lighting.

Shallow water might help, as would plants to hide under, but I'm not sure the fridge is the best place for a small axie.

That is a serious case of bubbles, and I have to agree with the others that a trip to the vets may be needed.

DO NOT attempt to extract the air yourself with a syringe, you will probably kill your axie.

 

[roughruff4]

I really didn't do my due diligence when it came to buying this animal. I am in the middle of setting up my first saltwater reef tank when my daughter asked me to buy her the axolotl. Reef tanks have a huge learning curve and it kind of had most of my attention but I'm learning that axolotls have a learning curve too.

My first mistake was that I was that I thought I could treat my axolotl like a fish. I know how very wrong I was and I feel horrible for the little guy. I'm trying to fix this but I have a few questions.

1. How am I suppose to get the water down to 60* in a room the only gets 75* at it's coldest? I can't afford a $200 dollar chiller and all the **** that you need with it. I've read that fan will only drop the water by a couple of degrees at the most.
Any affordable methods of keeping the water cold enough?

2. This is where treating my axolotl like a fish came it to play. I know that RO water is great for fish. I can't even imagine why it's bad for axolotls but I'll take your advice and stop using it.

3. I've read that gravel advice a few time now. I don't think this is the problem because I would see it, as the gravel is black, but I'll change that out before he goes back in the tank. I might have to get a whole new tank actually since it is a black light tank.

4. About the black light. This is the first I've heard that it is bad for them. I get that they have no eyelids but neither do fish and black lights don't harm them. Even the guy I bought him from had it under a black light. I would like to know more about this and what type of light I should be looking for.


5. As far as going to the vet. The only exotic vet around here is very expensive and I'm not even sure he would be able to help.
I would love to hear from anyone who's axolotl had the same problem and a vet was able to help, please.
If I knew a vet could help the little guy I would spend the money in a heartbeat but I can't afford to spend a $100 just to be told they can't do anything or to keep doing what I was already doing.


Thanks for any advice everyone. I'm trying to fix this.

 

[auntiejude]

OK, we appreciate you are tring to do what is best. A lot of people make the same mistake of thinking because they know about fish they can treat an axie the same way - if you now know different and are willing to try and put things right you are in the right place to make it happen.

Lights: axies come from muddy lakes with lots of plant cover, thats why they don't like bright lights. There is no reason to get a new tank, just leave the light off. Pet strores are notorious for having axies in brightly lit tanks, but they are trying to display their animals so need to light them. Unlit tanks are best.

Temp: if you can get the tank down to under 70 your axie should be fine. If a chiller is not an option can you move the tank to a cooler room? or put it on the floor? Coupled with a fan you should be able to get the tank temp down a bit.

Water: axies need hard water as they absorb minerals through their skin. Coming form mountain lakes they have evolved to take advantage of the minerals in their water. RO water has had all the minerals removed. The best water for axies (assuming you don't have a mineral water spring in your yard) is hard tap water that has been treated with dechlorinater.

As for the air bubbles in your axie's belly they may dissipate or pass on their own. Keep it in cool shallow water with floating weed for it to hide under, feed it worms (chopped up if necessary), and keep your fingers crossed. Change the water on a daily basis. Small bubbles are not uncommon in juvenile axies, I have had babies with bubbles before, but yours is one of the worst cases I have seen.

 

[Kaini]

Being unable to afford to care for the animal properly is really no excuse tbh. If you can't afford the animal, you should not have bought it. (Plus reef tanks are horrendously expensive, so how are you affording that?)

That being said, chillers are freaking expensive and I don't have one either. Hopefully you can figure something out too - My tank stays a nice 62-63 with my aquarium fan, plus the AC. You can also move the tank to a colder room in the house, such as the basement. Putting on the floor will also lower the temp (warm air rises).

Here is a thread that extensively goes into why Blacklights are considered curel:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ers-substrate/96928-what-kind-blacklight.html

 

[Skudo09]

We all make mistakes from time to time. The best thing you can get from mistakes though is to learn from them. You should hopefully understand the importance of doing your research before bringing home a new pet and be aware that they can be expensive. Part of the responsibility of caring for any animal regardless of species is seeking veterinary care when required.

It is important that we recognise that axolotls are not fish and comparing their needs to fish does not do them any favours.

I would reccomend following Auntiejude's advice. It is probably all you can do without seeking veterinary treatment. I agree with Kaini. I don't understand how you can't pay $100 for veterinary treatment but can afford to set up a saltwater reef aquarium?

 

[sde]

That is a very sick Axolotl and honestly you have done just about everything wrong that is POSSIBLE to do wrong to an Axolotl, I'm so sorry to say.

I'd have to disagree, there's more stuff that could have been bad . Also, when they said

The water is 75*

I don't know if they were talking about temp? Maybe 75 % dechlorinated? idk.

He is not in good shape and I am sorry to say I don't think he has too long

I agree, and to be honest I think it would be most humane to euthanize him Letting him suffer doesn't seem right to me. -Seth

 

[blushed]

That poor little axolotl

I hope the air bubbles at least dissipate or pass... even if he/she does not make it, my goodness that looks so horrible

Everyone making comments on her affording the reef tank but not the vet bill... I don't think it's helping her, or the axolotl by making these comments, so lets just not be harsh.

She came here for help, and vet bills for an animal where they say YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO are a giant waste, imo.
Although, with this particular case, that little lotl seems to need vet care...

Same goes for the chillers, how many axolotl keepers actually spend $200-400 on a chiller?
Not many, most of everyone uses fans/other means of keeping the water cool, so no need to go on and on about that either.



I do wish that you would have at least done a quick google search before just buying your child the axolotl, and now causing it so much suffering.
They also need a lot more care than it seems, although they are "easy" to care for if you do some research...

Good luck...

 

[Skudo09]

I apologise for sounding harsh. However providing veterinary care to any animal regardless of species is part of being a responsible pet owner.

I don't think anyone here pushed the idea of chillers further than necessary. We offered alternative more affordable options including fans. If the OP can get the temperature down to a safe temperature with affordable methods then that is perfectly fine. I believe it is possible to without purchasing a chiller in this case. I use clip on fans and also have a car windscreen cover around the back of the tank (on the outside) to insulate the tank a little. Without these fans my tank would be almost 10C warmer.

 

[auntiejude]

TBH we shouldn't need a chiller in the UK, temps can be maintained with shade and fans, and an occasional ice bottle. Summer doesn't get that hot here, and unless you stick your tank in a south-facing conservatory it should be managable.

And vets who even know what an axolotl is let alone treat a sick one are few and far between - I live in a huge town and I can only find one (out of over 20 vets within 10 miles).

I would like and update from roughruff on how the axie is doing - any news?

 

[Sweetie]

That really does look horrifying. The poor little axie. I hope it makes it. Fingers crossed, and please keep us posted!

 

[roughruff4]

Thanks everyone for all of your helpful info.

I would also like to thank those of you who felt you knew me well enough to make judgment calls on my finical decision. I am so glad that we've known each so long that you feel comfortable enough to shot from the hip like that. You'll never know how welcome it made me feel. So thank you again.

I work a second job cleaning fish tanks and protein skimmer at a local pet store. I'm paid for this in used saltwater equipment so that I can final get the reef tank that I have wanted since I first went to the Charleston Aquarium when I was 15. I don't make a lot of money.

I have admitted that I didn't do my research that I should have but I also got a lot of bad info from the store that I bought him from too. I was really into my reef tank and I trusted the wrong people for good info. Trust me, I'll be having a long talk with my pet store about this.


My experience with vets (even exotic vets), not knowing what's wrong or not even being able to do anything even when they do, doesn't inspire me to cough up a $100 (and that is just the check up) on a $50 animal. Again I don't make a lot of money. I can't afford to be throwing money away without knowing it's going to do some good. If I knew it would help I would spend it in a heart beat. But I can't spend that kind of money to be told "I'm not sure" or "I can't do anything" and that has been my experience with exotic animal and vets.

I did manage to talk the exotic vet to look at my axolotl for only $20. This was his first time seeing an axolotl. He actually used info From This Site to help diagnose! lol As expected he really didn't have any new info for me. :lame: Unfortunately my axolotl didn't make the return trip home. I think the drive was too much.


I also think I know what happened in the first place too. Some of the bad info I got from the store was that it was ok to add glow light tetras to the tank. The day after I added them to the tank is the day that my axolotl got sick. I think they picked on him and drove him into sickness.

I have learned a lot from everyone and this experience. I sorry that it cost this little axolotl his life but if we get one in the future I'll know what I need to do for them. Thanks everyone.:happy:

 

[Sweetie]

Unfortunately my axolotl didn't make the return trip home. I think the drive was too much.

I am so sorry to hear the little one didn't make it. :sad:
On the first point you make, I agree people should not be too harsh - we beginners often make mistakes but at least we are on this site asking questions and trying to improve our ability to care for our axies. Many of us have been misled by 'experts' in aquarium shops who fail to explain the complexities of caring for a lotl. In our case, we were given no clue on how to look after Boris - I came straight home and found this site (obviously two months too late, as I've said...)
So be kind everyone, and at least credit us newbies with the effort we're making to find out what we've brought home!

 

[Bellabelloo]

I am so sorry to hear the little one didn't make it. :sad:
On the first point you make, I agree people should not be too harsh - we beginners often make mistakes but at least we are on this site asking questions and trying to improve our ability to care for our axies. Many of us have been misled by 'experts' in aquarium shops who fail to explain the complexities of caring for a lotl. In our case, we were given no clue on how to look after Boris - I came straight home and found this site (obviously two months too late, as I've said...)
So be kind everyone, and at least credit us newbies with the effort we're making to find out what we've brought home!

Well said

 

[auntiejude]

I'm sorry he didn't make it.

I think there is validity in constructive criticism. I find it a bit irresponsible to buy a pet on a whim and have no idea on how to care for it. That goes for any pet, not just axies.
I also believe the pet stores have a part to play, they shouldn't sell an axie unless the buyer can demostrate they have some idea of how to care for it. As a breeder I don't sell axies without talking with a buyer about requirements and ensuring they are prepared.

If you buy or adopt a dog in the UK you usually have to have a home check - to make sure your house and arrangements are suitable for the dog. Some pet stores will not sell fish and a tank to a customer on the same day, and some will insist on doing a water test before they let anyone take fishes home. But seeing as may pet stores don't know how to care for axies I'm not surprised that you can just walk in an buy one.

At least when someone comes here they are doing the responsible thing, even if it is a little late. But there is really no excuse for not doing a little research before buying a pet - the internet has made it easy to get good information.

 

[Sweetie]

At least when someone comes here they are doing the responsible thing, even if it is a little late. But there is really no excuse for not doing a little research before buying a pet - the internet has made it easy to get good information.

I agree - should never buy anything on impulse. Only excuse is we were already doing okay with fish and the owner of the shop gave us no indication this would be much different or had any special care requirements. Knowing the little I now know, I am pretty annoyed about the lack of information we were given, and indeed misleading answers to those questions I did ask.
I really think these people are professionals - they are making a (from what I can gather often sizeable) profit out of peddling these innocent creatures - and should have the responsibility to at least acquaint potential buyers with basic care requirements for any creature they sell - as a bare minimum. Had this been done, obviously we would have not taken an axie home with us that day - or at all, had we not been able to care for it properly.
I certainly agree that knowing (making the effort to find out) how to care for one's pet is a basic responsibility of pet 'ownership'. But we really were going on what we thought was appropriate information, so thought all we'd need to do was brush up on a few details on the net when we got home, and were pretty shocked to start finding out everything we did in those first few hours of lotl ownership/custodianship. Then again, I suppose if even vets have to consult this site in order to diagnose a sick axie, what can we expect?
All I can say is, thank heavens for a site like this one!

 

[roughruff4]

we really were going on what we thought was appropriate information, so thought all we'd need to do was brush up on a few details on the net when we got home!

Ditto.

 

[sde]

Roughruff4 made a mistake. It happens to everyone, unfortunately it came with the loss of an animals life, but it happens sometimes. Hopefully roughruff4 will learn from their mistake. But "if your not making mistakes your not making anything". Let's try not to focus on the bad here, let's focus on the good. They made a mistake, hopefully have learned from it, and now know how NOT to keep axolotls, a very important thing. If they apply that fact and all the good advice that's on here they will learn how to correctly keep axolotls. It's all trial and error, probably just like how people first learned to keep axolotls.

They made a mistake, but instead of being upset and focusing on the bad, let's realize that learning from mistakes is actually a good thing. Sadly it cost an animal it's life, buts that's just how things go sometimes. Let's try not to be so negative. -Seth