Question: Bad water parameters - am i doing the right thing?

[Ryan36]

Hi Guys,

i've used this site as a bit of a bible whilst i got my fella settled in (we thought he was a she at first but looks like it's a he, still call her a she though) - so anyway to the problem!

2 weeks ago i left the axie on her own for 3 days, when i came back to her she was completely lifeless, to the point where i thought she'd gone. To my relief she wriggled a little after i started to clean up around her. She'd pooped an usually large amount and made a total mess. It could have been sat there for anything from 1 to 3 days (i blame this on a treat of brine shrimp, not doing that again!). Obviously, she wasn't her self probably due to the water conditions so after reading on here decided to put her in the fridge for a few days to get her out of the tank and de-stress etc. Whilst she was in there I gave her daily water changes, did 30% changes in the tank and cleared it out of anything nasty. She picked up a great deal and decided to put her back in the tank.

She was fine for a week but then started to swim around in a bit of a frantic manner and I got very concerned, there was no obvious mess in her tank and her appetite was fine so did a prompt water test - it was alarmingly high, ammonia was in the range of 2-3ppm, nitrite was around 4 and nitrates in the 20's - in my haste to clean her out i think the cycle has crashed?

Again after consulting this forum i thought the levels were too dangerous so she's back in the fridge in a large-ish plastic tub and has been for 2 days now, repeating the process of water changes for both her and the tank - this time not cleaning the stones etc! I dont have anywhere else to put her at the moment but figured this would be the least stressful place for her. If this is not a good idea i can take her out and pick up a cheap small tank for her?

I just want some assurance i've done/doing the right thing, i've checked the tank each day and ammonia is still a tad high at around 1ppm, nitrite is increasing to a dangerous 4-5ppm (i kind of expect this with the levels of ammonia being converted), Nitrates 20-30ppm so i think the cycle is starting to return to normal...

Regarding the axie, should i be feeding her whilst she's in the fridge? She had a worm a few hours before going in the fridge but she evacuated this after a few hours of being in there. If i feed her in there is this going to happen again?

Sorry for the long essay, just want to look after my aquatic friend!

 

[Boomsloth]

Hi Guys,

i've used this site as a bit of a bible whilst i got my fella settled in (we thought he was a she at first but looks like it's a he, still call her a she though) - so anyway to the problem!

2 weeks ago i left the axie on her own for 3 days, when i came back to her she was completely lifeless, to the point where i thought she'd gone. To my relief she wriggled a little after i started to clean up around her. She'd pooped an usually large amount and made a total mess. It could have been sat there for anything from 1 to 3 days (i blame this on a treat of brine shrimp, not doing that again!). Obviously, she wasn't her self probably due to the water conditions so after reading on here decided to put her in the fridge for a few days to get her out of the tank and de-stress etc. Whilst she was in there I gave her daily water changes, did 30% changes in the tank and cleared it out of anything nasty. She picked up a great deal and decided to put her back in the tank.

She was fine for a week but then started to swim around in a bit of a frantic manner and I got very concerned, there was no obvious mess in her tank and her appetite was fine so did a prompt water test - it was alarmingly high, ammonia was in the range of 2-3ppm, nitrite was around 4 and nitrates in the 20's - in my haste to clean her out i think the cycle has crashed?

Again after consulting this forum i thought the levels were too dangerous so she's back in the fridge in a large-ish plastic tub and has been for 2 days now, repeating the process of water changes for both her and the tank - this time not cleaning the stones etc! I dont have anywhere else to put her at the moment but figured this would be the least stressful place for her. If this is not a good idea i can take her out and pick up a cheap small tank for her?

I just want some assurance i've done/doing the right thing, i've checked the tank each day and ammonia is still a tad high at around 1ppm, nitrite is increasing to a dangerous 4-5ppm (i kind of expect this with the levels of ammonia being converted), Nitrates 20-30ppm so i think the cycle is starting to return to normal...

Regarding the axie, should i be feeding her whilst she's in the fridge? She had a worm a few hours before going in the fridge but she evacuated this after a few hours of being in there. If i feed her in there is this going to happen again?

Sorry for the long essay, just want to look after my aquatic friend!

another thread talked about fridging and how as long as you are not rapidly changing the temperatures for her, it should be fine for a few weeks. Yes keep feeding, although she won't eat as much or might not take food as frequently.

The only thing I see you might have messed up on is since you took your axolotl out... where's your ammonia source? Your ammonia is decreasing but if there's nothing to produce it, your bacteria will eventually starve. Once you put your axolotl back in you will probably get a big ammonia spike again. Just add waste from your axolotl into the tank while you wait for it to cycle again.

 

[Smoxolotl]

. Your axi is eating, and eliminating, so those are good signs. Are you fridging your axolotl to help her pass stones? I noticed that you said that you had stones in your tank. You shouldn't. If she hasn't swallowed stones, and you're not seeing signs of infection, or have trouble keeping her cool enough, I don't see why fridging would be necessary. You're probably lucky that your axi survived the first ordeal at all, honestly. Even if they survive something like that, they don't always fully recover. I'd keep your axi in a tub, not in the fridge, but in a dark quiet corner with daily water changes while your tanks cycling. And make sure your temps are good and your waters perfect! Best of luck:yin-yang:

 

[Boomsloth]

. Your axi is eating, and eliminating, so those are good signs. Are you fridging your axolotl to help her pass stones? I noticed that you said that you had stones in your tank. You shouldn't. If she hasn't swallowed stones, and you're not seeing signs of infection, or have trouble keeping her cool enough, I don't see why fridging would be necessary. You're probably lucky that your axi survived the first ordeal at all, honestly. Even if they survive something like that, they don't always fully recover. I'd keep your axi in a tub, not in the fridge, but in a dark quiet corner with daily water changes while your tanks cycling. And make sure your temps are good and your waters perfect! Best of luck:yin-yang:

Good point, I keep forgetting that its not blazingly hot for other users and they don't have to worry about room temp being too warm.

 

[Ryan36]

Ah thanks guys - there is no substrate in the tank, there are just large decorative rocks and pebbles so nothing for her to swallow. I'll pick up a small tank tommorrow and reintroduce her into this whilst the large tank cycles.

She has a cave which is made of very large pebbles held together by aquarium grade 100% silicon (nothing else, no fungicide etc.) which went in the large tank before she did.

Thanks for the heads up regarding introducing an ammonia source.

Ryan

 

[Boomsloth]

I'd even go with just a non-clear plastic storage container over another tank. The plastic container will keep your axolotl a little more comfortable since it blocks out more light and is easier to do water changes. Also they are generally cheaper than a tank so you can get two and just alternate allowing the water to adjust to room temp.

 

[Ryan36]

What's the best (or your preferred) method for moving the wee one from tub to tub? Just pour and let her go with it or is ok to lift her out with a net?

Previously i've moved her by coaxing her from the large tank into the submerged tub and lifted it out but cant really do that with these small plastic tubs

 

[Boomsloth]

I use soft aquarium nets when i had to move my axolotls. Obviously be gentle. I'd transfer to the clean water, then replace the old water so its ready by the next change.

 

[Smoxolotl]

I lift mine out by using one net to coax the lotl into another appropriately sized net. Seems to work well, and they don't seem to mind as much as being poured into a bowl tank, etc. Just make sure the nets deep enough that they won't flop out of it!

 

[snuggly time]

Your parameters are very high. Make sure there is nothing in there which can be causing such high readings. Like hidden poop or food etc.