Chubby axolotl (help)

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Melina

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Hello!

I honestly need help, my female axolotl, who is almost 29 cm long, is very chubby.

I feed her 3-4 times a week and I never saw her this chubby before!

Im pretty sure it’s not because of food, but because of the gravel I have. I sadly got lied on by a supermarket worker and they sold us gravel. I can’t get rid of it since it’s very cold in Germany and the water is frozen. ( planning on doing it in summer )

Is there any way I could help her? She hasn’t eaten in 4 days for now and as axolotls can online survive for 2 weeks, I want to act fast.

I founf some things like „put them in a freezer“ or „vet is needed“ , I sadly don’t have a vet near but does the freezing thing work?


Please help, I’m very scared for my girl.
 
would be best to post a picture.
what are the water parameters ie.. temperature, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, kh and gh if possible.
under some conditions putting them into the fridge (not freezer) allows their metabolism to slow down and allow for healing, putting an axolotl in the fridge has to be a last resort as as well as slowing the metabolism it can also cause organ shut down.
 
Melina said:
I can’t get rid of it since it’s very cold in Germany and the water is frozen. ( planning on doing it in summer )
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What does this sentence mean ?
Is this axolotl in an outdoor tank ?
 
Frozen water isn't good for an axolotl to be in. As recommended by Wolfen, do you have a picture??? Is she chubby or chonky??? It's normal for females to refuse food in gravid stages. How big is the gravel size??? If it's pea-size, it mught not be an impaction issue but might be easily passed.
 
Autistic Catholic said:
Frozen water isn't good for an axolotl to be in. As recommended by Wolfen, do you have a picture??? Is she chubby or chonky??? It's normal for females to refuse food in gravid stages. How big is the gravel size??? If it's pea-size, it mught not be an impaction issue but might be easily passed.
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Hey!

By frozen water I mean that the water I would refill my current water with is frozen. I will send a photo tomorrow!

The gravel is most likely a bit smaller than a pea, maybe like 2-3 ants?
 
Yeah, I think I've seen your tank before now that I remember and the gravel that you had didn't look like it would be impaction risk, at least from what we've seen repeatedly on this forum lately with axolotls safely passing such gravel. Never put an axolotl in a freezer unless it's an axolotl egg you are intending to cull. That can be quite deadly for the animal. AFAIK, fridging temperatures are at about 10C but I hope someone corrects me if that's inaccurate. Fridging can help with constipation. But like I said, photos would be nice. If she is going through a gravid phase, she may not have the same appetite as before. Also, if you haven't try feeding at night. It might also be bored with the current diet too.
 
Autistic Catholic said:
Yeah, I think I've seen your tank before now that I remember and the gravel that you had didn't look like it would be impaction risk, at least from what we've seen repeatedly on this forum lately with axolotls safely passing such gravel. Never put an axolotl in a freezer unless it's an axolotl egg you are intending to cull. That can be quite deadly for the animal. AFAIK, fridging temperatures are at about 10C but I hope someone corrects me if that's inaccurate. Fridging can help with constipation. But like I said, photos would be nice. If she is going through a gravid phase, she may not have the same appetite as before. Also, if you haven't try feeding at night. It might also be bored with the current diet too.
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Ah I see! Photo will come soon.

I’m feeding them nightcrawlers only… must be the problem! I’m I’ll try feeding them earthworms, thanks for the tip!
 
Autistic Catholic said:
Yeah, I think I've seen your tank before now that I remember and the gravel that you had didn't look like it would be impaction risk, at least from what we've seen repeatedly on this forum lately with axolotls safely passing such gravel. Never put an axolotl in a freezer unless it's an axolotl egg you are intending to cull. That can be quite deadly for the animal. AFAIK, fridging temperatures are at about 10C but I hope someone corrects me if that's inaccurate. Fridging can help with constipation. But like I said, photos would be nice. If she is going through a gravid phase, she may not have the same appetite as before. Also, if you haven't try feeding at night. It might also be bored with the current diet too.
Click to expand...
Autistic Catholic said:
Yeah, I think I've seen your tank before now that I remember and the gravel that you had didn't look like it would be impaction risk, at least from what we've seen repeatedly on this forum lately with axolotls safely passing such gravel. Never put an axolotl in a freezer unless it's an axolotl egg you are intending to cull. That can be quite deadly for the animal. AFAIK, fridging temperatures are at about 10C but I hope someone corrects me if that's inaccurate. Fridging can help with constipation. But like I said, photos would be nice. If she is going through a gravid phase, she may not have the same appetite as before. Also, if you haven't try feeding at night. It might also be bored with the current diet too.
Click to expand...
Autistic Catholic said:
Yeah, I think I've seen your tank before now that I remember and the gravel that you had didn't look like it would be impaction risk, at least from what we've seen repeatedly on this forum lately with axolotls safely passing such gravel. Never put an axolotl in a freezer unless it's an axolotl egg you are intending to cull. That can be quite deadly for the animal. AFAIK, fridging temperatures are at about 10C but I hope someone corrects me if that's inaccurate. Fridging can help with constipation. But like I said, photos would be nice. If she is going through a gravid phase, she may not have the same appetite as before. Also, if you haven't try feeding at night. It might also be bored with the current diet too.
Click to expand...
Here are the photos! The first one is the male, the second one is the female. I hope you can see it well because I can’t get a better picture.
 

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She does look either gravid or has gastric blockage. Keep in mind, they can be finnicky with worms sometimes too and it may also have to do with the way the worms are being prepared which is off-putting to her. I would honestly recommend you get her to a vet so you can properly diagnose what's going on since you say this is going on a few days. I know you say the vet is 4 hours away, but you may just have to suck it up and take the long drive as denying the animal veterinarian care may be more harmful. People on a forum cannot diagnose.
 
your female will need to see a vet as there is swelling to her front left limb which could be either edema or infection.
 
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