do i fridge a floating axolotl?

[jennag446]

i think my axie swallowed an air bubble. up until an hour ago, he was fine. i walked in my room an hour ago and saw him breathing out a few bubbles and floating to the top. he keeps trying to go down, but floats back up. he’s pooping and eating fine, so i’m guessing it was air. parameters are ammonia 0ppm, nitrites 0ppm, nitrates 5ppm. do i wait it out for a day or two and see how he’s doing? i know that fridging is usually a last resort kind of thing.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Poke him and see if he floats down.

 

[lottlemomsmarinelife]

Fridging is only to be used for life or death reasons. Floating is completely normal for them.

 

[jennag446]

Poke him and see if he floats down.

i’ve tried, he just floats back up. he tries to come down but can’t stay

 

[Autistic Catholic]

i’ve tried, he just floats back up. he tries to come down but can’t stay

Is his tail up? He may have a poop coming? Otherwise, try tubbing him in shallow water.

 

[lottlemomsmarinelife]

Is his tail up? He may have a poop coming? Otherwise, try tubbing him in shallow water.

No need to stress him out by tubbing him. Floating is normal as long as they're not stressed out from it. Gulping air is something that axolotls do often and that will cause the floating. The bubble will go away on its own in a day and he will be back on the bottom as usual.

 

[wolfen]

i’ve tried, he just floats back up. he tries to come down but can’t stay

make sure the tank temperature is cold enough, if you can reduce the temperature further as this will cause the air that he/she has swallowed to contract and allow him/her to settle back down.
do you have a air-stone in the tank, if not get one put in to reduce repeat incidents of air gulping.
instinctively floating is very stressful as in the wild it would make them a target for predators.

 

[jennag446]

make sure the tank temperature is cold enough, if you can reduce the temperature further as this will cause the air that he/she has swallowed to contract and allow him/her to settle back down.
do you have a air-stone in the tank, if not get one put in to reduce repeat incidents of air gulping.
instinctively floating is very stressful as in the wild it would make them a target for predators.

it’s around 67 degrees f right now, so a little high. i’ve been keeping it down by adding bags of dechlorinated ice into the tank. i do not have any air stone, just a sponge filter with an aerator. he’s still floating and it’s been almost a day

 

[wolfen]

it’s around 67 degrees f right now, so a little high. i’ve been keeping it down by adding bags of dechlorinated ice into the tank. i do not have any air stone, just a sponge filter with an aerator. he’s still floating and it’s been almost a day

if he continues to float after the temperature is reduced then he might need to be tubbed until the air block has passed through, this might be through either a burp or a bowel movement. see how he is.
even though air sponges use air to pull water through the bubbles tend to be too big and don't produce enough dissolved oxygen which is why no matter what filtration is fitted a air stone is also required.

 

[jennag446]

if he continues to float after the temperature is reduced then he might need to be tubbed until the air block has passed through, this might be through either a burp or a bowel movement. see how he is.
even though air sponges use air to pull water through the bubbles tend to be too big and don't produce enough dissolved oxygen which is why no matter what filtration is fitted a air stone is also required.

do i put the tub in the fridge?

 

[Autistic Catholic]

do i put the tub in the fridge?

No. And the tub should be shallow enough for him to be on all fours comfortably and deep enough for him to have his head covered.

 

[jennag446]

No. And the tub should be shallow enough for him to be on all fours comfortably and deep enough for him to have his head covered.

i noticed that in his tub now he’s able to put all fours on the ground which he wasn’t able to do when i first put him in, but his tail is floating up a little bit, so i’m wondering if this was constipation. he did poop. his diet is mainly earthworms and occasionally blood worms. he did have sand in his tank, but i removed it a week ago because i began to speculate that he could be impacted. should i leave him in there until his tail stops floating?

 

[jennag446]

No. And the tub should be shallow enough for him to be on all fours comfortably and deep enough for him to have his head covered.

never mind, he is still floating. do i fridge at this point? he’s pooping, but floating from his tail end. i don’t understand how he can be constipated.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

i noticed that in his tub now he’s able to put all fours on the ground which he wasn’t able to do when i first put him in, but his tail is floating up a little bit, so i’m wondering if this was constipation. he did poop. his diet is mainly earthworms and occasionally blood worms. he did have sand in his tank, but i removed it a week ago because i began to speculate that he could be impacted. should i leave him in there until his tail stops floating?

Seems like a lack of gastroliths.

 

[wolfen]

never mind, he is still floating. do i fridge at this point? he’s pooping, but floating from his tail end. i don’t understand how he can be constipated.

keep the tub cool with the water low enough for him to rest his feet on the floor. make sure the water is changed daily with the tube cleaned thoroughly to reduce any bacteria build ups, make sure that there is a air stone in the tub.
it is always easier to use two tubs, whilst one is being used the other can be cleaned, don't use any detergent to clean the tubs vinegar/hydrogen peroxide or just plain water can be used, make sure tub is rinsed before adding dechlorinated water.
fridging is always only a last course of action because of the risk involved.
the air in his body has moved towards the tail end causing him to float ass up so now you have to wait until it comes out.
constipation can be cause by a air lock stopping movement of fecal matter.

 

[jennag446]

keep the tub cool with the water low enough for him to rest his feet on the floor. make sure the water is changed daily with the tube cleaned thoroughly to reduce any bacteria build ups, make sure that there is a air stone in the tub.
it is always easier to use two tubs, whilst one is being used the other can be cleaned, don't use any detergent to clean the tubs vinegar/hydrogen peroxide or just plain water can be used, make sure tub is rinsed before adding dechlorinated water.
fridging is always only a last course of action because of the risk involved.
the air in his body has moved towards the tail end causing him to float ass up so now you have to wait until it comes out.
constipation can be cause by a air lock stopping movement of fecal matter.

ok, i’ll get on buying an air stone right now

 

[jennag446]

keep the tub cool with the water low enough for him to rest his feet on the floor. make sure the water is changed daily with the tube cleaned thoroughly to reduce any bacteria build ups, make sure that there is a air stone in the tub.
it is always easier to use two tubs, whilst one is being used the other can be cleaned, don't use any detergent to clean the tubs vinegar/hydrogen peroxide or just plain water can be used, make sure tub is rinsed before adding dechlorinated water.
fridging is always only a last course of action because of the risk involved.
the air in his body has moved towards the tail end causing him to float ass up so now you have to wait until it comes out.
constipation can be cause by a air lock stopping movement of fecal matter.

also, do i feed him during this process?

 

[wolfen]

also, do i feed him during this process?

feed as you normally would.

 

[jennag446]

feed as you normally would.

is it normal for him to be tipping over a little to one side during this? when he leans one way, he seems to start to tip over. i’ve just never had to experience this with him. he ate good, though, so he doesn’t have a loss of appetite

 

[wolfen]

is it normal for him to be tipping over a little to one side during this? when he leans one way, he seems to start to tip over. i’ve just never had to experience this with him. he ate good, though, so he doesn’t have a loss of appetite

the reason the water need to be shallow enough that he can place his feet on the ground is to prevent tipping over as well as floating.