Question: Floating axie

[Ryanne]

My axie periodically floats. He goes to the top and just floats there like he is meditating peacefully. Then he swims back down and does normal axie stuff. He cleans his cage, washes his laundry, maybe watches a film, but it's the floating that seems weird. Why is he doing that? He doesn't seem bloated. He looks good to me. He doesn't have a bent tail. He does seem to have decreased in his appetite, but that seems to be the only issue I have noticed. Any suggestions?

 

[Ryanne]

Here is another picture taken just now. The other three were taken right before I posted. It is sideways, he is actually right side up. ?

 

[Ryanne]

I took him to the vet. He is perfect! Healthy, active, beautiful!

 

[tgmiller]

I'm happy to hear that your axolotl passed his vet exam with a full bill of health! I think that hovering/floating at the top of the tank is pretty normal as long as they can swim back down to the bottom and stay there. I have a male and female axolotl with a tank divider between them, and I see them both floating at the surface alongside one another quite often. I'd love to take the divider out, but unfortunately they "love" each other a little too much haha