Help! Sick Mother not eating

[alexis]

My Axolotls are about a year old, they just laid eggs a few weeks ago, and the eggs just recently hatched in the past couple of days, the mother is not looking well, she is floating a lot, her gills look strange, and most importantly she has gone off food, this is the fifth day she has not eaten. Please let me know if there would be any reason for this, or if there is anything I should be checking for any signs I should be looking for or any way to get her to eat? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alexis

 

[kaysie]

Are the larvae in the mothers tank? She may be eating, just not the food you're giving her.

 

[alexis]

Most of the larvae have been moved out of the tank into a seperate tank...there were a few left in there but they seem to still be there and growing quicker than the ones in the seperate tank

 

[kaysie]

Is this another game of 'spot the cannibal'?

 

[michael]

When the eggs are laid their is a lot of extra gunk (scientific term) in the tank. The extra stuff tends to affect water quality. I find it necessary to clean the tank and clean any gunk out of the filter. I stir things up a little and scrub what I can in the tank by hand. I then do a decent size water change. The parents don't seem anxious to eat with eggs in the water either. After a good cleaning she should perk up. If not I'd medicate.

 

[alexis]

thanks for the advice michael, I'll try what you suggested and hopefully she will start eating again