Help with axolotl

How often do axolotls bat there gills? Mine is batting his about every 7 seconds, seems way faster than normal. After noticing that I put an air stone in there hopefully that will give him plenty of air, didn't think I needed one since I change half the water everyday.
 
I would put him back in a small container - floating like that is very stressful to them - did you bring his temperature up slowly to room temp before putting him back? What temperature is his tank at?

Are you planning on upgrading his tank soon? I think a lot of your probelms are coming from a constantly changing environment. He is in a very small tank, so water parameters are harder to maintain. Combine that with large water changes(which are needed in small areas), his tank likely isn't cycling as you have no substrate for bacteria to build up on.
 
Yeah, I Have a 20 long for him, but my set up I bought was a 55 gallon filter so I know that is gonna be way to much water flow. Do you think an aqueon 20 gallon filter would be too much or should I get a 5 gallon or less. I've been planning on moving him to the bigger tank in the warmer seasons in the basement and in my room in the winter. What would you say was the best substrate? I was planning on using larger rocks to cover the bottom cause I don't wanna mess with him eating it whether it's small enough to pass or not. I take him out to feed him so that the water doesn't get all the dirt and nastiness from the worms. For some reason the breeder said the best way to keep them is with no filter and change the water every day then full change once a month, said no substrate either. I think that he's in good enough shape now to stay in his tank, still not walking normal but he is on the bottom and crawling around. I think that he turns over like that trying to push poo out. But still stumped on why he seems to be breathing much faster then I've ever seen. He's looking better all the time but he still keeps me worrying. :nono:
 
This is the filter I use in my 20 long - Marina i25 Internal Filter - Internal Filters - Filters - PetSmart

It doesn't generate much current at all, in fact mine love to sit under it. It doesn't seem to heat up the tank much, if at all, unlike some internal filters. The other's I've tried suck up too much sand and die within a month. For substrate, I use sand. I had another tank with large rocks and it is a pain to clean in between and under each one. Plus food can get in between and the axie can't get to it. Bare bottom is OK, but stressed out some axies, especially if its glass as they can't grasp onto it very well.

I would check the temperature of your tank and see what its at - it could be the temperature. I would also test the water parameters to be sure they're OK.
 
What up everybody, long time no see. Well anyways I'm in the same boat I was in last time I posted. He's in the fridge and the nitrites skyrocketed to 5.0, I got it back down to .50. Would this be low enough to put him back in the tank? Just got an Eheim last night it is rated at 440 liters an hour, I'm running it on a 20 gallon tank. This should be plenty of filtration to possibly add a tank mate after the water zeros for a month or so? Any thing I should avoid or anything I should aquire? On that note what does him having black toes mean, is this bad or just pigment?
 
Well now he is stable. Eats regularly and looks fine. But his neck is turned to the left and he lays on his back. When I put him right side up he acts stiff and kicks around till he's back on his back again. Do not have any clue why or how he can stay healthy in this condition. Does anyone have any ideas how to get him back to a normal state? Water is good, temp. is good and his substrate is sand. He has been like this since my last post, so it has been some time.
 
Ok, so let me make sure I understand the situation, so since the last episode you had last year, in which the nitrites were a little high, he has been perfectly healthy correct? His new symptom of laying on his back, and turning his neck has just now appeared correct, or has it been this way since last year?
What are the actual Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate levels? Anything you can think of that has happened recently that might have caused this?
 
Been this way since last post a year ago, but other than the curve and being upside down he is healthy. Weird stuff, no ammonia,nitrate or nitrite. I don't have ph test but I'm sure it is under 8. Probably in the mid 6's.
 
I've never heard of an axolotl that has a curved head and sits upside down for about a year. I guess as long as he's eating and the water is ok
 
Doesn't swim or anything just eats when I feed him. I want him to be normal and happy but he seems to just lay there on his back all contorted. My question now is do you think this is catching to other axolotls? Probably inbred is my thought but not sure.:nono:
 
I don't think it would be contagious, but I don't actually know
 
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