I think I killed him.. any insight?...

[neurotikitten]

So, I just got a leucistic axolotl yesterday.. i brought it home, it was swimming around, played on its decorations and whatnot, for the first few hours. then it started floating. i panicked, and consulted another thread or two here to see if anyone else had had any problems - it seems like the general consensus was, "he has to poop" or "he's stressed/getting used to his environment, let him be. he may not even eat". he did eat yesterday, but not today, when i tried to feed him - 2 or 3 times. (he's just a baby.. i didn't feel right just letting him go without trying to feed him..)
earlier i walked out to check on him and he was on the bottom, which i thought was good. my girlfriend said she saw him swimming around, and he was moving, which seemed like a good sign. i resolved to try to feed him once more before going to bed, and to just leave him alone for now.
but i walked out there again just a few minutes ago and he was half-floating, motionless, upside down... i tried to prod him gently with a [clean] chopstick and he was unresponsive. i brought out my girlfriend, i didn't know what to do, and as we were both watching him, he gave a full-body twitch... so i don't know if he's dead or alive, he's on the bottom of the tank. i righted him, so now he's in the corner upright, but i'm thinking the worst and that tomorrow morning i'm going to have to bury him.
google has told me both that he's dead, and that this is normal behavior..?
some insight on how i've been keeping him:

• non-filtered tank. at all. 20% reduction per day, begun with distilled water and cycled with non-chlorinated water. (was told by petco employee who claimed to have axolotls too, that distilled water would be ok.)
• river rock substrate.
• 2 hidey holes.

i think where i might have gone wrong, was buying fish food for him -- earthworm fish food flakes. I asked the employee at the place i got him whether they would be OK, and she said yes, especially since he's so small, live worms probably would be too big for him. i was under the impression that earthworms were part of their natural diet (& it was on my care sheet..) so i thought it would be ok.
his little tendrils are pale now, he's at the bottom, he does not show the signs he did show before when he was floating (bright red, for oxygenated)..
i think i should bury him, but i don't know. there was that twitch, and some people on google said they sometimes just like to play dead....
anyone got anything for me?... i can't do anything at this point until tomorrow, and i'm kind of at a loss...

 

[HayleyK]

So, I just got a leucistic axolotl yesterday.. i brought it home, it was swimming around, played on its decorations and whatnot, for the first few hours. then it started floating. i panicked, and consulted another thread or two here to see if anyone else had had any problems - it seems like the general consensus was, "he has to poop" or "he's stressed/getting used to his environment, let him be. he may not even eat". he did eat yesterday, but not today, when i tried to feed him - 2 or 3 times. (he's just a baby.. i didn't feel right just letting him go without trying to feed him..)
earlier i walked out to check on him and he was on the bottom, which i thought was good. my girlfriend said she saw him swimming around, and he was moving, which seemed like a good sign. i resolved to try to feed him once more before going to bed, and to just leave him alone for now.
but i walked out there again just a few minutes ago and he was half-floating, motionless, upside down... i tried to prod him gently with a [clean] chopstick and he was unresponsive. i brought out my girlfriend, i didn't know what to do, and as we were both watching him, he gave a full-body twitch... so i don't know if he's dead or alive, he's on the bottom of the tank. i righted him, so now he's in the corner upright, but i'm thinking the worst and that tomorrow morning i'm going to have to bury him.
google has told me both that he's dead, and that this is normal behavior..?
some insight on how i've been keeping him:

• non-filtered tank. at all. 20% reduction per day, begun with distilled water and cycled with non-chlorinated water. (was told by petco employee who claimed to have axolotls too, that distilled water would be ok.)
• river rock substrate.
• 2 hidey holes.

i think where i might have gone wrong, was buying fish food for him -- earthworm fish food flakes. I asked the employee at the place i got him whether they would be OK, and she said yes, especially since he's so small, live worms probably would be too big for him. i was under the impression that earthworms were part of their natural diet (& it was on my care sheet..) so i thought it would be ok.
his little tendrils are pale now, he's at the bottom, he does not show the signs he did show before when he was floating (bright red, for oxygenated)..
i think i should bury him, but i don't know. there was that twitch, and some people on google said they sometimes just like to play dead....
anyone got anything for me?... i can't do anything at this point until tomorrow, and i'm kind of at a loss...

I don't think distiller water is good due to the lack of trace minerals for both axolotl and beneficial bacteria to thrive. Tanks should have a filter, or 100% daily changes.

What was your tank parameters like and temperature? Axolotls aren't fish so fish flakes are useless. Most petshops know nothing about axolotls whatso ever. If he's quite small bloodworms would have been better, and then chopped up earthworms.

Is he still twitching? I would put him in a fresh tub of dechlorinated, cool water see if he improves..

 

[neurotikitten]

I don't think distiller water is good due to the lack of trace minerals for both axolotl and beneficial bacteria to thrive. Tanks should have a filter, or 100% daily changes.

What was your tank parameters like and temperature? Axolotls aren't fish so fish flakes are useless. Most petshops know nothing about axolotls whatso ever. If he's quite small bloodworms would have been better, and then chopped up earthworms.

Is he still twitching? I would put him in a fresh tub of dechlorinated, cool water see if he improves..

I've heard 100% changes are bad so I was doing a 20% reduction daily. he had [has?] a 20Long tank. Temperature was cool, not tepid or warm.

There hasn't been any more movement that I've seen, I'll go check on him again, but he's looking pretty pale. I'm panicked.

 

[HayleyK]

Sorry I just gathered it was a small tank due to no filter.

What were your parameters I.e. Ammonia, nitrite, Nitrate? Axolotls need cold water, just because it's "cool" doesn't make it a suitable temperature. It needs to be below 20 degrees Celsius. Axolotls are sensitive to water parameters and temperature, so babies are even more affected.

Move him to a smaller, treated tub of water. See if he improves. If not I think it's safe it say he has passed if he's pale and mid floating upside down. Give him a gentle nudge, soft enough not to hurt him but firm enough to "wake him" if he is awake.

How big is he and how old?

 

[neurotikitten]

Sorry I just gathered it was a small tank due to no filter.

What were your parameters I.e. Ammonia, nitrite, Nitrate? Axolotls need cold water, just because it's "cool" doesn't make it a suitable temperature. It needs to be below 20 degrees Celsius. Axolotls are sensitive to water parameters and temperature, so babies are even more affected.

Move him to a smaller, treated tub of water. See if he improves. If not I think it's safe it say he has passed if he's pale and mid floating upside down. Give him a gentle nudge, soft enough not to hurt him but firm enough to "wake him" if he is awake.

How big is he and how old?

I don't honestly know what the perameters are. Chalk that up to having never dealt with aquarium animals before - most of my animals have been mammals or snakes. I think my informers were also new, unfortunately. "distilled" water were the perameters I was given, so I didn't even bother with the tools needed to check them since I thought it would be okay. Well, lesson learned.

I know for sure he was below 20C. My guess would have been between 15C-17C. (59-62F) DEFINITELY not above 20, though. My apartment is way too cool for it to be that high.

I moved him into a smaller tub. He didn't respond to being moved, though. I think he's gone.

Thank you for insight, however. If I ever try this again, I'll know for sure what to avoid doing, and what to do better..

[EDIT: also.. he was around ~2 inches long (5cm).]

 

[Kaini]

Axolotls really need to be kept in a filtered, cycled tank, usually with treated tap water. They're very sensitive to water parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) so for next time I'd read up on aquarium cycling and water quality.

I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[HayleyK]

I'm sorry for your loss that's a small axolotl so they can be touchy.

Before you get another axolotl, it's best to learn how to care for it. Browse around the forums to get an idea but here's a few tips.

One adult axolotl will need 1ft tank atleast. They eat earthworms and pellets with the occassional wax worm, small feeder fish such as minnows and shrimps as treats. You need a filter that can turn over 4 times the amount of water in an hour, with minimal water movement as it can stress out the axolotl.

You can go bare bottom or sand subtrate (avoid sand until 5" big). At 2" they can eat chopped up bloodworms, as they grow bigger - full bloodworms and chopped up earthworms and once big enough don't bother with bloodworms.

You also need to cycle the tank, with ammonia and nitrite readings of 0 and nitrAte under 40ppm. You'll need water testing kits, preferably liquid over strips as they are more accurate. They are expensive but last a long time. Tap water with the right dechlorinator will do - forget the distiller water.

And the last bit of advice - don't take any from pet shops. You've come to the right place on this site so shoot your questions at us on these forums I guarantee you'll get the best answers!

 

[sphynx]

I honestly don't think your loss was your fault at all. I think that the people at the petstore are sometimes.. most..of the time.. don't know what information theyre giving out.

I would never advise someone that distilled water is OK for any kind of sea creature. I'm not sure where you got the axolotl from - maybe petco?? - but maybe the health wasn't that great to start with. Also, feeding him flakes, i'm not exactly sure that that would work too well. even though he did eat them. Sinking pellets are good. Ive used sinking pellets since my 2 guys were littler (don't have exact length.. but pretty small anyway)

I believe this is just a case of wrong directions. I sincerely hope that they have not discouraged you from trying again!. This time, with the correct information.! We would all love to see your little buddy thrive!

To be honest, when I first got my axolotls (not bought from a petstore) , i didn't know much, i just used tap water in a tank, with a brand new filter, snail, feeder fishes, and 2 axolotls. looking back i was a real dummy. They survived are are happy, and most important of all, I'm happy

Try again, keep your eyes on your tank parameters, and you'll do well

 

[Elise]

If the new axolotl wasn't acclimated to your tank, the difference in solutes could have caused osmotic stress and the sudden death.

 

[snuggly time]

I have seen people on here with a successful unfiltered tank. However, they have a lot of experience in keeping aquatic animals. For somebody who is new to this, filtering is ideal. Even if it's a sponge filter, just to boost the bio-load.

The Caudata Culture Axolotl Articles is a great website to learn from and there's also a section about tank cycling on there too.

Just keep reading about axolotls and ask questions on here if you're not sure about something and then perhaps try again. I bet everybody makes mistakes at first. I trusted my local pet shop and followed their advise on heating, even though I'd read otherwise on the internet. I would now say always double check information a pet shop gives you, just to be on the safe side.

Good luck and sorry for your loss.

 

[xxianxx]

I don't think you had the axolotl long enough to kill it with poor water quality , the distilled water would have caused excessive shedding prior to death. The most likely cause of death was that you had a sick axy prior to purchase or it got injured when being bagged in the shop. Some pics of the axy would be useful.

 

[EmbryH]

I'm sorry for your loss

In the future, you'll need to buy a water testing kit and a thermometer. There can be no guess work when it comes to temperature.

Also, as others have said, never take advice from pet stores. I'm surprised the girl said she owned axolotls herself, if she gave you that bad information.