I took in 4 dying axies before they were “flushed”

[Elise.91]

Ok. So I’m brand new to Axolotls myself. Cycled my first tank in November and got my first axolotl in December. I very recently bought a new one. They’ve both been taken well care of, with the exception of having to tub them due to a cycle crash.

The day before yesterday, I was out looking for red wrigglers as petsmart was out. I went to a local pet store. They had four axolotls for sale for $175. They were all ammonia burned and the littlest one was missing limbs due to being nipped at by the bigger ones. They were housed on gravel.

Long story short, I was very short with the owner and ended up getting all of them for free to rehabilitate them.

They are all tubbed in five gallon tubs with cool primed water that’s being changed every twenty four hours, or when they poop.

Three have pooped gravel. What can I do to help impaction? Most are eating but the smallest one throws it up the smallest is also busy growing back her back leg and back foot.

Here are pictures of my rescues. Those are IAL and coffee mugs for hides in the photos.

 

[Elise.91]

I somehow forgot to add that the owner literally told me they were planning on flushing them if I didn’t take them.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Well, to be fair, your post already indicated they were going to be flushed so...

Anyway, I think you're doing good so far. If the gravel is being passed, then they probably aren't impacted. They will also refuse food if they are impacted.

There is still controversy regarding gravel but I have yet to find an axolotl impacted by small, pea-size gravel.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

The wild ones (melanoids?) look pretty good considering the circumstances and should heal properly. The golden albino is gonna need some more TLC. Try cutting up food that you are feeding it. Since it's small, that might be another reason it's spitting up other than stress.

 

[Elise.91]

The wild ones (melanoids?) look pretty good considering the circumstances and should heal properly. The golden albino is gonna need some more TLC. Try cutting up food that you are feeding it. Since it's small, that might be another reason it's spitting up other than stress.

I believe two melanoid and one wild type. They are pretty healthy as far as weight but they have ammonia burns on their gills and need to regrow them. The baby golden albino will gladly take food. But later she throws it up.

 

[wolfen]

use 2g salt per litre in the water with all the axolotls (unless you are using holtfreters or similar) this will help the healing process and encourage gill growth.
make sure there is an air-stone in each of the tubs to prevent floating.
looking at the gills the gravel consumption wasn't accidental but to prevent floating.
the albinos leg is healing fine.

 

[Elise.91]

use 2g salt per litre in the water with all the axolotls (unless you are using holtfreters or similar) this will help the healing process and encourage gill growth.
make sure there is an air-stone in each of the tubs to prevent floating.
looking at the gills the gravel consumption wasn't accidental but to prevent floating.
the albinos leg is healing fine.

Are you sure I should use salt? I’ve heard only to use it under veterinary care. Can you please convert to US gallons? I’ve never heard of holtfreters. What is that?

 

[Elise.91]

use 2g salt per litre in the water with all the axolotls (unless you are using holtfreters or similar) this will help the healing process and encourage gill growth.
make sure there is an air-stone in each of the tubs to prevent floating.
looking at the gills the gravel consumption wasn't accidental but to prevent floating.
the albinos leg is healing fine.

About 8 grams of salt per gallon?

 

[Elise.91]

About 8 grams of salt per gallon?

That’s a little under 2 teaspoons, right? I’m pretty bad at conversion

 

[wolfen]

axolotls come from a slight brackish moderate to hard water environment, so they require certain water conditions which is where holtfreters solution comes in.
50% holtfreters is used to provide the necessary salts and minerals to keep aquatic amphibians (axolotls in particular) healthy.
as with most animals too much salt is bad but in the right amounts it is beneficial, with axolotls 1.5 - 2 grams per litre is beneficial and will help prevent issues such as fungus, higher amounts such is 100% holtfreters (3.4-3.5 grams) is used for treating issues and higher amounts such as amphibian ringers solution (6.6 grams) are used for more severe issues such as edema, the main issues happen when salt is used in concentration which are too high ie.. over 15 grams per litre for more than ten minutes in a bath.
info on holtfreters.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
info on levels.. ie.. ideal, tolerant .. Water Quality Explained: How It Can Affect Your Axolotl's Health - WSAVA 2015 Congress - VIN
for conversion ie.. gram to spoon/cup etc.. Weight to Volume / Volume to Weight Converter also Volume to Weight conversions for common substances and materials
8 grams fine salt is 1.35 US teaspoons.

 

[Elise.91]

How long should I tub the littlest one, Billy? I’ve been doing salt baths and methylene blue baths daily. I’m stopping the methylene baths tomorrow because I don’t think he’ll benefit from any more than that. My tank is almost cycled. But I worry about him. Should I keep him tubbed until his gills start to grow back?

 

[Elise.91]

This is Billy. He/she is about 3 1/2 inches.

 

[wolfen]

will he/she be put with any others, if so what size?
at the size that he is there is a chance of becoming a snack

 

[Elise.91]

will he/she be put with any others, if so what size?
at the size that he is there is a chance of becoming a snac

will he/she be put with any others, if so what size?
at the size that he is there is a chance of becoming a snack

Billy would be in his/her own 20 gallon once cycled

 

[wolfen]

provided the tank is cycled then shouldn't be a problem.