Illness/Sickness: Is my juvenile axolotl sick or stressed?

[appshan]

Hi, everyone! I have a juvenile wild-type axolotl. Over the last few weeks, he has been eating 5 pellets daily. The last few days, I noticed he has been eating 2 pellets maximum daily, refusing any other pellets offered to him. Yesterday, I tried to feed him his usual 5 pellets, he ate them. But looks like he threw those pellets up today - I found 5 mushy pellets next to his hide. He has been pooping fine every day. The first picture is what he looked like last week. And the second picture is what he looks like today. Does he look sick? Are his gills suppose to curl like that?

 

[Autistic Catholic]

tail-curling, gills curling, and not eating or throwing up are all signs of stress and stress is sickness. What are the water parameters???

 

[appshan]

tail-curling, gills curling, and not eating or throwing up are all signs of stress and stress is sickness. What are the water parameters???

Ammonia within normal range, but the water is acidic, around pH 5. Checked on him this morning and the gills and tail are not curling as much - he looks like the first picture now. Could it be that I need to change his feeding schedule? Maybe feed him every other day instead of everyday?

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Water being too acidic is a possible cause. Other parameters not detailed...

Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity

www.axolotl.org