Craigsunderland
New member
Please help. Toothless has been motionless and off his food for about 4 days now. We've been changing the water daily and trying to feed him but he's having none of it. Can anyone help please?
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Axolotls are illegal in California. Please read this thread for detailed information and links to the actual laws: https://www.caudata.org/threads/axolotls-are-illegal-in-california-here-are-the-relevant-laws.30779/
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Illness/Sickness: My son's axl is still, listless and has its mouth open constantly
- Thread starter Craigsunderland
- Start date
Craigsunderland
New member
Oh, and his brother seems absolutely fine. They're in the same tank.
Skudo09
Active member
A few questions:
Have you checked the parameters for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH and temperature?
What do you feed them?
What substrate do you have?
Was there anything that changed in the last week or so?
Is there a strong current from the filter outlet?
Can you see anything inside his mouth when it is open?
Unfortunately, I can't seem to view the photo? Could you try posting the photo again?
Have you checked the parameters for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH and temperature?
What do you feed them?
What substrate do you have?
Was there anything that changed in the last week or so?
Is there a strong current from the filter outlet?
Can you see anything inside his mouth when it is open?
Unfortunately, I can't seem to view the photo? Could you try posting the photo again?
Craigsunderland
New member
Thanks for your response. I'll ask my wife (who knows more than me about these things) and post the answers when I'm back in the house.
In the meanwhile, here's the photo again (hopefully).
View image: image
In the meanwhile, here's the photo again (hopefully).
View image: image
Craigsunderland
New member
The ammonia/nitrate/nitrite PH thing, we have not measured this. We will endeavour to do so. Temperature is 21/22 degrees. We feed them bloodworms, which we defrost first. In the last week we added some bog wood and a plant. These have both been removed for now. I've also turned the filter off. - the filter was a relatively new acquisition. There is nothing visible in his mouth and the substrate is such that it's too big to be swallowed.
He seems a little perkier since I've got back in. Not loads though
Craigsunderland
New member
Ah. Now he's lying on his side... 
Skudo09
Active member
The temperature is too warm but not dangerously high. It would be best to lower the temperature down below 20 degrees Celsius. How long ago was the filter added and did you keep the old filter for some time to keep the cycle established?
For now, I would place the axolotl in a tub of cool, clean dechlorinated water. You will need to do daily 100% water changes whilst he is in the tub. In the meantime, it would be good to test the parameters of the tank and perform a water change. If the filter is left off for some length of time, you may find the cycle crashes so it would be better to keep the filter going. If you are concerned about a strong current stressing the axolotl, you can baffle the filter by placing an ornament or even plants in front of the outlet.
The substrate does still look like it could be swallowed (it is quite surprising what they can fit in their mouths) but it could be the photo. As long as the pebbles are bigger than the axolotls head it should be fine. However it may be best to remove them if they are smaller than the axolotls head.
It is good you removed the two new items to the tank for now. For food, I would switch to earthworms or good quality newt or axolotl pellets as these are far more nutritious than bloodworm. Just ensure that the worms are sourced from somewhere where chemicals such as pesticides or fertilisers have been used. Nightcrawlers are a popular choice of earthworms and taste better than red wigglers. Maybe offer him some of these and see if he will take it.
For now, I would place the axolotl in a tub of cool, clean dechlorinated water. You will need to do daily 100% water changes whilst he is in the tub. In the meantime, it would be good to test the parameters of the tank and perform a water change. If the filter is left off for some length of time, you may find the cycle crashes so it would be better to keep the filter going. If you are concerned about a strong current stressing the axolotl, you can baffle the filter by placing an ornament or even plants in front of the outlet.
The substrate does still look like it could be swallowed (it is quite surprising what they can fit in their mouths) but it could be the photo. As long as the pebbles are bigger than the axolotls head it should be fine. However it may be best to remove them if they are smaller than the axolotls head.
It is good you removed the two new items to the tank for now. For food, I would switch to earthworms or good quality newt or axolotl pellets as these are far more nutritious than bloodworm. Just ensure that the worms are sourced from somewhere where chemicals such as pesticides or fertilisers have been used. Nightcrawlers are a popular choice of earthworms and taste better than red wigglers. Maybe offer him some of these and see if he will take it.