Illness/Sickness: Need help with axolotl! :C

[elusive999]

Hey everyone i'm new to the site but i thought i join as my axie isn't doing to good.
It got really hot one day and his water temp went to about 23 degrees celsius, i was not home and had no idea it was going to be so hot.
When i got back the tip of his tale was bent (sign of stress) and he only ate a little bit (another big give away).
So i changed his water (it was due to be changed) but as it was hot the water wasn't that cold when i changed it so i don't think there was much of a dramatic change in temp to freak him out even more? but it did cool down and i got it too about 20 (still not great) and have been struggling to get it down to the good 16 - 18.
He also has a tad bit of discolouration on his head near his gills and the next day after changing the water his gills were all angled forward so its pretty clear he is stressed.

So now i have a fan on top and an ice brick trying to get it too 16 - 18, i have my filter running on full (it spits bubbles) as i was also was worried it was lack of oxygen. The waters looking fine and the PH is at about 7.4
unfortunately i have not tested for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate but will be doing first thing tomorrow.

To give some info about the tank its just one axie been in there for 5 maybe more months?
with a aqua one sponge filter that the flow goes to the top of the tank (does not disturb him) There are a few live plants and a plastic log thing he sits in, there are no other things inside the tank appart from some snails that randomly popped up in the tank a few days ago?
I have no idea what else i could do to try help him :C any help would be great thankyou!

 

[AxolotlChris]

It could well be the temperature. 16-18 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature, so since yours is 20-23 that will cause stress after so many days. I keep seeing posts from users in Australia who are struggling to keep their tanks water below 20 degrees. Its probably best to invest in a chiller to cool your water.

And yes make sure you start checking your ammonia, nitrites, nitrAtes, and PH. Your water quality is very important to your Axolotls health, ammonia and nitrites are leathal.

Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling

Caudata Culture Articles - Cooling

 

[Nina Willis]

Try frozen water bottles o help bring down your temperature. I kept three in my tank and three - six more in the freezer to swap out all summer.

Nina

 

[AxolotlChris]

Depending on the size of the tank, frozen water bottles will only drop your temperature 1-2 degrees Celsius. And if your in the high range of temperature the ice bottles won't make much of a dent so a better method would be needed to keep a consistent temperature of 16-18 degrees

 

[Skudo09]

Just to let you know, this same thread is in the introduction section of the forum. Hopefully a moderator can merge the threads together as there is more detail on the introduction thread.