New 4 month old Axies floating, but still eating, please help

[AxieNewbie]

Hi im hoping someone can help, i am new to Axie keeping however have done lots of research to try and give them the best chance.

i bought 2 new Axies yesterday, the girl in the shop said they are about 4 months old (though one looks bigger than the other so im not so sure). They are eating really well, i have fed them bloodworm and they love it soon as i put the cube in they attack it then mop up the bloodworm that i loosen so they arent constantly eating from the top of the tank.

However, they seem to be sitting/floating at the top of the tank a lot.Not just floating up generally they swim up then just stay there for ages. They come back down fine when they want to or are disturbed or want to eat, just seems an awfully long time that they are floating.

I had cycled my tank for about a week, maybe two before they went it, though i had a goldfish in there for a few days during that time, however i also did water change and did another one of about 20% before i bought them.

Temperature is currently at about 15/16 celcius, i lowered the temp a little to see if this helps. I did have gravel in there to start with for about an hour, though they were floating pretty soon after being in the tank, i took the gravel out as they were picking it up, they spat it out every time but still i didnt want to take the risk.One floats more than the other too. Havent checked other water parameters yet as i ran out of test kits.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as im concerned for the lil ones. oh and the tank is bout 12 gallons. I will be getting a bigger one but as they are only small at the moment thought this would be ok until i do so.

Thanks
Sian

 

[snuggly time]

Hi Sian,

Can you test the water parameters? Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH.
If you don't have a test kit API master test kits are probably one of the best tools an axolotl owner can have. They're about £25 - 30 but worth every penny and last a long time. Perhaps they are just searching for food at the top of the tank. It's best to be safe and check the water anyway.

I would change 20% of water every day for now to make sure the water is fresh and clean. Also, it's important to remove the bloodworm around 30 mins after you've put them in the tank otherwise they might cause a spike in ammonia.

Well done for moving the gravel, keep an eye out on the tank bottom in case they have swallowed some and they pass it. Also, you said one is bigger than the other, keep an eye on them as smaller axies may be 'picked on' by bigger tank mates.

One last thing, do you use dechlorinator on your tank water?

 

[AxieNewbie]

Here are some photos of the lil ones. One is mid action shot of one of them swimming back down. As you can see this is just after feeding in one or two hence them being at the bottom.

 

[AxieNewbie]

Yes i dechlorinate the water. and thanks for the advice about removing the uneaten bloodworm also. i'll bear that in mind.

I am going to a pet store today to buy a test kit also as i know its important to keep an eye on the water, usually have them as i love my tropical fish but have run out a few days ago. Will get it tested asap and post my results.

As for the bigger one picking on the lil one, they seem to be ok so far, there was a black one in the store with them that only had one foot where they must have been picking on eachother so i'll definitely keep watch.

Thanks

 

[snuggly time]

Also have you tried feeding them earthworms? They're the best diet for axolotls. As yours are still small they would need cutting up into smaller chunks so they can swallow them.

 

[AxieNewbie]

Also have you tried feeding them earthworms? They're the best diet for axolotls. As yours are still small they would need cutting up into smaller chunks so they can swallow them.

Hiya, bought a test kit and have just tested my water, results are:

Ammonia - 0.25ppm,
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 5ppm
PH - 7.4

This all seems fairly ok to me considering they havent been in there long... I have just added a live plant as did not have any so wondering if a boost in oxygen may help and also a new hidey cave half coconut shell to see if that helps cheer them up.

As for earth worms no i havent tried these yet, i did read they would be the best type of food for them, can i use ones out of my garden as we dont use pesticides?

Thanks.

 

[snuggly time]

Those results don't look bad at all. I'd just keep up with small water changes if the ammonia spikes.
Earthworms from the garden are fine :happy:

 

[AxieNewbie]

Those results don't look bad at all. I'd just keep up with small water changes if the ammonia spikes.
Earthworms from the garden are fine :happy:

Well i just fed them some earthworms, a small one each as they had bloodworm this morning, and they loved it!! and at the moment all seems well with the floating, they swim up now and then for a gulp of air and then float back down again. They're fascinating!! Fingers crossed now i guess.

 

[AxieNewbie]

Ok so can anyone advise me of this change in situation -

Archue and Charlie are now at the bottom of the tanj the majoroty of the time and a lot more active and eating earthworms lovely, so im happy about that however just tested my water again and it seems my nitrite levels were at 0.25 on testing, shook everything as was meant to, but then after about 10 kinutes i looked back at the test tube and it had gone purple, shpuld i yse the first initial read or worry that the levels are too high ajd use the second?

For reference, the ammonia did the same, was about 0.25 at the start thwn later coloyr had darkened to about 2.0ppm. The nitrate is at about 5 so second lowest. My brother who is in thirs year of a chemistry degree says to take first reading as long as i shook everything enough as sometimes when left for a while the colour darkens.

Please help, im doing a small water change anyways today but need to know for future reference as not had this happen before!

 

[snuggly time]

Some of them need to be left for at least 5 minutes to give an accurate reading. The darker colours are probably correct. If the ammonia is 2 you need to do a large water change, I'd do at least 50%.

 

[AxieNewbie]

Further help needed quick!!! Please help im worried sick now...

Some of them need to be left for at least 5 minutes to give an accurate reading. The darker colours are probably correct. If the ammonia is 2 you need to do a large water change, I'd do at least 50%.

Hiya, thanks for the reply. I have done water changes, a few now every other day to keep on top of the levels, however woke up this morning to find my smaller axie is struggling to stay down in the tank, he swims down the his back end floats up and pulls him up hes trying to stay down but having to fight it constantly, he lets himself jst float up sometimes and hover at the top but sometimes end up slightly on his side then.

Just fed them some earthworms and he is very keen to eat. I hand fed him a few just under water level so he didnt gulp air and hes definitely hungry and eating. Ive just done a water change and lowered the level of water somewhat and cooled it also so hoping this helps but any further advice would be great im very worried!