Sick Axolotl.

[Ellioty]

I have had my leucistic axolotl for 14 months now. She was rescued at 9 months old missing limbs but thrived from day one.

She has been living with another female axolotl which I have reared myself in a 160 litre tank. The wild type is 10 months old and also thriving. They have cohabited for 4 months happily.

However, the leucistic is now unable to move! I cleaned the tank Thursday evening and removed both as it was a deeper clean. Both fine.

Saturday morning the leucistic crawled around the bottom and then sat in a spot and didn’t move for the entire day, unusual for her. Later in the day, she looked paler than usual so I decided to move her. There was no resistance from her and she moved her very little, just slowly moving her back legs. I immediately removed her and placed her in a tub. I expected the worst and assumed she would pass away, however she is still with us 3 days later. She doesn’t move much but back legs still work but very little. Front legs don’t move. She is sitting with mouth slightly open. Her gills are gradually becoming more curled.

It almost seems as if she has had a stroke.

Other axolotl is perfectly fine.

Tank parameters on cleaning day Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and nitrates between 10 and 20ppm.

Tank is planted.

Temperature is regulated by a chiller so is always between 18.5 and 19.5 Celsius.

Her diet has been a mix of European night crawlers, pellets and maybe the odd shrimp that inhabit the tank.

She started to refuse food 5-6 days prior to this occurring but as she is a big girl I wasn’t overly concerned as she has done this a few times previously.

I am at a loss as to what has happened as she seemed healthy Thursday evening. Has anyone come across a similar condition?



Pics attached.

2 axolotls together Thursday evening tank cleaning

On her own Saturday evening after i noticed her condition

Gills now curling Tuesday morning.

 

[wolfen]

make sure to put an air stone in the tub, try to reduce the temperature to 15°c - 18°c (lower is better).
there are numerous conditions ranging from cardiac to diet based that can cause lethargy/paralysis, my need to see a vet to narrow down cause.
with the tank being planted what if any fertiliser is used, any mineral supplements used etc..
make sure to use 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate in any water that contains an axolotl (some plants may not tolerate the slight salt level) info here.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
make sure the pellets are suitable for axolotls and contain vitamin A (vitamin B C D is also good), pellets should not contain thiamine, these vitamins can also be provided by a balanced diet.
a tea bath may be helpful with the lethargy, 1 bag per 10 litres for 24hrs, 1 bag per 1/2 gallon for 10-15 mins.

 

[Ellioty]

Thanks for the reply.

Vet booked for Thursday. Hard to find one that has dealt with axolotls!

Tank is never fertilized, plants are attached to stones and driftwood - java ferns, moss and Anubias.
GH conditioner added to tank at water change. Has been used for over 12 months. I find it helps with gills and generally keeping tank healthy.
Pellets are more of a secondary food - Hikari brand sinking carnivore pellets.

I have added a tea made from Indian almond leaves to her tub today after changing the water. Winter in Sydney so tub will be under 18 degrees.

Baffled by the sudden change. Almost overnight going from healthy to a paralysed state. Assumed that she may have been egg bound and would work through it but didn't expect this.

 

[wolfen]

almond/catappa leaves are good for beneficial tannins but don't contain caffeine like tea does which can be used for lethargic animals.
even though hikari carnivore pellets are mean't to be ok for axolotls they contain copper sulphate which is poisonous to axolotls (had to look through list of ingredients to find out) whether related to the lethargy and paralysis I don't know (there are food available which is marked as being for axolotls which also contain copper sulphate)
keep an eye on her gills as whilst she is in a weakened state she will be prone to fungus, 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate or 2g/l non iodised salt will help prevent fungus.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Thanks for the reply.

Vet booked for Thursday. Hard to find one that has dealt with axolotls!

Tank is never fertilized, plants are attached to stones and driftwood - java ferns, moss and Anubias.
GH conditioner added to tank at water change. Has been used for over 12 months. I find it helps with gills and generally keeping tank healthy.
Pellets are more of a secondary food - Hikari brand sinking carnivore pellets.

I have added a tea made from Indian almond leaves to her tub today after changing the water. Winter in Sydney so tub will be under 18 degrees.

Baffled by the sudden change. Almost overnight going from healthy to a paralysed state. Assumed that she may have been egg bound and would work through it but didn't expect this.

she looks bloated...wolfen, have you thought bacteria infection as possibility here?

 

[wolfen]

edema caused by infection or organ problems is one of the conditions to cause lethary/paralysis but would need diagnosis via a vet.