Sick juvenile axolotl after heat stress

[Lauren3]

Hi all,

I have a juvenile axolotl who fell sick after I was at work on a hot day and the water temperature rose. When I got home, he was laying against the glass with his head down and tail up. Thankfully he was still alive and when I brought the water temperature back down he seemed to improve slightly, but he remained sluggish and refused food for the next 24 hours. He then seemed to get worse again with his gills going forwards and his tailed curling. I then realised the nitrate levels were high so I decided to set up new water and fridge him.

I'm really concerned as he is looking very thin and now on the third day of being in the fridge with 100% daily water changes still doesn't seem to be improving. His colour seems to be off, his tail remains very curled and it's almost like he is wasting away in there. He has not pooed since being in there as he seems to have nothing in his stomach but continues to refuse food.

How do I know how long to keep him in the fridge for? If I don't see improvements soon, is it more important to bring him out to warmer water that will hopefully stimulate his appetite?

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Lauren

 

[Calgarycoppers]

fridging causes their metabolize to slow so they dont eat - its a catch 22.

a wine fridge you can control the temp on is a better option.

do you have IAL and aquarium/pickling salt and or meth blue?

 

[Lauren3]

Thank you for your reply. I'm very new to this so don't have any of those things but I will try and obtain some today- thank you for your suggestion.

So do you think I first try treating with above options whilst he is still being fridged? Or should I allow water to come back to regular temperature in the hope that it stimulates appetite and do treatment at the same time?

 

[Calgarycoppers]

what does the tank temp range from daytime high to night low?
Are you using frozen water bottle rotation or fans across the top of the tank or an air conditioner in the room? I know you are in Summer

 

[Lauren3]

Yes I usually use frozen water bottles which are the most effective and also the fan across the top. Typically day time high would be 22°C and low would be around 19°C, but I try to keep it as stable as possible and he had been going well for the three months since we got him. As I had been mostly working from home it hadn't been a problem, but that one day I had to go into work raised the water to about 26°C.

I just really hoped to see some improvement by now so I'm not sure whether to keep fridging or to take him out and hope that he gets his appetite back.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Calgarycoppers]

I would take him out of the fridge and just keep your water quality as good as you possibly can

 

[Lauren3]

Ok thanks for your help!