Why is my axolotl lethargic?

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AxYlOvEr

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My axolotl, Mika, who we thought was a male at first but is probably a female, is staying at the bottom of his tank and not swimming around. Yes, he is alive, I feed him bloodworms twice a week and sometimes pellets so he has a bit of variation. He used to swim sometimes and go up to gulp air but over the past few weeks he has not done this. My water levels are fine, perhaps a bit acidic, which is weird because our water was a bit alkali when we first got Mika (around April 2009). The potassium levels are high but this has never affected him before and I don't know how to change this. I do a 20% water change every week, sometimes with a few days delay because I'm busy. My tank is 95 litre with about 65 litres of water in there.
He likes to get himself stuck in between the filter and the side of the tank. I moved the filter and encouraged him away from it, and I then pressed the filter right up against the glass so he couldn't possibly get in there. Well somehow he did. He seems to be here quite a bit, or in some other weird position. But I rarely see him swimming or moving a lot. But obviously he has moved. He likes to stand by the filter by the running water, which is also odd because I thought flowing water stressed them out.
His gills are slightly forward which I know is a sign of stress.
Anyway, I don't know why he's doing this, he used to be very lively. I do move around his furniture a bit. I wonder if he's bored.
Any suggestions?
 
Perhaps your Axolotl is depressed? Have any life changing events happened recently (loss of loved one, laid off from job, extreme financial strain)? If so, contacting a psychiatrist may be your best option. Hope this helps, and good luck.
 
Shizeric said:
Perhaps your Axolotl is depressed? Have any life changing events happened recently (loss of loved one, laid off from job, extreme financial strain)? If so, contacting a psychiatrist may be your best option. Hope this helps, and good luck.
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Nope, nothing life-changing has happened. Maybe I should buy him something new for his tank?
 
But really...Axolotls are naturally lazy. Usually their daytime hours are spent laying about, usually hidden away from any source of light. Axolotls do often get themselves into odd positions, and that is nothing to be worried about...you have tested the parameters such as nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, as well as ensuring the tanks temperature does not exceen the recommded range for an Axie? As long as all of those test well, you shouldn't be worried at all.

p.s. A more appropriate diet than bloodworms would be Earthworms, if you can get your hands on any, that is the most nutritious diet for an Axolotl.
 
Shizeric said:
But really...Axolotls are naturally lazy. Usually their daytime hours are spent laying about, usually hidden away from any source of light. Axolotls do often get themselves into odd positions, and that is nothing to be worried about...you have tested the parameters such as nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, as well as ensuring the tanks temperature does not exceen the recommded range for an Axie? As long as all of those test well, you shouldn't be worried at all.

p.s. A more appropriate diet than bloodworms would be Earthworms, if you can get your hands on any, that is the most nutritious diet for an Axolotl.
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Yes, I've checked all that and it's fine.
Guess I have nothing to worry about then. :)
I might give the earthworms a try.
And actually, I just saw him on one side of the tank, went somewhere, came back and he was completely on the other side. He must have swam there, I just didn't see it.
 
Ok, another dilemma now - when feeding my axolotl bloodworms he took them out of my hand but seemed to have trouble swallowing or opening his mouth wide. Help!?
 
Axolotls don't really open their mouth that "wide", but the way they eat doesn't really resemble swallowing either. They vacuum their food up, 1 quick motion. Did he spit them out after getting them in its mouth?
 
Shizeric said:
Axolotls don't really open their mouth that "wide", but the way they eat doesn't really resemble swallowing either. They vacuum their food up, 1 quick motion. Did he spit them out after getting them in its mouth?
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Well, I have them in my hand and he usually takes them out of my hand and then does the vaccuming thing. This time he just had them half in his mouth and walked around for a bit with them dangling out his mouth lol. I'm sure he swalled a couple of them...I think he might have spit them out though.
I'll try feeding him worms tomorrow too.
 
Ok, he has been in the same position all day! He does sometimes do this, and this sounds horrible, but is there any way you can tell an axolotl is dead/dying? He has pale gills which is because he hasn't been moving...but I'm scared because he hasn't moved at all today. I have not yet tempted him with food, but I will do. My grandparents are cleaning the house and they're in the way, so I will try feed him later and get him to move. I'm worried because he didn't eat properly yesterday and otherwise hasn't been fed for about a week.
 
Axolotls can be really lazy little guys. It is not uncommon for them to spend all day just sitting around and watching the world go by. Their gills and skin will go pale when they're not being particularly active because they don't they don't need much energy and therefore don't need as much oxygen, so less blood goes to the gills.

If you're truly concerned then feel free to tempt him out with food, or seeing as you're feeding him by hand, just your finger. If I even slightly dip my finger into my axolotl's tank he always comes out to investigate.
 
My axolotls NEVER move..they stay in the same spot for hours on end...except when I turn a light on, or if it's feeding time. To make sure it hasn't "passed", just try and move him with your fingers, and check for a reaction..it should be simple to tell.
 
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Samyueruchan said:
Axolotls can be really lazy little guys. It is not uncommon for them to spend all day just sitting around and watching the world go by. Their gills and skin will go pale when they're not being particularly active because they don't they don't need much energy and therefore don't need as much oxygen, so less blood goes to the gills.

If you're truly concerned then feel free to tempt him out with food, or seeing as you're feeding him by hand, just your finger. If I even slightly dip my finger into my axolotl's tank he always comes out to investigate.
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I think he may be dead! I do not understand why though! I tried moving things around him, putting my finger near him, nothing worked. Shall I fridge him? How can I tell if he's dead or not? I've had him nearly a year, I must have done something right to keep him alive this long!
 
Did you try physically moving him around? Give him a "poke", see if he responds.
 
I did touch him...no response...
I'm so scared, I don't want to pick him up or anything. I don't want him to be dead :'(
 
Nothing at all moved? no gill or limb movement? If no...then I'm afraid it is probably gone.
 
Ok, I just went down to the shop to buy some milk for my mum, and Mika HAS moved, he's on the other side of the tank. That's a bit odd that he wouldn't move when I put my hand in but moved while I was away.
And about the cleaning stuff, I did think that! Possibly. Thanks, I'll do a small water change tonight to make sure...
And I will feed him today too.
 
Maybe I should fridge him? If he's ill and I thought he was dead, maybe fridging is a good thing to do...I don't know what it will do though. It's just what people seem to do when their axy is sick lol.
 
What do you have in your tank i.e substrate, your first post mentions it being acidic. What water do you use for the water changes..is it regular dechlorinated tap water? Also what temperature is your tank at the moment?
 
If it is your tap water (even after sitting) that is causing your pH and potassium levels to be off...you could try using bottled spring water for your water changes.
 
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