Illness/Sickness: Why wont my axie eat?

[stebo88]

My axie is about 10 inches and about 4-5 years old. Ive only had him about 4 months. The previous owner only ever fed him chicken and prawns. As this is my first axie i didnt k iw much about them so i gathered it was ok to feed him chicken and prawn. K had heard that worms were the best diet for him so i tried them but he wouldnt eat them. Now im trying to get him to have worms only but he just wont have it he spits them out. Ive tried blanching the worms and cutting the worms smaller. I feed him by hand. The water is 17º which i believe is right. Ive tested the waters and everything is right. What am i doing wrong?

 

[HayleyK]

It just might take him time to get used to worms. It's like trying to introduce a new type of food to someone who will only eat the same thing over and over. He just might not be used to the texture, the fight and possibly the excretion worms let off.

How long has he not eaten for? If his body width is the width of his head he's a good weight and does not call for desperate measures, just keep trying!

P.s what kind of worms?

 

[stebo88]

They are Dendrobaena Worms*i ordered them online. Its been about a week and a half since he last ate. I think the his head is slightly wider than his body. Is there different ways of feeding? Could i put a feeding bowl in and pkace the worms on that or should i keep trying by hand?

 

[HayleyK]

They're fine to use. Some worms secrete very bitter slime (all secrete slime) but those ones aren't too bad. You can try putting them in a bowl but they usually escape and if your axolotl doesn't use a feeding bowl it may take him a while to understand what it is. If you have a bare bottom tank you can leave the worms in there for a while, they don't die quickly in water (few days and still alive, although would not recommend leaving them in your tank water for that long) and see if he snaps at them. DO NOT PUT THEM IN ANY OTHER SUBSTRATE, they will bury themselves in it. Just be persistent, keep trying! Try wriggling it to see if it gets his attention. Once he is eating again feed him more/regularly to aim for his body to be the size of his head as this is a perfect size to be

 

[auntiejude]

Have you tried blanching the worms? Just dash them with boiling water then cold, it kills the worm but keeps it fresh. This gets around the slime excretion and the wriggly issues. If he takes blanched worms you can try live worms again in a few days.

 

[stebo88]

I have sand in my tank now so will stick to hand feeding. The worms do get his attention but he either spits it out ir doesnt bother at all. I have tried live worms and blanched worms but he just isnt interested!!

Can he be force fed?

 

[HayleyK]

Force feeding is done when the axolotl is severely underweight. It's quite stressful for them so I wouldn't recommend force feeding. Just keep offering worms, he will get used to it.

 

[stebo88]

Il keep trying i just dont want him to get ill because he isnt eating. I have tried finding somwhere in my city that knows about axies but cant seem to find anywhere so looks like im on my own. This site has been a big help though so thanks alot.

 

[EmbryH]

Perhaps try feeding him in a separate feeding tub, something about the size of a shoebox. Maybe if you can get him conditioned to thinking "food" whenever you put him in the tub, and if you offer him a few different kinds, especially in smaller bites, you might have some helpful results to restart his appetite.

I imagine that he might be somewhat confused because you're offering him food he's never had before? Don't get me wrong; I literally groaned when I read he had only been fed chicken and prawns. A terrible idea! Earthworms are THE best food for axolotls, so it's worth trying to get him to switch to this food instead. Try cutting the worm into small bites. If he even eats one piece, he'll start realizing that it's ok to eat.

 

[auntiejude]

Ok, so is he's refusing worms try something else: live river or cherry shrimp, crickets with the legs removed, bloodworms, blackworms, waxworms/maggots, mealworms, or even roaches.
Raw prawns or white fish soaked to remove some of the salt will do at a pinch if he hasn't eaten in a couple of weeks and he's getting skinny.

 

[stebo88]

Ive tried feeding him in a seperate tub still not interested. Ive tried live worms dead worms n worms cut down still nothing. Now and again he does snap at the worm but then spits it back out which he never did with the chicken and prawns. I guess he just doesnt like worms so il just keep trying until he does.

 

[BrogieBaby]

Oh poor little Axi - It might be worth going back to what he knows to ensure he doesnt become poorly - even just to fatten him up again before you retry worms?

I feel so sorry for you as you sounds really worried!

Bless you - I hope he eats something soon - If he wont eat the food he usually does such as prawns then maybe there is an underlying problem that needs checked out?

 

[stebo88]

Tried again wiht the worms today and he eventually ate a small piece so hopefully he will start eating again properly.i blanched the worm and cut it up and left it to soak over night and this has worked so looks like i will have to keep doing that.

 

[stebo88]

Oh poor little Axi - It might be worth going back to what he knows to ensure he doesnt become poorly - even just to fatten him up again before you retry worms?

I feel so sorry for you as you sounds really worried!

Bless you - I hope he eats something soon - If he wont eat the food he usually does such as prawns then maybe there is an underlying problem that needs checked out?

I was really worried but i think heis going to be ok now

 

[stebo88]

Oh poor little Axi - It might be worth going back to what he knows to ensure he doesnt become poorly - even just to fatten him up again before you retry worms?

I feel so sorry for you as you sounds really worried!

Bless you - I hope he eats something soon - If he wont eat the food he usually does such as prawns then maybe there is an underlying problem that needs checked out?

I was really worried but i think heis going to be ok now