Blog – Page 7 – Wild Hearts Wild Life

Thankfully, as long as axolotls are cared for properly, they are generally pretty healthy critters. While some types of illnesses are random and can't be avoided, a large majority of sicknesses in axolotls are caused by improper conditions in your aquarium. Amphibians, like axolotls, can be especially sensitive to things like chemicals in their environment, improper temperatures, poor water condition, and other stressors. If you're thinking of getting an axolotl as a pet, or you already have one, it's super important that you learn how to properly maintain their environment! https://wildheartswildlife.com/basic-axolotl-care-sheet Axolotl Care Quick Facts: Ideal pH: Between 6.5 and 8.0 Ammonia levels should always be 0! Nitrites should remain at 0 parts per million. Nitrates between 5 and 20 parts per million are considered safe. Any higher than 20ppm warrants a water change. Temperature: Between 58*F and 68*F is ideal. Over 70*F is getting too warm and higher than 75*F for an extended period of time can be detrimental. https://wildheartswildlife.com/what-temperature-is-too-cold-for-axolotls I've rehabbed many axolotls in the past, thankfully many of them just needed a bit of TLC before finding a new home. My own four axolotls have remained quite healthy. Although that's a great thing, it means that I don't have my own photographs of a lot of the conditions I'm going to discuss in this post. When/if I have the opportunity too, I'll add pictures to this post. If anyone has photos of any of the conditions I mention that they'd like to allow me to share in this post, please contact me! Signs Of Stress In Axolotls If you keep a close eye on your axolotl, you can often times observe signs of stress before you'll see other, more dramatic signs of illness. This is important! Recognizing early signs of stress means you may be able to improve your axolotl's conditions before he/she develops a more serious illness. Curled Gills This is an example of normal axolotl gill position. Gills curled forward is often a very early sign of stress in an axolotl. Curled gills will mean that your axolotl's gill stalks will curve forward, towards your axolotl's head. A normal position for an axolotl to hold their gills at is generally sticking straight up, or backwards towards their body. However, this can be a bit of a "know thy axolotl" type situation. Curled gills don't always mean your axolotl is seriously stressed out. Sometimes axolotls who are particularly blessed in the gill department can have gills that somewhat curve forward naturally. Gills can also temporarily appear to curve forward due to water current in the tank, or just due to the way your axolotl is moving. Still, curved gills in axolotls is something to pay attention too. If you notice your axolotl has curved gills, it's important to check your tank parameters. If water parameters look ok, keep an eye on your axolotl to see if the gill curl is temporary. If their gills remain curled for an extended period of time, and curled gills is not the norm for your axolotl, further investigation is warranted. Curled Tail Tip A lot of people confuse curled tail tip with curled tail, myself included! Until I actually saw a curled tail tip for the first time (and unfortunately I didn't get a photo at the time, darn it) I thought that when people mentioned a curled tail tip it referred to any curling of the tail. That's not the case. A curled or curved tail can be a normal position for an axolotl, especially if their tail is curled against a hide or tank wall. What you want to look for is a curve at the very tip of your axolotl's tail. It almost looks like a cupping of just the very tip of the tail. Again, learn what is normal for your axolotl. Because I noticed recently that one of my axolotls in particular, Nova, was actually curling her tail (not the tip) more than usual on a particularly hot day. I cooled down her tank a bit and she stopped curling her tail. So, although curled tail tip usually only refers to the curling of the very tip of the tail, in Nova's case I learned that she seems to curl her tail as a response to feeling a bit too warm. I haven't observed this behavior in any of my other axolotls thus far. Increasing Air Breathing Axolotls, being the little weirdos that they are, can breathing both underwater and in air. Once in awhile you might see your axolotl swim to the surface of their water to take a gulp of air. Seeing this once in awhile isn't a huge deal, but if your axolotl suddenly starts to make frequent trips to the surface of it's tank it could be a sign of a problem. Notably, it can mean that there isn't enough oxygen in your axolotl's water. This can sometimes be a sign that their water is too warm, as warm water holds less oxygen than cool water. Double check the temperature of your axolotl's water, and that any filters or bubblers you have set up in your tank haven't stopped working. More Serious Signs of Stress Or Signs of Illness The signs in this section are more serious signs of stress in an axolotl. They can also be signs of illness. Loss of Appetite Refusing food can, best case scenario, mean that your axolotl is just not hungry or that they are being picky. But it can also be a sign of stress. If you just got an axolotl and introduced them into a new home, not eating for a day or two can be a normal stress response. However, axolotls are typically pretty enthusiastic eaters and food refusal, especially for an extended period of time, can be a sign of illness. Floating Floating isn't always a sign of stress or illness. Sometimes axolotls float, upright, just for fun or because they find it comfortable. However, floating on their side or upside down is a cause for concern. Also floating coupled with lethargy can be a sign of illness. I've noticed that if an axolotl is floating just for fun/comfort, they will move pretty quickly away from the top of their aquarium if you disturb them. But an axolotl who is sick may remain floating even when disturbed, or may move away much more slowly. Sometimes axolotls, especially when they are young, will float due to trapped gas in their digestive tracts. This can cause them to float abnormally, sometimes even on their sides or upside down, but isn't always accompanied by lethargy. While this symptom can look quite dramatic, it usually resolves once the axolotl is able to pass the offending gas. "Floaty butt" is a symptom where just your axolotl's back end may appear to float up abnormally. This is typically a sign of gas or constipation. Frantic Swimming Axolotls can get the zoomies! Swimming around quickly isn't always a cause for concern. However, very frequent frantic movements or looking like they are trying to escape from their tank can be a sign that your axolotl is in discomfort or pain. This is a common symptom of unsafe water parameters, or chemicals in your axolotl's water that may be causing a burning sensation on their skin. Scratching or Rubbing If you catch your axolotl scratching at their body or gills, or rubbing up against objects in their aquarium, this can be a sign of discomfort. Scratching and rubbing can be a symptom of external parasites or things like fungus on the skin or gills. Fungus isn't always easy to see, so don't assume your axolotl doesn't have it just because you don't see it, especially if your axolotl is displaying other symptoms. Lethargy An axolotl who is moving particularly slowly, especially when disturbed, doesn't move for a long period of time, or is unresponsive is probably ill. Axolotls are not always the most active of animals, however even the laziest axolotl should move away normally if provoked. Physical Signs of Illness So far this list has included behavioral changes that can point to your axolotl being stressed and/or ill. These are more physical signs that you may see. Pale Skin And Gills Looking pale, once again, isn't always a sign of a problem. Some axolotls will look a bit pale if they are being particularly sedentary. They'll usually color up again pretty quickly once they begin moving around. This is especially noticeable in light colored axolotls. If your water is especially cold it can sometimes make your axolotl look pale as well. However, if your axolotl is pale and lethargic, and it's tank water is not too cold, this can be a sign of illness. https://wildheartswildlife.com/can-axolotl-change-color Bloat Bloat can sometimes go hand in hand with floating, but it doesn't always. Bloat will cause your axolotl's body, and sometimes also their face and limbs, to look swollen or inflated. This is a common symptom of organ failure, sadly, but it can also be a sign of more treatable conditions such as bacterial infections. Lumps and Bumps Axolotls are pretty resistant to developing cancer, but it unfortunately does happen sometimes. Pay attention to any new lumps and bumps. In young axolotls especially, but also sometimes in adults, you may notice their belly budges out a bit on one side. This is normal after a large meal and should go away after they've had some time to digest. Very small bumps on the skin, that almost look like small pimples, can be a sign of poor water quality. I've seen this in axolotls who were shipped and went to the bathroom in their shipping bags, so spent a bit of time in quite dirty water. In my experience, the bumps resolved on their own after around a week or so of the axolotl being kept in clean water. Gill Damage Gill deterioration can be one of the most clear, tell tale signs that something is wrong with your axolotl. This is commonly a sign that your aquarium is not cycled properly, and chemicals building up in your aquarium are damaging your axolotl's gills. https://wildheartswildlife.com/how-to-cycle-a-freshwater-aquarium With gill deterioration, sometimes the frills/filaments on your axolotl's gills may appear to decrease in size or number. Sometimes the gill stalks themselves can appear to shrink as well. Visible Fungus Seeing fungus, tufts or patches of white on your axolotl's gills or body is a pretty clear sign of illness. However, a fungus is not always a fungus. What looks very similar to fungus can sometimes be a sign of a bacterial infection. Wounds or Injuries Visible wounds, injuries, and missing body parts are clear signs that something is up. Look for and remove any sharp objects from your axolotl's tank. If your axolotl lives with a tank mate, you should separate them. Thankfully, axolotls have amazing healing abilities and can regrow missing gills and limbs. However, wounds do have the potential to become infected. Sometimes some supportive care will be required if your axolotl is injured. Peeling Slime Coat Axolotls are covered in a layer of slime called a slime coat. Peeling slime coat can be a sign of illness or unhealthy water conditions. A peeling slime coat will often look like white or grayish patches of peeling skin. Peeling slime coat can be a sign of stress, parasites, or illness. Ammonia Burn Especially in light colored axolotls, ammonia or chemical burns can look pretty intense. The skin will look very red, irritated, and raw. Ammonia burn is very painful and if not treated promptly can kill your axolotl. Treatment Step 1 This post is already getting rather long, and writing about ways to treat all the various conditions that could cause the symptoms listed above would probably turn this article into a novel. But if you are reading this because your think your axolotl is showing signs of illness, I don't want to leave you hanging without any way to help your aquatic friend. For any type of illness, treatment step 1 should always be to tub your axolotl! https://wildheartswildlife.com/tubbing-101-tubbing-axolotl Tubbing is not a treatment per say, but it's a quick and easy way to get your axolotl out of a potentially dangerous situation. Get your axolotl into a tub of clean, cool, dechlorinated water ASAP if you notice any signs of distress. Tubbing your axolotl can hopefully get them more comfortable, and can buy you a bit of time to figure out what's going on and how to treat it. Sometimes getting an axolotl out of a toxic environment will be enough on it's own to resolve it's discomfort. While your axolotl is comfortably tubbed, you can buy some time to figure out whether something is wrong with your aquarium, research treatments if your axolotl is suffering from a minor illness, or call an exotics vet if you need to bring in the big guns. In the future I'll be writing more about specific health conditions, but no matter what the condition tubbing is always the first step towards recovery for your aquatic friend. Think of a tub as an axolotl hospital bed. Not An Exhaustive List Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. If your axolotl is displaying unusual behaviors or health concerns, just because you can't find his/her symptoms on this list doesn't mean that your aquatic friend might not be battling stress or a health condition. If I think of any common symptoms that I forgot, I'll edit this post to add them. But when in doubt, please consult with an exotics vet who has experience with aquatics/axolotls. A Well Cared for Axolotl is a Healthy Axolotl! Again, remember that most, although not all, health issues in axolotl are caused by improper aquarium conditions. Making sure you keep your axolotl in a clean, cool, cycled aquarium can go a long way towards avoiding the signs of illness mentioned in this post! For the most part, a well cared for axolotl is a healthy axolotl! Freak illnesses do occur, though, so don't beat yourself up too much if your axolotl becomes sick. Just get out that tub and do what you can to help them get better again! Knowing the early signs of stress and illness can help you catch any potential disease quickly, and hopefully fix them as quickly as possible. Amphibians can be sensitive critters, and generally your axolotl will have a better chance at recovering from an illness if you catch and treat it early. ——————— Unfortunately, Wild Hearts Wild Life has been dealing with content scrappers stealing our content and posting it to other websites without permission. If you’re seeing this article posted anywhere besides wildheartswildlife.com it means you are seeing it on a content scalper’s site. Please consider contacting us to let us know, and stopping by to visit on our actual site! Thank you!