Juvenile Axolotls are prone to accumulating air in their abdomens. Air leads to a distended abdomen and to floating upside-down. This occurs due to their immature gut adapting to a higher protein diet.
Aquarium size
Axolotls do not possess a swimbladder organ like fish.
You can gauge whether an axolotl is stressed when it is not eating and when its gills are forward-curled. The best way to avoid this is by fitting a spray bar or flow-spreading outlet.
An axolotl may be floating for a few reasons, such as an ammonia imbalance in their water, impaction, or bloat. All three of these conditions can cause your axolotl to feel unwell and have trouble moving around their tank. Or, it could be that they have died.
First, don't panic. Sometimes, particularly when they are young, they float without it being the symptom of a problem. Some young ones I was raising floated for a couple of weeks, but outgrew it later. They seem more prone to floating when they are hungry.
Baby axolotls should be fed daily to support their growth and development. Adult axolotls need to eat less often, perhaps one or two servings every other day. In fact, they can do just fine for up to two weeks without eating any food (although this shouldn't be tried at home).
Upon receipt, take the bag and float it for 30-60 minutes in the aquarium in which the axolotl is to be housed. This allows the axolotl to acclimate to the temperature of the aquarium. If your axolotl is cold when you receive it, its movement will be very slow or nonexistent.
Signs of Illness
Floating or “tilting” in the water can be a sign of systemic problems. This behavior is different than the axolotls' “hangout” posture, in which they appear to be suspended mid- tank. Hangout is normal axolotl behavior.
Curled gills are one of the first and most common signs of a stressed or unhappy axolotl. If your axolotl's gills appear curved outwards, towards the front of its face, it most likely means that your water parameters are off. Perform a water check and if necessary, a water change as well.
This can also happen if there is a big change in their water or if they're startled by something else. Zooming is normal and it just means that your axolotl was startled. Young axolotls are a lot more energetic than adults, and they swim around the tank much more frequently.
The main causes of sickness in Axolotls are poor water quality and chronic stress. You should check your water parameters regularly. Poor water quality can lead to secondary infections from parasites or bacteria. Unhealthy Salamanders will move stiffly, have very pale gills and may become thin and unresponsive.
Unfortunately, as they are live animals, they may suffer from a bacterial or fungal disease on occasion. Your Axolotl will be more prone to illness if it is not being kept in the right conditions, as our experience has shown that over 90% of fish health problems are caused by poor water quality.
Abnormal Behavior
These include forward curled gills, swimming erratically, writhing, loss of appetite, frequent floating, scratching at their gills with their back leg, or a fold in the very tip of their tail. If your axolotl exhibits any of these behaviors, test your water parameters right away.
The optimum environmental temperature for axolotls is 16-18°C and should never exceed 24°C. The ideal water pH is 7.4-7.6. Chlorine, as found in tap water, is harmful to axolotls and so either a de-chlorinator must be used, or the water must be left to stand for 24 hours before adding it to the tank.
Check the Water Temperature
Axolotls are not suited to warm water and prolonged exposure will lead to inappetence, bloat, uncontrollable floating, and death. If the temperature is too high adding cooled water from the fridge or freezer or placing a frozen bottle of water in the tank can be a short-term fix.
Axolotl Tank Cleaning
Now that you have axolotls, you may be wondering how to clean their tank. Rest assured, routine aquarium maintenance is actually very easy! You simply need to remove 25% of the aquarium water every 1-2 weeks to make sure that there is no buildup of harmful ammonia and nitrates in your tank.
Axolotls can be stressed for many reasons and then succumb to disease. The majority of the time, it is due to the owner being unaware of their needs. For example, they should be kept in slow moving water and fast flows should be avoided. Axolotls are also often over-fed.
A sign your axolotl is healthy would be: Fluffy gills. Round belly (same size as head) Gills back.
In axolotls, exophthalmia and corneal opacity can be a sign of prolonged exposure to high levels of nitrate. Additionally, poor husbandry can indirectly lead to depletion of alkalinity and lead to acidic water. Axolotls would develop a diffuse film of mucus and present ill.
It is often colored a dirt black or brown color, measures about an inch, and weighs about 0.04 ounces (1 gram). Cleaning axolotl waste can be a bit of a bother because it involves monitoring your pet as they only poop about once or a few times a week as adults.
Lifespan: In the wild, axolotls generally live 5-6 years but can reach 15 years in captivity.
Axolotl Behavior and Temperament
In fact, most of their body is made of cartilage rather than bone. That means they should not be handled unless absolutely necessary. And if you do have to move them out of their tank, do so with a fine mesh net that won't entangle any of their body parts.
Axolotls can live for up to 10 years of age if cared for correctly. Axolotls should be kept in an aquatic environment. They require the water temperature to be maintained between 14 and 19°C. If water temperatures are higher than this it will stress your axolotl and can lead to anorexia and infections.