Everything seems to be going fine and then one day your axolotl starts to show different behavior and unusual symptoms. Finding out that your axolotl is suffering from impaction can be worrying, if you’re not sure what it is and how to treat it.
Impaction is a blockage of indigestible material in the axolotl digestive system. In many cases it is easily treated, but can be very serious if ignored.
Let’s have a look at how to check the signs of impaction and what can be done to help your axolotl.
How Do You Deal With Axolotl Impaction?
If your axolotl is suffering from impaction the problem can range from easy to resolve to fatal. So it’s vital to keep note of any changes in normal behavior along with any typical symptoms. Impaction can come on fast.
- Swollen abdomen
- Floating or stuck at the bottom
- Legs stuck up
- Tail higher than the body
- Lethargic
- Not moving much
- Not greeting for food
- Not Pooping
The solution for an impacted axolotl is to encourage passing through poop which will contain whatever is causing the impaction.
A common first step is to move your axolotl to a separate tank or container with 100% fresh dechlorinated water. Avoid any substrate or anything that can be swallowed which would further compromise the impaction. To help the digestive system kick in the water should be cooler than the main tank. So a little under the ideal 16-18°.
There are a few ways of managing a cooler temperature depending is you are using a tank or container. For a tank that doesn’t have a specific cooling system you could float a large bottle or two of frozen water on top of the water, replacing them as they thaw. A container could be placed on top of ice packs, switching over as they lose their chill.
It’s important to ensure that the water in both methods is changed daily. Hopefully, within a day you’ll start to find poop, or broken up poop in the water. If substrate or any other non-digestible has caused impaction then you should start to see signs of it in the water.
It’s important to not put your axolotl back into its tank too soon. This process can take a few days to completely work. But the first sign of poop is an encouraging start.
Some owners like to fridge their axolotl and swear by it, but really this should be a last resort method. You have to be sure the temperature of the fridge is what you think it is because sometimes it can be colder than the setting suggests. If you do use the fridge try to ensure it doesn’t drop below about 8°C.
When symptoms have gone and there has been plenty of pooping with the passing of anything blocking make sure the water is gradually warmed to the tank temperature before putting your axolotl back in its home.
Unfortunately, sometimes an axolotl may have ingested something too big to pass through. In some cases it’s even possible to see something down the throat. If the routine outlined is not working and there is no poop it is important to contact a vet who specializes in amphibians for advice and maybe arrange a visit. For serious cases surgery might be the only option, but you would be advised by the professional as to what the next steps should be.
If you are at all worried or really unsure about your axolotl always call the vet.
What Causes Axolotl Impaction?
Axolotls like soft digestible food and the way they eat is to open their mouth and powerfully suck the food in. The problem with this is that if they are in an environment where small objects and indigestible food are around them they have the habit of eating it. So impaction is not the same as your axolotl being little bit constipated.
A typical source of impaction for the axolotl is the substrate. When food is on top of it, some substrate can get sucked it as well. Anything larger than sand but smaller than their head carries a risk of being swallowed and creating a blockage.
Food can also be a cause of impaction for an axolotl. Anything with an exoskeleton won’t be fully digested as the axolotl can’t break that part down. Bones in a fish can also be a problem, and so can the bones of an unfortunate smaller axolotl.
If there is a lot going on in your axolotl tank the impaction could be the result of different things building up, as an axolotl’s digestive system works quite slowly. So eliminating as many opportunities for impaction as possible is the right thing to do to reduce that risk.
Tips To Avoid Axolotl Impaction
There are several things you can do to try and keep your axolotl safe from impaction, by restricting what is in their environment and what is given as food.
Be careful what substrate you choose. The ideal is no loose substrate at all. Some owners prefer to leave the tank bare-bottomed, but the axolotl can struggle to keep a footing on the glass and slip around. This can increase stress for some axolotls. An alternative is to put tiles in the bottom of the tank, sealed with a suitable aquatic sealant. Don’t use shiny glazed tiles as they can be as slippy as the glass and the glazing process may lead to leaching chemicals into the water. A good option therefore is slate and it looks really good.
If you have features in the tank then make sure that they are solid and bits can’t break off. That’s worth double-checking every now and again just to be sure something isn’t weakening in the water over time. Any bits could be grabbed by your axolotl and cause impaction.
Although they look attractive glass pebbles should be avoided. They are often found at the pet store, but for an axolotl they are probably just the right size to swallow and nice and smooth to go straight in. The axolotl has poor to very poor eyesight and can often mistake pebbles or small rocks as food, especially if there is food in close proximity. But once swallowed it’s very difficult for the axolotl to spit it back out.
A small tank mate might seem a good idea, but it might be eaten, and if there is anything indigestible it’s going to get stuck in your axolotl. So adding fish to the tank is probably something to avoid. The same applies to food, avoid anything that has an exoskeleton and stick with mainly worms.
Summary
By nature axolotls are prone to eating things they shouldn’t eat, on purpose, or by accident. By eliminating risks there is a greater chance of avoiding impaction. But once any symptoms occur it’s important to take the right steps to resolve and we’ve looked at simple methods to help your axolotl through impaction.