Okay I won’t make this text long but any questions are welcome. I’m extremely worried because my axolotl hasn’t eaten in a month.
This began first week of April when I woke up and found that he has injured the tip of his tail. I have no clue how and there are no sharp edges in the tank and I tank mates. Due to this I popped in an Indian almond leaf to prevent Infection and made sure to keep the tank cold.
When it was time for him to eat, he refused— initially I thought this was due to stress of injury so I didn’t want to stress him out more and left it. A week went by and nothing. Then at 2 weeks I began to worry so I tubbed him as a precaution and tested the water parameters. PH was 7.4 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrates 40ppm. As the nitrates were high ( I struggle with nitrates where I live as the water is very harsh) I did an 80% water change and cleaned the sand and the whole tank. I then left him in the tub another week just in case.
At the 3 weeks mark he passed a massive poo— I can attach the picture in the comments— it looked like it was mixed with sand and had a weird clear thing around it which I googled and it said it could have been intestinal lining (which apparently happens when they haven’t eaten for a while? I could be wrong). I thought that due to this he would start to eat again as it may have been constipation. I also want to preface that since I got my little guy he’s had stomach issues— like floating when he was younger— becoming constipated easily ect.
At around 3.5 weeks I tried to feed him (I tried to feed him everyday since the first week of not eating) and he struck at it and ate about half of the half worm that I gave him ( so about 1/4 of an earthworm). I thought things would look better as he began to strike at food but still wouldn’t eat fully. This lasted about 3 days of him striking at the food.
After that he stopped again and began to move back when food was presented to him.
Yesterday marked 4 weeks. A month. I’m super worried and stressed and I don’t know what else I can do. He is still tubbed but not eaten and has gotten skinny. He is also lethargic and I’m very worried.
Any advice or suggestions is welcome! I’m just tryna help my lil guy :((.
Extra info:
I use seachem prime
Feed him dendrobena worms I get from a bait shop
I test his tank every 2 weeks and do changes of 25-50% every month depending on parameters as my nitrates are high.
I use bottled water to change his water due to high tap nitrates (London based)
I have tried to contact a vet but no one in my area seems to know about axolotls ?? It’s infuriating.
His gills have shrunk since the not eating
Help help help !!!