Finding your axolotl floating, not moving, or looking sick is scary. Don’t panic there are things you can do right now that might save your pet’s life.

This guide covers the emergency steps you need to take immediately and how to spot what’s wrong.

Quick Emergency Checklist

If your axolotl looks like it’s dying, do these things RIGHT NOW:

Emergency Action	Why It Matters
Check water temperature	Should be 60-64°F (too hot kills fast)
Test water quality	High ammonia/nitrite is deadly
Do 50% water change	Removes toxins immediately
Turn off bright lights	Reduces stress
Remove uneaten food	Stops water from getting worse
Add air stone	Increases oxygen in water

Do these steps first, then keep reading to figure out what’s wrong.

Signs Your Axolotl Is Dying

Warning Sign	What It Means
Floating at top	Can’t control swimming, very sick
Lying on side	Too weak to stay upright
Not moving at all	Extremely weak or dying
Gills falling off or shrinking	Oxygen problem or infection
Pale or white color	Serious illness or shock
Curled tail tip	Water quality issue or stress
Refusing food for 5+ days	Something is very wrong
Fuzzy white growth	Fungal infection spreading
Red or bloody patches	Internal bleeding or infection

If you see any of these, your axolotl needs help fast.

Step 1: Fix the Water Immediately

Bad water is the number one killer of axolotls. Fix this first.

Check Temperature

Temperature	Action Needed
Below 60°F	Too cold warm up slowly
60-64°F	Perfect leave it alone
65-70°F	Getting dangerous cool it down
Above 70°F	EMERGENCY cool immediately

If water is too hot:

• Add ice cubes in a ziplock bag (don’t put ice directly in tank)
• Point a fan at the water surface
• Do a water change with cooler treated water
• Move tank to coolest room in house

If water is too cold:

• Move tank away from AC or drafts
• Add aquarium heater set to 62°F (turn off when it hits that)

Test Water Quality

Get a liquid test kit (not strips they’re not accurate) and check these:

Water Parameter	Safe Level	Dangerous Level
Ammonia	0 ppm	Anything above 0
Nitrite	0 ppm	Anything above 0
Nitrate	Below 20 ppm	Above 40 ppm
pH	6.5-8.0	Below 6.5 or above 8.5

If ammonia or nitrite are above 0:

• Do a 50% water change RIGHT NOW
• Add water conditioner that removes ammonia (like Seachem Prime)
• Test again in 2 hours
• Keep doing water changes until levels hit zero

Do an Emergency Water Change

Don’t wait do this now:

1. Remove 50% of tank water
2. Add tap water treated with conditioner
3. Match the temperature to what’s in the tank
4. Pour slowly so you don’t stress the axolotl more

Do this even if you just changed water yesterday. Dying axolotl = emergency water change.

Step 2: Figure Out What’s Wrong

Now that water is better, figure out the problem.

Temperature Shock

Symptom	What Happened
Floating, can’t swim right	Water got too hot too fast
Gills bright red and fluffy	Water way too hot (above 75°F)
Not moving, pale	Water temperature changed suddenly

How to fix it:

• Get water to 60-64°F slowly (change 2-3 degrees per hour)
• Keep lights off
• Don’t feed for 2-3 days
• Watch closely for improvement

Ammonia or Nitrite Poisoning

Symptom	What Happened
Gills damaged or falling off	Ammonia burned them
Red spots on skin	Chemical burns from bad water
Gasping at surface	Can’t breathe properly

How to fix it:

• Do daily 25% water changes until levels stay at zero
• Add beneficial bacteria (like Seachem Stability)
• Don’t feed until ammonia is zero for 3 days
• Add extra air stone for oxygen

Fungal Infection

Symptom	What It Looks Like
White fuzzy patches	Cotton-like growth on skin or gills
Slime coating peeling	Looks like clear sheets coming off

How to fix it:

• Do 50% water change
• Lower temperature to 60°F (slows fungus)
• Add aquarium salt: 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons
• Keep water super clean with daily small water changes
• If it doesn’t improve in 3 days, get antifungal treatment

Bacterial Infection

Symptom	What It Looks Like
Red patches or streaks	Blood-looking marks on body
Swollen body parts	Puffy belly or limbs
Cloudy eyes	White film over eyes

How to fix it:

• Do 50% water change
• Keep temperature at 62-64°F
• Add aquarium salt (same as fungal treatment)
• If no improvement in 2 days, you need antibiotics from a vet

Impaction (Blocked Stomach)

Symptom	What It Looks Like
Swollen belly	Looks bloated and round
Floating uncontrollably	Can’t stay on bottom
Not pooping	Nothing coming out for days

How to fix it:

• Stop feeding completely
• Lower temperature to 60°F (slows digestion)
• Do daily water changes
• Put axolotl in shallow container (fridging see below)
• Wait 5-7 days to see if it passes

Step 3: The Fridging Method (Advanced)

If your axolotl is really sick and not getting better, fridging can save its life. This slows everything down so it can heal.

When to Fridge

Use Fridging For	Don’t Use For
Impaction	Temperature shock (too hot already)
Serious illness	Minor problems
Not eating for week+	Fungal infections (makes worse)
Floating badly	If you’re not sure what’s wrong

How to Fridge Safely

What you need:

• Small container (like tupperware)
• Dechlorinated water
• Fridge that stays 40-45°F
• Daily fresh water

Steps:

1. Fill container with treated tank water
2. Put axolotl in container (water should cover it but be shallow)
3. Put container in fridge
4. Change 100% of water every single day
5. Keep in fridge for 5-14 days depending on problem
6. Slowly warm back up (move to cool room for day, then back to tank)

Check your axolotl daily. It should barely move that’s normal in the fridge.

Step 4: Stop Feeding

This sounds wrong but it helps:

Situation	How Long to Stop Food
Any illness	3-5 days minimum
Impaction	7-14 days
After fridging	2 days after back in tank
Water quality issues	Until ammonia/nitrite = 0 for 3 days

Food makes sick axolotls worse. They’ll be fine without eating for 2 weeks. Seriously.

Step 5: Watch for Improvement

Good Signs (Getting Better)	Bad Signs (Getting Worse)
Gills getting fluffy again	Gills completely gone
Starting to move around	Still not moving after 3 days
Color coming back	Turning more pale/white
Eating small amounts	Still refusing food after week
Wounds healing	New wounds appearing

Give it at least 3-5 days to see improvement. Axolotls heal slow.

When to Give Up (Sad but Real)

Sometimes you can’t save them. Here’s when to consider letting go:

Sign They’re Not Going to Make It	What to Do
Not moving for 3+ days despite treatment	Consider humane euthanasia
Body falling apart or rotting	Talk to vet about options
No gill movement for 48 hours	Might already be gone
Completely white and stiff	Probably already dead

If you think it’s time, a vet can help with humane euthanasia. Don’t flush or freeze alive that’s cruel.

How to Prevent This From Happening Again

Once your axolotl is better (or if you get a new one), do these things:

Prevention Step	How Often
Test water	Once a week minimum
Water changes	25% every week
Check temperature	Every single day
Clean filter	Every 2-4 weeks
Watch for behavior changes	Daily when feeding
Keep tank cool	Always 60-64°F
Don’t overfeed	Every 2-3 days for adults

Most dying axolotls could have been saved if the owner caught problems early.

Emergency Supplies to Keep On Hand

Supply	Why You Need It	Cost
Water test kit	Check for poison fast	$20-30
Water conditioner	Remove chlorine/ammonia	$8-15
Aquarium salt	Treat infections	$5-10
Extra thermometer	Temperature is critical	$5-10
Small container	For fridging/isolation	$5
Air stone & pump	Add oxygen in emergency	$15-25
Stress coat	Helps heal damaged gills	$8-12

Having this stuff ready means you don’t waste time running to the store while your axolotl is dying.

Common Mistakes That Make Things Worse

Don’t Do This	Why It’s Bad
Add medicine without knowing problem	Can make things worse
Do 100% water changes	Too shocking, kills beneficial bacteria
Handle the axolotl a lot	Damages their slime coat
Keep feeding sick axolotl	Makes illness worse
Use hot water to warm tank fast	Kills them from shock
Ignore curled tail or pale color	Early warning signs you missed

Finding an Exotic Vet

Most regular vets don’t know axolotls. Find an exotic vet BEFORE you need one.

How to find one:

• Search “exotic vet near me” or “amphibian vet”
• Call and ask if they treat axolotls specifically
• Join axolotl groups online and ask for vet recommendations
• Save the phone number in your phone right now

Vet visits cost $50-$300 but might save your pet’s life.

Can a dying axolotl recover?

Yes. Many axolotls recover if the problem is caught early. Clean water, cool temperature, and quick action can make a big difference.

What is the first thing I should do if my axolotl looks sick?

Check the water. Ammonia and nitrite must be zero. If they are not, do a large water change right away.

Should I use medicine to save my axolotl?

No. Most fish medicines are dangerous for axolotls. Clean, cool water is usually the best treatment.

Is floating a sign my axolotl is dying?

Not always. Floating is often caused by gas, constipation, or poor water quality. Fix the water first and stop feeding for a short time.

When should I use the fridge method?

Only if your axolotl is very weak, has fungus, or is not improving in clean water. It should be used carefully and for short periods.

How long can an axolotl go without eating when sick?

A healthy axolotl can go several days without food. It is safer to pause feeding than to force food during stress.

What is the most common reason axolotls die?

Bad water quality. Most cases involve uncycled tanks, warm water, or dirty conditions.

Can warm water kill an axolotl?

Yes. Warm water lowers oxygen and increases stress. Long exposure can lead to sickness or death.

Final Thoughts

Most dying axolotls can be saved if you act fast. The key things:

1. Fix water quality immediately
2. Get temperature right (60-64°F)
3. Stop feeding
4. Do daily water changes
5. Give it time to heal

Don’t give up after one day. Axolotls are tough and can recover from serious problems if you give them clean, cool water and time.

If you did everything you could and your axolotl still dies, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes they get sick beyond saving. Learn from it and do better next time.

Note: This guide gives general help for emergencies. If your axolotl isn’t improving after 3-5 days of treatment, find an exotic vet. Add links to your other articles about axolotl care, water quality, and tank setup throughout this post.