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Critical - act now

Erratic swimming, twitching, or glass-surfing — something new was added recently

This looks like: chemical irritation from something newly introduced to the tank or the room around it

Do this firstDo a large water change immediately (50% or more) with dechlorinated, temperature-matched water to dilute whatever's in the water.

Why this happens

New decor that wasn't rinsed or cured, aerosols and cleaning sprays used near an open tank, scented candles, or medication dosed incorrectly can all irritate an axolotl's skin and gills and cause visibly erratic, distressed swimming very quickly.

How sure are we? A clear time link — new item or product, then erratic behaviour shortly after — is a strong signal, and this is one of the more urgent patterns on this tool because the exposure is ongoing until you act.

What to do right now

  1. Do a large water change immediately (50% or more) with dechlorinated, temperature-matched water to dilute whatever's in the water.
  2. Remove whatever was newly added if it's still identifiable — unrinsed decor, a dosed product, anything that timeline-matches.
  3. Run carbon or fresh mechanical/chemical filter media if you have it on hand — it helps pull dissolved contaminants out faster.
  4. Ventilate the room and stop using any aerosols, sprays, or scented products nearby going forward — even airborne exposure near an open-top tank can reach the water.
  5. Watch closely over the next few hours; if erratic behaviour continues past a large water change, this crosses into a vet-emergency situation.

What not to do

Stop it happening again

Rinse or soak all new decor before adding it, and keep aerosols, sprays, and scented products away from an open tank permanently.

If that doesn't fix it

Going forward, rinse or soak new decor before adding it, and keep aerosols and sprays away from an open tank permanently — this is a fully preventable category of emergency.

Catch this earlier next time — log your axolotl's water parameters in App-aquatic. Free forever.

← Back to Axolotl SOS diagnostic

This isn't veterinary advice - it's a directional read to help you decide your next step, based on the most common causes and independently checked sources (Merck Veterinary Manual, PetMD, established amphibian husbandry references). We can't see your axolotl, so pair it with a liquid test kit and clear photos, and see an exotic or aquatic vet for anything serious or not improving.