Why is my axolotl acting strange, not eating, and has a dark belly?

Question

A few days ago my friend gave me 1 of her axolotls. I feed her blood worms every 2-3 days and I know that can make their stomachs look dark but I'm worried my axies belly is dark from an impaction. I don't keep any gravel in my tank, but one of the decorations in the tank is a piece of wood with moss covering it. Today I noticed a few small pieces of the wood on the bottom and shes acting strange. She has come up for air a few times and keeps swimming into walls. She also didn't eat a full meal. Pet's info: Other | Other Pet - Not Listed | Female | unspayed | 11 months and 15 days old | 1lb

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

Check water chemistry and temperature first. Axolotls are very sensitive to changes in either. If ammonia or nitrites are elevated, perform partial water changes using conditioned water that is temperature matched. They do best between 60 F and 64 F. Water temp above 75 F is stressful. Fast her for a few days to see if she passes a large amount of stool. If she does, resume feeding her as scheduled. If she doesn't improve, consider "fridging" her to reduce stress and allow for recovery. You can read about the fridging routine at the link below. https://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=85263

Why is my axolotl acting strange, not eating, and has a dark belly?

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