Sapphire’s Fight: How You Can Help Save a Remarkable Axolotl 💙
Some rescues arrive at LibertyLand with stories that stay with us forever. Sapphire’s is one of them.
This gentle, curious axolotl has endured more than most amphibians will in a lifetime. Her original owner, Abby, adored her and spared no effort to help her heal from a recurring anal prolapse—a painful, dangerous condition that has now happened three times. Over the course of her care, Abby spent more than $1,100 on veterinary procedures, specialized feeding, parasite treatments, and temperature regulation.
Despite these efforts, the prolapses kept returning. Abby shared with us:
“I want to help her, but I’m at my limit financially. It’s killing me not to be able to do what she needs.”
A Difficult but Hopeful Decision
After consulting with our veterinary team, we offered Abby a path forward: surrender Sapphire to LibertyLand so she could receive advanced care and—if successful—be adopted into a highly experienced local home.
It was not an easy choice, but Abby put Sapphire’s needs first. She carefully packed her in a temperature-controlled, oxygenated travel bag, tucked in frozen ice packs, and shipped her to us with a note that read:
“We will miss her dearly and she was very loved. I hope she’s able to recover and go to a new owner, but I understand if that’s not possible. I’m so happy to at least give her this chance.”
Now, Sapphire is safe in our care. But her journey is far from over.
Why Prolapse Is So Serious—Especially When It’s Repeated
Prolapse occurs when part of the gastrointestinal tract pushes outside the body, often through the cloaca. While it may appear as a small pink bulge, the risks are severe:
Tissue exposure to water, bacteria, and physical trauma
High infection risk, which can lead to necrosis
Pain and stress, often causing loss of appetite and further straining
Potentially fatal complications if untreated
Repeated prolapse is even more concerning. Each recurrence weakens the surrounding muscles and tissues, making future prolapses more likely and harder to treat. It can be linked to parasites, metabolic bone disease, genetic predisposition, or environmental factors.
At LibertyLand, we act quickly—combining exotic vet care, parasite screening, temperature control, and specialized recovery setups to give axolotls like Sapphire the best chance at healing.
How You Can Help
We’re raising $850 to cover:
Emergency vet diagnostics and treatment
Medications and parasite testing
Follow-up care to prevent recurrence
If Sapphire’s procedure and recovery are successful, she’ll be adopted locally into a home that understands her medical history and will never ship her again. If not, she will be treated with dignity and compassion every step of the way.
Every donation honors Abby’s love, Sapphire’s resilience, and LibertyLand’s mission to provide expert care to axolotls in crisis.
📸 We’ll share updates, photos, and vet notes as Sapphire’s journey unfolds—because when you give, you become part of her story.
💚 Donate today to help us turn heartbreak into healing: https://givebutter.com/HelpSaveSapphire
