Help! broken or dislocated limbs?

Hi guys,

Need a bit of help/advice. I've got loads of juveniles; seperated them to smaller numbers a month or so ago when I noticed a couple with tips of tail nipped and one with a limb missing.

Anywany, the war heroes are doing fine; but I've found a couple more that have either a broken or dislocated front leg.

I'm worried about these two with broken/dislocated legs. They seem happy enough - eating well; no signs of stress. However these broken legs look like they are on backwards - no sign of them coming right.

Any ideas?

Cheers, Phil

I would imagine you will just have to leave them be Phil. If they learn to live with their disabilities then they will know no different. I wouldnt imagine there is an awful lot else you can do, amputation is out of the question if they are eating and behaving normally in every other way. Perhaps nature will take its course.

Thanks Becky, I'd considered amputation - but wasn't sure how "well" the limb would grow back. ...plus I don't think I could do it!

They are only about 6-7cm at the mo. ...anyone had/got an Axolotl with a similar problem?

Im no expert on axie anatomy but i've always assumed that the legs are made of muscle/tendons or perhaps cartilage rather than bone. Purely because of the rapidity of regrowth after losing a limb. Im sure bone would require more time to calcify.

Either way im sure that like yourself I wouldnt be able to amputate!

Ive been lucky enough to breed our axies several times. While they are young axies tend to try and eat whatever is in front of them which can lead to 'cannibalism'. Once they 'mature' they seem to differentiate between what they can actually swallow and what is attached to a larger body. many young axies lose at least one limb while growing if kept with other axies. I've had several which have lost more than one limb at the same time (1 lost all legs for a while!) but it hasnt handicapped them and replacement limbs have swiftly regrown and the axie has been fine.

Very occasionally the limb will regrow back to front or in rare cases a 2nd limb will grow back resulting in 2 limbs from the same 'shoulder' or 'hip' area. Which looks weird but causes the axie no discomfort whatsoever. None that is noticable anyway.

Axies are remarkably resilient to physical damage such as this. So unless it appears to be in some distress I wouldnt worry too much. This is based on my personal experience so there be be other axie owners who may disagree.

I hope this has been of help.