Shrinking growing, Shrinking growing (gills)

[yager]

Hi, my axolotl has been growing pretty fast, but everytime it seems he goes through a growth spurt his gills will loose all its feathers so to speak, and then they start to grow back really full like this. He is kept in this one gallon tray that is cleaned every day and has been here since he was 1.5 inches. I want to move him soon, his water stays around 69 degrees and the water is dechlorinated, could it be my water??? If you look at the pictures in sequence the first three are from august 1st this year and the last three are from august 11 today. Look how his gills have shrunk, and i'd bet they are bushy again like the first three by middle of next week.... anybody experience this before???

[Rayson]

Your axie gills are fine. There is no pathology causing the gill shrinkage. Its likely to be attributed to higher oxygen content in the water that cause a gradual gill shrinkage. That is a normal and expected natural response.

[yager]

Thank you, but i have not added any oxygen to the water, there is no and has been no airstone or anything in that water since he was little. Maybe he's shedding because he always regrows the gill filaments back once they shrink. I don't think there is any oxygen in there.

[click]

Hi Yager,

I agree with Rayson your axolotls gills look fine. All water has oxygen in it thats why its chemical symbol is H2O.

[yager]

Can you post a pic and give water parameters. This would be most helpful.