Will gills grow back on fridged axie?

[hunnybee]

Hi,

My axolotl has been in the fridge for just over a week. His tank temp got too warm and he wasn't very well, and also developed a fungal infection - well I guess that's what it was as there were whitish, stringy/fluffy bits on him and in the water with him in the fridge. Now he has been having salt baths the fungus has all but disappeared and he is looking good, except he has lost all the feathery parts of his gills. Will they grow back?

Also, will I have to clean out the entire tank and basically start again due to the fungal infection? The little fluffy bits that fell off in the fridge must also have been falling off in the tank.

Thanks for any advice that anyone has.

[Leanne]

hi hunnybee

as far as i know your axies gills will grow back (im pretty new to the world of axies myself).....but they might not be the same as they were before....im not sure about the tank tho...
lea

[Rayson]

Hihi,

With proper tank maintenance and nutrition, your axie's gills will grow back. Even if fridged, the gills will still gradually grow back.

There is no necessity to clean out the tank and restart from fresh. That is actually counterproductive. By doing that, you will have to cycle the tank all over again. That would also not prevent future fungal infections.

The fungus that causes the common fungal infection in axies (saprolegnia) are actually normally present in the tank water. They are always present and normally would not cause any harm to your axie. Axies get an infection when they are stressed. Stressed axies have reduced immune competence and make them more susceptible to infections.Thus, the best way to prevent infection is to keep your axie happy by ensuring good water quality, temperature and nutrition.

[axiegaz]

Originally Posted by hunnybee

Will they grow back?

Hi Hunnybee,

the definately grow back, Klaus, one of my golden albinos had a similar thing when i first got him. During the infection he lost all the feathery parts to one of his gills (it was just a white stalk ) they are all steadily growing back now :)