Gill length

Catherine1 · Apr 20, 2011

hi everyone.
there's probably some simple answer to what i'm going to ask, but, anyway, i've seen a lot of pics of axolotles with long gills. but both axolotles i have had have realy short gills. has it got something to do with age or breed or someting?

vlcuXX · Apr 20, 2011

I think your axolotls have had such short gills because of bad water quality >_> unless.... it can very well be genetics

Star · Apr 20, 2011

If your water quality has been fine then it would probably be down to genetics. The three I have, my wild type has gorgeous gills but the other 2 from a different breeder have small, poor gills.

dragonlady · Apr 20, 2011

To elaborate...gill length and fullness can be affected by water quality, genetics, diet, and IMO - water flow. Keep them in optimum conditions - consistant temp, decent params, offer plump worms. Axolotls originate from a lake environment, so as hobbyists, we try to re-create that dark, cool, slow moving water for them. Do these things and you could see changes happen with yours.

Their gills may never be long and luscious, depending on how long they were subjected to less than adequate conditions and their genetics. However, you can reverse some, if not all, of the ill effects in time.

edit: sorry, Star, didn't mean to step on you...

Star · Apr 20, 2011

It's np you know a lot more than me, I just try to help with my pitiful knowledge where possible

Catherine1 · Apr 22, 2011

ok. so what do you mean by water quality? like PH levels? i'm still new to careing for axolotls and one of mine passed away because i didn't know how to care for him/her (i never found out). i don't want to make those mistakes again.

Kaysie · Apr 22, 2011

Ammonia and Nitrite are much more damaging to axolotls than pH. Everyone gets hung up on pH. Axolotls can tolerate a wide range of pH, but only a tiny bit of ammonia or nitrite is enough to be toxic.

Catherine1 · Apr 29, 2011

Kaysie said:
Ammonia and Nitrite are much more damaging to axolotls than pH. Everyone gets hung up on pH. Axolotls can tolerate a wide range of pH, but only a tiny bit of ammonia or nitrite is enough to be toxic.

so how do i test these?

satyrlike · Apr 29, 2011

I use the API Master Kit. You can grab them off Ebay $12-$32 US.

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