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Sexing Axolotl

Opumilio

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Hi y'all!

First post so sorry if I messed up the formatting.
I adopted an adult axolotl (Lady Catrina) from a friend that couldn't take care of her anymore with his new work schedule.
After a really paranoid two weeks, I think she is settling in pretty well :happy:

A couple questions from the newbie owner:

1. Sexing - She(?) is showing a bulge at the cloaca region, but not as obvious as the other demo photos I've seen on the site. Yesterday she was swimming around frantically and opening her cloaca showing the pink and slightly fuzzy inside (scared the heck out of me), but it closes within 10 minutes so I think she's alright (though, do females do that?). Any opinions? (photos attached)

2. Gills - her gills are small and not feathery (see photo). Has been like this I got her. She didn't gulp air very often (~every 1-2 hrs) and seems fine otherwise. Tank's cycled and tested everyday in the past two weeks (current NH3 = 0, NO2 = 0, NO3 = 5ppm, temp = 18C/64.5F).

3. Color morph - she has green eyes and no golden outer ring, so I am guessing she is a melanistic GFP? Haven't got my hands on a UV light to check yet.

4. Setup - I attached a photo of the current set up (20 gallons). Anything that I should change?


Sorry about the huge list of questions! This is my first time owning an axolotl and I really want Lady to have a happy environment :happy: (though depending on the response she might need a name change lol).

Thanks!!
 

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Krispy

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She is looking more like a male who is trying to spawn. Maybe "he" is just less endowed than other males.

Another possibility is that she is constipated and is trying really hard to poop, and that's why she's opening her cloaca to force out the poop. Keep an eye on her appetite and her poops.
 

Opumilio

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Thank you!

Lady pooped this morning, and ate a worm today at least.
Appetite wasn't best when she first moved, but has become better recently.
I try to give her a red wiggler every day.
I'll continue to monitor her/him :happy:
 

Giuseppe

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Your set up is beautiful! I would maybe add another hide so they have options and I'm sure you'll want to have the lights on for the plants sometimes.
 

Hayleyy

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Absolutely a male, haha. I'm not sure about the inside of the cloaca, I've never had a male or this happen to any. If the pink comes out of the cloaca it may be a prolapse and will need vet treatment. Just keep an eye on it :)
Some axolotls have small gills, it's just their genetics. Environment can play a factor so make sure your water parameters are all optimal. Check your water hardness as well. I found out recently I have soft water so have been adding a small amount of aquarium salt during water changes to bring it up and I've noticed a significant improvement in my axolotls gills (see my avatar pic on the left!). I think dissolved oxygen can affect gills. Too much and their gills wont be big and fluffy. There are tests for this but I haven't been able to find any where I am.
He's a melanoid. Could be a gpf but the light will show that.
Set up is nice. How big is the tank? Another hide is a good idea.
 

Justjay

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Tank is 20 I think.

Prolapse response is hysterical. I don't think it's a concern however
 

Opumilio

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Thanks for the replies!
Really great that people respond so much here.

I'm keeping an eye on her behavior and appetite, but the cloaca seems fine as of now!

How do you check water hardness? Not pH I assume?


Also, he had fungus yesterday :(:(:(
A fuzzy white ball appeared on the tip of her toe within a few hours that I'm away.

I gave him a salt bath and a half water change last night, and the fungus was gone this morning.
But just within that few hours it ate a chunk of the toe!!! :(:(:(
Should I continue salt baths for a few more days just to be sure?
I feel so bad about it.

Water parameters were fine except a higher temperature than usual as it was really warm yesterday (19.5 C)
If 19.5C is what it takes for her to get sick I'm a bit worried about the upcoming Summer...
Should I put some Indian almond leaves into the tank to prevent future fungal infection?
(Tank's pH is on the high side 7.8-8 because of the tap water, so potentially this could help too?)

Thanks so much!!
 

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Opumilio

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Oops wrong photo - here's the fungus photo.
 

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Hayleyy

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You can absolutely use IAL for the fungus. It's more gentle than salt baths, although salt baths work a lot faster. Another option are tea baths.
API sell test kits for hardness. There's KH (carbonate hardness) and GH (general hardness), or a combo pack. I have the combo pack but mainly test for GH.
If you're worried about summer you can use a fan to bring temps down a few degrees. If you need something stronger a chiller is a great option, though they are expensive.
 

Opumilio

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Woo, thanks!
He has a leaf in his tank now!
Still searching for another good hide out but he will have it soon!
 

Hayleyy

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If you're struggling to find a good hide a terracotta pot or pvc pipe does wonders!
 
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