Cryowuff
New member
Something strange has taken place with my baby axolotls. I don't know exactly when the gill filaments began to decline; though I do know I have not changed any cleaning methods of mine since their gills were feathery and beautiful.
Temperature is roughly 64°F, pH is generally 7.5, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all 0 - the babies are kept in individual tubs, which are both thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed with hot water with a 100% water change once a day. Waste is removed immediately once I notice it; uneaten food is no problem as these babies have ferocious appetites. I refill all of the tubs with room temperature, dechlorinated water from the same pitcher. The water is tested beforehand, and the parameters are never anything to worry about. The water is very high in oxygen content, although I don't believe it would cause gill erosion and/or curling to this extent.
These babies once had beautiful, feathery gills but now have drab, featherless gills that are scraggly and lie almost flat against their heads, and some even have gills that curl backwards and around at the tips. They definitely seem to have shrunk.
The gills before (taken in January): https://imgur.com/a/yjK4j
The gills as of tonight: https://imgur.com/a/w1Goo
Some of the babies' gills are much shorter/more curly than this one's. Somebody suggested it may be the result of genetic disorder, and I really hope that isn't the case as, to my knowledge, they would then need to be euthanized. Thank you in advance to anybody who can offer some help.
Temperature is roughly 64°F, pH is generally 7.5, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all 0 - the babies are kept in individual tubs, which are both thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed with hot water with a 100% water change once a day. Waste is removed immediately once I notice it; uneaten food is no problem as these babies have ferocious appetites. I refill all of the tubs with room temperature, dechlorinated water from the same pitcher. The water is tested beforehand, and the parameters are never anything to worry about. The water is very high in oxygen content, although I don't believe it would cause gill erosion and/or curling to this extent.
These babies once had beautiful, feathery gills but now have drab, featherless gills that are scraggly and lie almost flat against their heads, and some even have gills that curl backwards and around at the tips. They definitely seem to have shrunk.
The gills before (taken in January): https://imgur.com/a/yjK4j
The gills as of tonight: https://imgur.com/a/w1Goo
Some of the babies' gills are much shorter/more curly than this one's. Somebody suggested it may be the result of genetic disorder, and I really hope that isn't the case as, to my knowledge, they would then need to be euthanized. Thank you in advance to anybody who can offer some help.