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Axolotls losing gill feathers

Axies R us

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Hello everyone!

Lately I've been noticing that my axolotl (Lizzy) has had a significant decrease in gill feathers. (I'm sorry, I didn't know how else to word that) She is in a 20 gallon long tank with no substrate and a 40 gallon sponge filter. I use an aquarium fan to keep her cool and the tempurature is usually around 60. She's fairly active and seems to be doing quite well except for the gills.. I try to do weekly water changes. Sometimes it's a week and a day or two. The first picture is from September. It's the best one I've found. She's hard to photograph. The second is today.

good gills Lizzy.jpg

Bad gills Lizzy.jpg
 

landonewts

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I see something similar on the wild type I just got. Gill feathers reduced over a week, although he was stressed with a fungal infection and nitrite spike ( both now resolved, he’s still recovering.) What are your water parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
 

Nvoyt123

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100% Check the water parameters. Poor water quality Can lead to loss of gill filaments. If you were doing frequent water changes then check the waterSource for any contamination or out of whack levels.
 

Axies R us

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Sorry I never responded. I lost my password and wasn’t able to get in. She’s doing fine now, I fridges her and started cleaning her tank twice a week.
 
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