Large Lump/Pale Gills

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

I started a thread called pale gills (see info in op)

I have just spotted this tho, dies it look normal or is there a lump??

That one is through the glass of the tank, this next one is a birdseye view

I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid but I'm getting really worried

Kaysie · Jul 20, 2011

Other than looking a bit thin, I don't see anything wrong with your axie. Her gills look fine, not pale at all.

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

Well there not like this any more

Before

After

So you think there isn't any issues with the right hand side of her body???

Linus · Jul 20, 2011

possible impaction? Did you have any rocks in their the size of the axies head?

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

Linus said:
possible impaction? Did you have any rocks in their the size of the axies head?

I just took these out of the tank......

There wasn't anything smaller....

Linus · Jul 20, 2011

Ahh! Not good!! Never put anything the axie can fit in his mouth in the tank! Can you feel an object in there? Short of x-rays it's tough to tell, if it is a rock fridging should help your axie pass the stone.

vlcuXX · Jul 20, 2011

My Axolotl's gills change colour a little bit depending on their surroundings, like when i change they're tank sand or decorations, and the before picture looks like u changed the substrate therefor maybe her gills changed depending on that.

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

surely they are to big to be eaten?

If it is that big will see be able to poop it out??

I havent touched here so I don't know.

I have changed the bottom but the other one is fine and still eating, Mia hasn't eaten for about 2weeks now

Linus · Jul 20, 2011

This puts it in perspective.

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

Hmmm

thats not good.

I've put in bloodwork to see if see will eat that instead of a worm but I think i'm gonna have to give the vet a call.....

Do you think I should fridge here in the mean time?

Linus · Jul 20, 2011

If he's impacted fridging will help her pass the stone. Assuming it is passable, I'm not sure what size stone its ingested.

Is it pooping?

hacelepues · Jul 20, 2011

Usually after I feed my axies their pellets I can see little lumps moving around on their torso for the next few hours until they poop it all out! But that looks a little too big.

Is she floating at all?

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

not floating at all, she's been walking and swimming around like normal. cant tell if she's been pooping but she hasn't eaten for about a 2weeks, I didn't really notice the lump until today

tbh 'm expecting the worst, she's in the fridge now but if she die's i'm going to get rid of her partner

Linus · Jul 20, 2011

Well - slow down! Fridging may help! Fridging will let you know if she is pooping

Put extra water in the fridge to do daily water changes at the same temp. If you can gently feel her lumpy area you should be able to feel if it is moving and could be something she ingested. I believe the axy in the x-ray pic I showed you was able to spit up the stone after fridge treatment for a while. This is what fridging is for! Now you know what not to put in the axies tanks! It's all learning, no one is perfect.

Keep us updated!

priesty · Jul 20, 2011

Thanks, will do! :S

I'll just cross my fingers and hope!

priesty · Jul 25, 2011

Still no luck with this, she's been in the fridge since wednesday and I'm doing daily water changes, the first day I changed there was poop in the bowl however since then there hasn't really been much of anything :/

priesty · Jul 27, 2011

Been to the vet today, had a x-ray which confirmed that it's not impactation which depending on which way you look at it isn't good or bad :/

They seem to think it's a issues with her kidneys but I have to call them in a couple of days, If the lump is still there and it's still purple there gonna look to send her to the local zoo and there exotic expert.

Crysta · Jul 29, 2011

Axolotl organs tend to be purple. Sometimes axies do get a little lumpy - redness in the gills tends to be directly related to activity (more activity, more blood flow)

And yes Aura, if i remember correctly that axie did recover - but the stone was extracted.

The fact it isn't a blockage is only good news. Looking at your story, there doesn't seem to be anything serious wrong here. If the behavior is fine and un-changed (minus small changes for stress from being moved around a lot, and the effects of fridging) I really wouldn't worry right now.

She needs a good environment with good husbandry and lots of observation, not to be transported when there's no real reason for it - transportation is a very stressful thing for axolotls. It's possible that there's fluid build up inside her. Your vet doesn't seem very Axolotl savvy (from the still purple thing). You will need an axolotl savvy vet regardless of any problems.

Axolotls often get lumps on their sides - they are not a straight through system, they have digestive systems that are all twisty and silly like ours. I would suspect it's food/poop going through her system or fluid build up.

priesty · Aug 3, 2011

Well she's finally died

Came home from work and I guess with the hot conditions and the fact she hadn't eaten for about a month it's finally took it out of her

Ive taken a photo of her underside and you can really she the purple, i can post it if anybody is interested in her symptoms.

RIP Mia.

Crysta · Aug 3, 2011

Sorry for you loss, priesty. Sometimes these things happen for no clear reason - it's important we don't blame ourselves. You did a lot for her, and you have the right attitude, i'm sure you're a great axolotl keeper who's just had a bad experience. I hope you don't get rip of her partner - i'm sure you'll do an amazing job with them.

The temp has gone up a few Cs here in the UK the resulting jump in ambient temperature could have taken her in her weakened state. You did the right thing looking for advice and taking her to the vets.

Large Lump/Pale Gills

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