Damage to gills from earthworm?

[yonykins]

So tonight I fed my axie an earthworm, a big nightcrawler, and he very excitedly snapped it up. So much so that the earthworm went straight through his gills, so one end was poking out through the gills, the other through his mouth. I let him deal with it while I searched the forum for advice, and saw an old thread in which someone thought it was funny when it happened to their lotl, so I had hope it wasn't serious. I thought he had it out and went to remove the worm and ended up tugging the last bit through his gill.

Is it possible that this could have damaged his gills? How sensitive are they?
I am also assuming any damage will probably heal through axxie power, but should I be concerned or should I be looking for something to indicate damage?

I will admit it was funny to see him swat at it with irritation...

 

[Skudo09]

Axolotls have pretty good healing abilities. Best thing to do is to keep on top of water parameters as good water quality will give the best chance of healing without complication. I'd just monitor for now and note any changes you see in behaviour or appearance.

 

[Otterwoman]

I think I've read here that it's normal and happens sometimes.

 

[xxianxx]

Its fine, sometimes a worm escapes, it doesnt cause any problems.

 

[JM29]

Is it possible that this could have damaged his gills? How sensitive are they?
.

Well, first, I don't understand well wether you actually observed damage on the gills or if you are afraid of potential damages.

Second, axolotls, like any caudate larvae, has gill slits, but there are no gils in the throat in the sense a fish have some. They have ossified branchial arches bearing denticules. These small teet act like a zipper when the animal swallows its preys. Your axie may have had imperfectly closed this zipper when it met this nightcrawler, but I expect no damage in the throat.

The fonctional external gills are not concerned by this operation. The bristles of the worm, especially if it's a big one, could have irritated them a little when the worm wriggled, but if you saw nothing wrong, don't worry.