Bleeding Gill Stalks

[EasternRomioi3]

So I was cleaning my axolotl's tank today, as I do every Monday. Nothing out of the ordinary. I cleaned the tank fine, cooled the tank, and she went exploring, like she usually does. I had to go to the doc, so I left for a few hours, everything was fine when I left, she was in her hidey hole, which is made of drift wood. When I came home around 5ish, I found a clump of gill filaments, and was able to get these photos. She's bleeding, and she's kinda lethargic. I fed her, she ate without issue but is keeping her right side gills close to her body and only flicking her left side. I am assuming she got it caught on the drift wood but I don't really know what to do. The only other injuries she's ever had are tail and face scrapes from digging and whatnot. I will attach photos.

Should I be concerned? She's not gonna bleed to death is she? She's been swimming around since I came downstairs, not aggressively, now she's acting more like her usual self but I am very alarmed. 1, I have a blood phobia so any sight of it, both animal and human, freaks me out. 2, does anyone know how long an injury like this will take to heal? 3, would this upset her tank cycle?

 

[fishkid]

axolotls heal very quickly, just keep the water clean and cool, I probably wouldn't worry too much if she's acting ok. The cycle won't be disturbed and she shouldn't bleed too much, just keep an eye on her.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

Thank you, I appreciate you chiming in. She ate her pellets just fine today and she isn't holding her injured gills like she was. I was able to see them finally, she scraped off the filaments on her right side, middle stalk, almost all of them. She totally tried backing up in her hidey hole... She really likes that thing but I'm starting to get worried about it. She's cut her tail twice on it. I kept the temp between 60 and 64 today, rose when I was at work but not higher than 64.

Thanks again, I worried a lot last night about her.

 

[fishkid]

Thank you, I appreciate you chiming in. She ate her pellets just fine today and she isn't holding her injured gills like she was. I was able to see them finally, she scraped off the filaments on her right side, middle stalk, almost all of them. She totally tried backing up in her hidey hole... She really likes that thing but I'm starting to get worried about it. She's cut her tail twice on it. I kept the temp between 60 and 64 today, rose when I was at work but not higher than 64.

Thanks again, I worried a lot last night about her.

that's good to hear. If she's gotten injured on the hide so much definitely take it out, sounds like it's much too sharp for an axolotl's delicate skin and slime coat.

 

[EasternRomioi3]

She really likes it though, I will have to find something to replace it with. It's a drift wood overhang from her previous owner, my best friend. Very sentimental about it. Guess I should stop at the aquarium store and see what options they have.