Animal_addict_88
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- Apr 13, 2021
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- Location
- Scotland, UK
- Country
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We got our axolotl from a local store at around 7-8cm. It was only a few months old at the time.
As it was our first, it did take us a little while to get everything right and we had a number of issues with him refusing or regurgitating food.
It took us around 5-6 months to find a feeding routine he was happy with, but he got pretty skinny for a while there.
He is now eating regularly, keeping everything down, and has grown a little to roughly 10-11cm.
Thing is, we are now 18+ months into owning him and he isn't showing any signs of growing. He's been recieving the right care for at least 10 months now, probably longer. His belly/body is much fuller and he is now much more active and 'happy', but he has stayed quite small. Also, the little frilly parts on his gills haven't really come back either, despite the water being within ALL recommended parameters.
Does anyone have any similar experience with this? Essentially he wasn't properly cared for as a juvenile (partly him being dramatic lol, but mostly my fault as we didn't realise at the time, and I have spent a lot of time and money making it up to him!).
Will he grow? Or is he going to stay small forever? And will his gills ever recover?
I ask because we have a second 9-10cm animal arriving next week. Obviously sizes are fine for now, but if Ron stays the same size, I would be worried about the other one growing too large to be safely housed in the same tank.
I've attached pictures. Any advice would be great. Tysm!

As it was our first, it did take us a little while to get everything right and we had a number of issues with him refusing or regurgitating food.
It took us around 5-6 months to find a feeding routine he was happy with, but he got pretty skinny for a while there.
He is now eating regularly, keeping everything down, and has grown a little to roughly 10-11cm.
Thing is, we are now 18+ months into owning him and he isn't showing any signs of growing. He's been recieving the right care for at least 10 months now, probably longer. His belly/body is much fuller and he is now much more active and 'happy', but he has stayed quite small. Also, the little frilly parts on his gills haven't really come back either, despite the water being within ALL recommended parameters.
Does anyone have any similar experience with this? Essentially he wasn't properly cared for as a juvenile (partly him being dramatic lol, but mostly my fault as we didn't realise at the time, and I have spent a lot of time and money making it up to him!).
Will he grow? Or is he going to stay small forever? And will his gills ever recover?
I ask because we have a second 9-10cm animal arriving next week. Obviously sizes are fine for now, but if Ron stays the same size, I would be worried about the other one growing too large to be safely housed in the same tank.
I've attached pictures. Any advice would be great. Tysm!

