Axolotls gill filiments falling out and shrinking! Help

[Macaroni5510]

For the past couple of months I noticed that my axolotl, Skittles, gill filiments seem to be shrinking. I read that they shrink as they get older (she's about 8 months old, roughly 7 inches) and also when oxygen in the water is high. I installed a flat airstone in the tank after I often saw her sitting in the bubbles from the sponge filter. She sits in the airstone bubbles and seems to enjoy it and i'm sure it boosts the oxygen. However, she does flick her gills often and comes up to gulp air. The gills do seem to be flopping backwards a little, I'm not sure if that's normal or a sign of stress. Today I came home and noticed it looks like the gill filiments on her left side seem to be bare in places and falling off! Am I seeing wrong or is she sick or stressed? What can I do? She has seemed a bit skiddish the past couple of weeks too, although that could be completely unrelated. Often she'll swim away when i try to feed her and will have to keep my hand behind her body so she doesn't see it and just the worm in her face.

I did just add some small (1/2 in) feeder guppies in the tank and a couple ghost shrimp. I'm sure the guppies haven't been nibbling her gills since I have them in a floating breeder for a couple days. Could they have brought something into the tank? I treated the tank with general antibiotic today. Hopefully that fixes it if there was an issue.

Temperature between 60-65
Ph around 8.0 (maybe a little high)
Ammonia .25ppm (also a little high)
Nitrite & nitrate 0ppm
The tank is cleaned every 5-7 days. It's later in that time and it is due for a change.

Here's her gills 2 months ago (April 19th)
https://preview.redd.it/09ohngakyz4...bp&s=d0bdd0646e68c9800abfd2f33b00d1229d882165
Here's them 7 days ago (June 7th)
https://preview.redd.it/tigt9ikmyz4...bp&s=6b6ee5700da40e431127113f8622f2c002d62249
And lastly her gills now (June 14th)
https://preview.redd.it/l8me8l6wyz4...bp&s=20d8e4cc8d22925c9182b7ada8414bc3324ce73c
https://preview.redd.it/qmhnvmiryz4...bp&s=cdfbf73e9ad86cbfb2cdbeee534c9a02eedacd15
https://preview.redd.it/8icyl3jryz4...bp&s=dbd60a98fc10d7e9036906f6597bad409f06b3e3
https://preview.redd.it/jet8hgjryz4...bp&s=62d58ee9fee8df5b06fc59fba7ab3854218a94d5

 

[Axolotl Queen]

Hi there, @Macaroni5510

Looks like your tank is not cycled properly. Without this your axolotl will become much sicker. Ammonia is really bad for them which it appears you know that as you were able to identify the levels were a little too high.

If your nitrate is at 0ppm then there is no bacteria living in the tank which converts ammonia to nitrite.
I would remove your axolotl from the tank immediately, put it in a tub with fresh cool dechlorinated water.
In order to properly cycle your tank you will need a source of ammonia. I use dr tim's ammonia, however you can use raw prawn and let it rot (it isnt the nicest method as it can smell). It would be beneficial to add some live bacteria. I personally used API quickstart however there are a range of other ones you can use. Dose ammonia to 4ppm and test every couple of days, continuing to dose to 4ppm. The bacteria will start to breakdown the ammonia and convert it to nitrite, and then to nitrate. The pH is way to high. the best range is 7.4-7.6 however this should correct itself after cycling.

Cycling can and will take 6-8 weeks, and you should be able to dose to 4ppm ammonia and within 24 hours the levels should go to 0ppm for ammonia and nitrite. DO NOT DO any water changes during cycling.

May I ask what decholrinator you are using and have you attempted to do the nitrogen cycle prior to adding your axolotl? What filter media do you have e.g. sponges, ceramic noodle? And lastly what testing kit are you using liquid or test strips?

Again I would remove it from the tank immediately. And 100% water changes daily for the tub with cool dechlorinated water don't use the water in the tank. Please ask for help if you need it, I will be able to guide you through it as I know it is a confusing process.

 

[Axolotl Queen]

Also with the guppies were they quarintined before being added? They can also carry bacteria etc that can be harmful to axolotls