Question: Axolotls not gaining weight?

[Lexolotl]

I have a leucistic and melanoid axolotl. I bought them when they were 3 inches long back in December 2012.

My concern is that I've had them for 7 months now and while they continue to grow length wise they don't gain any bulk. I look at pictures of axies who are 4 months old and look twice the size of mine. They are currently around 6 inches or so.

I breed gupppies to feed them, frozen blood worms, and live red wigglers. I usually feed them once a day but every so often I feed them every other day. I keep the two of them in a 55g tank that I keep half way full, sand susbstrate, and with a small turtle canister filter that has a spray bar. I am able to keep the water at 64-66 degrees even in the hot Texas summers.

I will take pictures if needed!

 

[Alkylhalide]

Maybe you arent feeding them enough? Mine hatched in december and at almost 9" now. And you can definately tell that texas is female because she is getting chubby.

I guess maybe i spoil mine. I have three that hatched march 9th and they are 6" long already!

I would say maybe feed them more. Feeder fish and bloodworms and such should only be used to compliment their staple diet, which should be earthworms, nightcrawlers, red wigglers though ive never tried those with my axies. I feed mine fat nightcrawlers that i catch after a big rainfall in the middle of the night.

 

[Quentari]

I had an axie that stayed smaller than my others. He was actually my LONGEST but his head, leg and body size were all about half the size of my other axies despite him being the same age.

 

[Lexolotl]

It takes my axies a little longer to eat the red wigglers because, as a conclusion from another topic I started, they apparently taste bad. I planned to move on to earthworms whenever they had finished eating this batch but I suppose I will do so sooner.

They look completely healthy, and they eat readily. They just aren't chubby. Ha!

 

[auntiejude]

My axies have no problems with red worms (dendrobaena)!
You have to remeber that all axies grow at different rates. My smallest has caught up with the others, while the biggest seems to be waiting for the others to catch up with him.

Are you the same size and shape as all your friends who were born about the same time as you?!

If they are healthy and in proportion I wouldn't worry, but feeding them extra might be worth a go.

 

[Lexolotl]

I understand where you're coming from, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't something that I should be worrying about.

 

[snuggly time]

Mine was looking thin compared to other axies. I've started feeding him more and he soon fattened up. He's starting to slow down now and getting very long, so I'm guessing soon he'll need less food when he stops growing.

 

[Alkylhalide]

Actually amphibians never stop growing in their lifetime. It starts out fast and slows as they age. Once they reach sexual maturity they slow down to the point where it looks like they have stoped growing. It was a interesting fact i learned my two oldest started to slow down after they reached 8" and two months later they have only grown .5" or so. But the first two months i had them they grew probably about 5". My juveniles have almost caught up with my older ones its quite fascinating!

As far as frequency of feeding. I feed all my axolotls once a day still(just makes it easier) but i feed my older ones considerably less then my juveniles in order to keep them nice and chubby. I find it odd to feed smaller axies twice as much as bigger ones but they eat enough to begin with >.< going to eat me out of house and home here soon lmao!

 

[Lexolotl]

Ha ha! That's so interesting! Hearing your opinions are helping me feel better about the situation. I have posted some pictures in my "Axolotls" album on my profile for you guys to take a look.

One last question! lol
I found a bait shop close by, and was able to buy some nightcrawlers. These things are MASSIVE compared to the red wigglers I've been giving them. I had to cut it into 5 or 6 pieces to make the worm small enough. I also rinsed it under some water to get the dirt off of them.

Upon feeding them to my axolotls, the leucistic quickly gobbled it up and kept it in it's mouth. One good chunk was enough to make him fat and happy.
On the other hand, my melanoid would take one bite of it, keep it in his/her mouth and then spit it out. I tried multiple chunks of different sizes and had the same results each time. I ended up giving him blood worms.

Is this a normal behavior? Could he not be use to it and is just spoiled by the blood worms?

 

[Petersgirl]

It may take him a while to get used to the taste is all Keep trying them if you still want to feed them and he should get used to them.