Brown marks on Axolotls Mouth!!

[Bambi]

Hi, I've just noticed 2 of my Axolotls have weird brown marks on their mouths... I only brought them home 4 days ago and have been doing 20% water changes every 2 days... At the moment they are being fed Axolotls Pelets from the pet store but will be fed worms and beef heart as of next week.

Has anyone heart of this? Or know what it might be? I'm still trying to attach photos but having trouble.

PLEASE HELP!!

Thankyou

 

[Bambi]

Here is one photo...

 

[Bambi]

Here is the second photo. I don't know if I'm worrying about nothing but I've lost an Axy in the past and I don't want it to happen again so taking all precautions....

Thanks

 

[auntiejude]

Are the marks smooth or textured? It's hard to tell with those pictures.

It may be a simple graze from the hard pellets. Some pellets are better if you soak them in dechlorinated water for a few minutes before feeding. They could also have bumped into ornaments etc or tried to munch on something in thier new home.

If it's smooth it could be the natural colouring - albinos and leucistics can develop brown grey or black marks as they get older.

I can also see pebbles in one of those photos - do you have gravel in the tank? If so remove it - axies tend to eat it and it gets stuck in their tummies.

Don't bother with beef heart - worms pellets are fine.

 

[elim]

My golden has the same dark markings on its lip. I wouldn't worry. :happy:

 

[Bambi]

Thankyou for replying so fast I feel so much better knowing its nothing serious. As for the pebbles, I stupidly bought a whole 10kilo bag as the man who sold me them said it was ok. Big mistake it seems and I am mid way through removing them all without disrupting the tank too much...

I have another problem.... One of them has laid eggs all through the plant you can see in he back photo.... I'm not sure what to do but I'll have a search through other related posts before starting any threads. Thanks again guys

 

[auntiejude]

You bought a pregnant female?!

Do you want to raise babies? If not take the eggs out ASAP and put them in the freezer - the embryos won't have developed a nervous system to feel pain yet.

If you want to raise them have a read up on rearing eggs and babies - plenty of info here and on axolotl.org.

 

[Bambi]

Yeah... I did buy a pregnant female... Except she didn't look pregnant, and she only laid about 50-60 eggs.. She started eating them so I have removed them and put them into a separate area where the others can't get to them.. I've been doing research and as there aren't as many eggs as they would usually lay, and as I am currently away from work, I think I have enough time to dedicate rearing these little guys... at least until they are old enough to find new homes for. If any deformed larvae hatch I am assuming I put those in a container in the freezer..?

Thanks