Question: Can gills really grow back? yet to see any evidence.

[dazkeirle]

Basically as the title says.

can gills really grow back? yet to see any evidence.

Throughout this sub forum there are lots of posts from people who's Axies have lost their gills due to biting or disease.

The advice is often there gills will grow back, especially if younger yet I've yet to read a thread where any Axies gills have recovered, lots where they haven't though.

There are mentions that they get fluffier and new brachia growing from the stubs but I'm yet to see regeneration of the gills themselves.

Is it possible? any photos to prove it?

I see it mentioned that gills grow longer in warmer conditions in combination to increased metabolism. Could warmer water help growth (although increase risk of disease and stress?)

 

[ted22]

HAHA yes mate gills can grow back (gomez had 2 missing when I got him!), all depends on water quality, stress, temp and if the axie can be bothered to grow em! some axies dont regenerate but i dont know if thats the axie not being bothered to grow em back, diet or conditions causing it. and yes its reported that the younger axies seem to have superior regenetitive properties but I dont enterly know if that is actually the case.

Have seen plenty of photos during different stages of limb and gill regrowth but for the life of me cant find em anywhere, Im sure someone will post some for you! (Gomez gills went from a stump to what you see in the pics in about a week! have got some before and after pics but no during the regrowth pics)

Also seen some vid of a sickening experiment splicing two different axies together and it worked!

 

[dazkeirle]

no way, Gomez has some awesome Gills.

If that's the result of regrowth there is hope for all.

Would like to promote re-growth the best I can.

While it looks like Fred has long Gills, there's only really one long one and the rest are quite stumpy, its the fluffy stuff that makes them look long.

I don't suppose you remember stats for your water setup during that period? temp, and levels like?

 

[dragonlady]

I don't know that you can really encourage re-growth by doing other than what you should already be doing. I think it truly depends on genetics of that particular axolotl. I have 2 axies that spring to mind here for me...

I have an adult (nearly 2 yrs. old) golden (Nefertiti) who lost her "feathers" due to a nasty case of fungus. She is the only one I've ever had to completely lose her feathers because of this. It has been over a month, and she is very, very slowly regrowing her feathers but is not eating well. She will only eat once a week, and very little then. Her tank parameters are good, the temp is about 18 on average. All of her tank mates are very healthy with voracious appetites.

In another tank with approx. the same parameters is an approximately 7 mo. old leucistic (Horus). He (don't know the sex yet) lost a gill stalk to a tank mate about a month ago. It was bitten down to the base but is about 1/2 re-generated at this point. It does appear to be growing back normally so far.

I honestly feel like it has to do with the genetics of that particular axolotl as well as the age. Neither of mine are geriatric so I don't think that's a factor here, however, they come from 2 completely different breeders. I don't even know the background of my gold and she has short gills, but my lucy, who has long, beautiful gills, is from someone (non-forum member) who has been breeding axolotls for at least 5 years.

In your case, yours may not grow long gills, but I think he is lovely, nonetheless. Fred's genetics are unknown to you as are his living conditions from birth. Provide him with a constant temp from 16-18. Keep his parameters in check and give him big, plump worms. Chances are that that one long gill he has may be 2 fused together. The ones on the other side may never get super long, but they are nice and fluffy it seems so you are taking good care of him.

I have pics of mine (I have 11 in 3 different albums) on my profile page. There, you will see some examples of regeneration, pics of crazy long gills, and shorter ones. I keep my temperatures and parameters constant and keep the water flow to a minimum. Even during water changes, I remove water slowly and add it back slowly. They are all fed earthworms, red wigglers, and pellets.

 

[dazkeirle]

Hi dragonlady,

Thanks for taking the time for that detailed reply.

I am certainly doing my best to look after the little fella but i must admit it is diffiicult to satisfy all of the ideals from the start.

Obviously as a rookie I'm mid cycle, which im doing by the book (as by the book as i can with the axie in the tank) but am heeding the advice of all you pros in making this as low stress as possible. 20% daily changes and tests, levels are rising, which i hope means bac will be soon. Less than ideal though, but doing what i can.

Interesting what you say about pouring the water in and out. I must admit I''ve been pouring it quite full on, in a hope that it'll encourage a better mix and dilution of the polutants, and decrease the temp of the existing water better.

Temp is the other big issue. I am now getting the tank down to 19 and hopefully less now there is some aeration but as the expense of water flow as now there are bubbles and the fan creates a slight current.

While Freds tail is straight and his gills usually back which i've read are indicators, he doesn't seem that enthused all of the time and certainly doesn't swim around like Ted's Gomez, although same sized tank.

Earthworms are an issue to get hold of at the moment, the ground is rock solid as all we've had is sun, bad timing eh? but I'll be sure to collect and perhaps even freeze some when the rain comes again. Our pet shop doesn't stock them unfortunately.

It's good to know what the ideals are though, and once the tank is fully cycled and the temp outside drops a little i'm sure I'll be able to do a little better.

All the while I'm 100% sure he's better now than eating those cat biscuits and gravel so i'll just keep doing my thing and gradually introducing him to all the recommended foods, including earthworms, and hope I can help his shorter gills regererate, but if not, i agree they still look fine, It's just I've spent too much time on here looking at all your photogenic, perfectly bred specimens.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Last summer when we has a hot spell, I put a damp towel over the tank, then directed a fan on it. This worked very well. When the temperature is down you could also insulate the outside of the tank with polystyrene .