Darrel the axolotl acts strange.

If i didnt let him get ontop of the brick anymore, would he not eventually drown as morphing isnt a two way street, and he doesnt like worms.
 
Morphing is obviously a concern, please do keep us updated!

All the options seem pretty feasible...he does look a little wobbly even when he is in the water, so he might well have a neurological disorder, but I'm not sure how common they are in axxies or how you can tell. As for the bumping against the glass, I don't think that's a concern as Toothless does it. I think it's because their eyesight isn't the best (it took mine 2 days to figure out that there was food INSIDE the feeding jar rather than on the outside)!

I also noticed that Darrel has, or had, a very long tail and body. I've never seen an axie that long that wasn't also quite chunky - he looks rather slim and lithe. I just don't know how he could have started morphing. The only thing I could suggest is to put him in another tank without the land bit (I understand why you have it, but maybe him going up onto it is encouraging him to morph, and if he is one of these hybrid ones, it might not take much). I know tanks cost a lot of money (hence why mine is in a 6 gallon for the moment) but putting him in there and observing is your best bet. If he's coming up for air all the time (more than once or twice an hour or so) then he might well be morphing. The tank you have him in currently has crystal clear water, so the only reason he's probably coming up to the surface is because he can. Maybe a new tank will encourage him to use his gills and tail and reverse the morph?

Good luck with the wee guy. I hope you see some improvement soon.
 
According to this owner, morphing isn't one way as long as it's caught in time: Axolotl Or Salamander?

But the problem is we don't know what caused the change to reverse it, but if I can guess, it's having access to the land that has encouraged him to change (it's amazing what you don't think will be problematic with axxies and how it slowly turns into a massive problem - like leaving bloodworm in their tank overnight!) I still advocate the tank. I know you're worrying about him drowning; if he still has his gills he surely won't drown? It's also worth remembering that axies can store air in their lungs, these scientists reckon they can do so for a YEAR! (That's way too long!): Axolotl salamanders continue to intrigue researchers - YouTube

If you're still worried, I'd remove him from the new tank if you see signs of stress that are worse than normal (obviously he'll be in a new tank so he'll freak a little). I have never had an axxie morph so this is basically just a guess.
 
why wouldn't you just take the brick out in the beginning? i feel as though axies and other animals are intrigued by new things and they push their limits while exploring these new things.
 
From the journal articles I've read, it seems that morphing is not reversible....but it can be halted and, thus, incomplete. So even if Darrell doesn't morph more, he won't go back to how he was before he started morphing (if that's what's happening).

But I'm pretty certain he's got something neurological going on. His movements underwater (in the video) were not fluid/coordinated...there's a rigidity there that (to me) looks brain-related. I think it's more than him just being awkward. :/
 
he seems to have halted morphing at this stage, he has almost no tail fin, and small gills but his gills have fluffed out a little now, he doesnt swim much now he is more of a walker,
i have another axie in another tank who has a tail longer than its body and is twice the size of darrel. i'll try upload some pics when i get a new cable going. but darrel seems to have halted for the moment, altho that may be to build up fat stores for further morphing, i removed the brick. and put in a thinner item in for his cave roof. no land now. im gonna set up a timelapse webcam on him to moniter him oover the week to see how he goes.
 
and petersgirl, tanks are pretty cheap over here, a good 2 metre long tank only costs a couple hundred, i'll be moving him over to his new tank at the end of this week at the end of his quarantine cycle :)
 
That's fantastic news! I'm glad he was okay - and please do post photos of your new arrival!
Tanks are fairly expensive in England (or at least, I think so - I have a cleaner's salary) but I find if you can get one from a relative it helps massively. I got a 15 Gallon full tank set up including filter, decorations, air stone, fluorescent light and sand from a friend for £30! So happy!

Morrison - thanks for that additional info. I really wasn't sure on metamorphosis, I just knew I read somewhere that it could be changed. It's good to know that things can be done about it.

Has anyone ever had an axxie with, or suspected they have an axxie with, a neurological problem? There doesn't seem to be much info on it.
 
I really hope you post that time lapse! It would be fascinating to watch. Glad he seems to be doing better.

I was wondering about neurological issues with Axolotls as well. Depending on the severity, so long as they're not in pain or causing themselves problems, and you're not planning to breed with them, are they okay to keep?

Has he taken an interest in worms again at all, or is he still a firm insectivore?

( I'm keeping an eye out for second hand tanks at the moment, even though I don't plan to get one/set it up for a few months yet. )
 
I just need to get my webcam working :confused: nah he still only eats crickets , heres a picture of him in his new tank, ive got him in a 20gallon :) he seems to like his new home, im just finishing up setting up the tank theme... Mutagenesis :) for now heres a pic :) image.jpg
 
@Pondweed: I wondered the same thing too. I wondered for a while if my own had a neurological problem, as she walks in a funny way, and spends a lot of time bumping her head against things, and when she swims, her head jerks - I've realised now this is classed as Typical Axxie Behaviour, which is becoming a very long list! When you're a newbie everything your axxie does freaks you out :p But I reckon as long as the axxie is not in pain I don't see why they can't be kept, especially if you're not planning on axxie babbies. It's a lot like dogs or cats that have missing legs. As long as they're happy, healthy and cared for, that's the main thing. I'm finding that even researchers have grey patches in their knowledge about these little guys, so it's not surprising we don't know what affects them or what their behaviour means all the time - I never even knew axxies could have neurological difficulties, although technically anything with a certain organ or body part has the potential to develop problems with it. We're all learning about axxies, and life, every day, and that experience can be life-saving for another person's axxie. It never hurts to nose for new tanks, even if you don't need one yet. Be prepared, as the Scouts say!

@Skello - It would be fascinating to see it :) It's so cool you theme your tanks too! And your boy is so handsome and healthy! I love all his markings :cool:
 
Lol. Just love the upside down theme of your new setup. And Darrel seems to have the hang of it........

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
 
Unfortunately its just the pic thats upside down, the theme is mutagenesis, so think lots of cracked pipe ornaments, a skull, i even put a pupple mat under a grouping of brown green pipes so it seems like stuff is bubbling out, and using mostly fluro coloured plants to enhance the whole toxic theme, and im adding green leds to bring it all together as a commentary on how humans treat the environment. For some reason transfering photos from my phone to hear directly messes with orientation?? image.jpg
 
The almost finished set up, its in a 24x16x16
Green LEDs a broken terracotta pot for a hide, hollow human skull (life size ornament), 1 small stack of industrial pipe ornament with a bubble diffusser beneath to make it look like stuff is bubbling out, and one large industrial pipe ornament as a third hide :) on the topic of the time lapse, i just need to purchase a new webcam then it will be set :) image.jpg
 
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