Decrease in harleys feathers on his gills. also on stardust's .

[axoltlmad123]

Hello I'm just going to jump right in. A while ago I had harleys tank cycle crash and then not long after I had stardust's crash. Harleys went wrong because I never swished the sand stardust's was because I added a new filter. Anyways,since then I have been keeping harley in a tub and stardust to this has been for two days so far. Stardusts gills don't look so bad . Harleys on the other hand are. What is the best way to get their gill feathers to grow back? Also how long should it take and does this plan sound okay . Water change on tub at least twice daily feed plenty to harley and encourage stardust to eat -he has only been taking bloodworm and not many. Does he look to thin to you. Thank you any other tips will be appreciated. I will be cycling a tank soon as u buy a new filter.

 

[axoltlmad123]

Sorry I forgot pictures.

 

[Skudo09]

Keeping them in cool, clean, dechlorinated water will aide in recovery so keeping them in a tub, as long as you are doing 100% water changes daily and keeping their water cool you will be helping them with recovery. You could also offer black tea baths to help soothe skin? Tea baths are a mild treatment and have some antibacterial and antifungal properties.

They look a little on the skinny side, not horribly skinny but they could use some fattening up. At this stage I would move away from bloodworm. Bloodworm is suitable for young juveniles but as they grow, bloodworm doesn't have enough nutritional value. Have you tried earthworms?

 

[axoltlmad123]

Yes I have tried earthworms but they keep spitting them out. They are dendoebra so what they are used to. Stardust goes to eat one then spits it out and harley does the same but not so often he usually eats them. I thought it would be better for stardust to eat bloodworm because I couldn't get him to eat earthworms. I've recently got a new batch and it was after I got this batch that stardust got funny with eating. I didnt feed them both for about a week because i had to wair for the worms -i was completely out. And when i got the new worms harley ate them and stardust didn't he just goes to eat them and then spits them out. do you think this batch of worms could be letting off smells into the water. I can't remember what it's called when they do that. If so would it be worth trying to soak the worms in tank water for a while . I have heard of people doing that for their axolotls.

 

[Skudo09]

It could be related to a bad batch but it could be due to water quality too given the cycle had crashed. Bloodworm just isn't nutritious enough to sustain axolotls as they grow. They are great for very young juveniles but beyond that they need something more. You could try blanching the earthworms first or chopping them into smaller portions of trying a different type of earthworm. If earthworms are a no go I would opt for a good quality axolotl/newt pellet. I have heard salmon pellets are also a good alternative.

 

[axoltlmad123]

Thank you ever so much for your help I will get some axolotl pellets.

 

[charleybambino]

Have you tried earthworms dug up from your garden...if you don't use chemicals etc......mt fussy guy preference them!

 

[axoltlmad123]

I have in the past. But not for these two.