Gill growing back?

[kc]

Hi,
First time user! Glad to have found this site! Bought an Axolotl a week and a half ago and didn't notice that it had a gill missing(noticed when I got home). How long does it take to grow back?? Does having 1 less gill affect their health? Also he hasn't eaten since I got him. Tried a different foods and ways of feeding but totally not interested. Any ideas?? Ph and water is good. Also is it normal for him to float a lot? Its like he is finding it hard to stay on the bottom. My other Axolotl which was bought a few weeks before is doing great! Aquariums haven't been much help.....they just say to try a variety of foods. Any ideas are much appreciated!

 

[kapo]

Curious is he in the same tank as the other axie? If so, you shud really have quarantined him for 30 days prior to adding to your main tank with your other axie. If he is sick he could very well pass something onto your other axie.

When you say ph and water is good, do you mean ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?

What is your tank temp?

Also, gill missing - as in gill stubs (the bit the frilly gill filaments are on) or just the frilly bits? If the frilly bits, they can take anything from several weeks to several months dependant on age of axie as well as any water quality issues (if any).

If he's finding it hard to stop floating, I'd suggest putting him in a container of dechlorinated water and lowering the water so his feet rest on bottom and he doesn't float. If need be put him in the fridge (min 5 deg cel.)

What foods have you tried him on? Did you ask the aquarium when he was last fed/ate, when they had him, and what they fed him on? Might give you an idea of sorts. If they even noticed he had/hadn't been eating and for how long.

 

[kc]

Hi kapo,
thanks for the response! Yes he is in the same tank as the other axie.

And yes, the ammonia and nitrate levels are good (they are 0) and the ph has always been around 6.5 - 6.8. The trouble that I seem to be having now is the water temp. Was 26 deg!!!! But after reading thru this site I got a few tips and its steadily going down.

And its the gill stub thats missing. The frills look ok.

Bought an air stone today and a de-ioniser & electrolyte salts. They said he could have air trapped in his belly which could explain the floating & why he doesn't feel like eating and because he does blow out a couple of bubbles every now and then......do u reckon this sounds like ok advice?? We found a great aquarium that was really helpful. They had the healthiest axies I've seen in a pet store!

The floating axie seems to be spending alot more time on the bottom. They are both active (or as active as axies can be!). I think I just get really worried about them as these are the first we've owned and I'm already attached to them!

I bought some live mealworms too and will try him on those tomorrow. Previously we tried silverfish, turtle tucker, prawns. So fingers crossed.

Thanks for the response again! Much appreciated!
Oh yeah, our axies are Jimmy(gold one) & Spotty (dark) just thought we'd add a pic too!

Thanks
Kc

 

[kapo]

When you give the mealworms make sure to decapitate it, chop the head off.

And, keep an eye on both axies for the next 2/3 weeks, it's always better to quarantine a new addition for 30 days else you could have problems, as in he/she may pass something nasty onto your other one.

Have you tried earthworms - they're a great staple. If you still have probs with feeding try a bit of raw meat, like ox/sheep heart/liver or snitzel (not mince, too much fat in it even the so called lean stuff - my uncle's a butcher), all fat and tendons cut off, cut in thin wormlike strips and wiggle it.

Is it Spotty with the missing stub? Poor thing, two of ours have barely got any gill filaments, they have grown since we got them back in Mar and looks like men's stubble which is a hell of an improvement compared to when we got them (completely bare stubs and a bit ragged looking from bad water quality with previous owners).

Ours float for a number of reasons:

* we have two that always do the skydive float and love hiding under the plastic floating plants at the top (sometimes see their faces peering out!

* when they are a bit constipated - if you ever see the bum/tail floating up while front stays down this is usually the case (from what we noticed of ours)

* when they're are stressed for some reason (can be due to heat or water quality)

* if they need oxygen cos they can't use their gills (like our 3yr olds bare stubs) - they spent alot of time at the surface so we lowered the water. Sometimes lowering the temperature esp. below 18deg cel helps them as there is more oxygen in cooler water.

* Some people have mentioned trapped gas/air bubbles with their axies, but I've never noticed or maybe that was at the beginning when we first got them. We constantly panicked upon first having our axies every time they floated and i was on this site every night and morning reading threads (bit like now really! )

Anyway, your axies are a nice contrast to each other (we have dark wildtypes and leucistics!)

 

[kc]

thanks again for replying rapo!made me feel alot better! But just a minute ago Spotty (dark axie with stub)had like a blood clot on his gill which has now come off. And we tried giving him a meal worm. Its like he tried to open his mouth and was thinking " should I?" but then its like he start to vomit (or was trying to) only a tiny bit of milky stuff came out. I'm soooo worried! Any ideas?! Will keep reading thru this site.....
HELP!!

 

[matthew]

lol 26 degrees eh? Where are you from, Kc? Hopefully you don't live in the far west, especially seeing as summer isnt even here yet >.<

 

[kc]

thankfully live in the inner west but my house gets hot!.....not looking forward to summer! Are u out west? U have axies?

 

[matthew]

I live in Sydney's west - its not even summer yet and the average room temps are about 30 degrees, making my un-chilled, empty 2ft tank 25 degrees roughly. Thank god I have a chiller for my axies! I'd highly recommending shelling out for one, but thats just my opinion.

 

[kc]

Checked out chillers today......spotted one on ebay that we r keeping an eye on. But we will definately be getting one! How many axies do u have?

 

[matthew]

I have 4, a golden albino named Gaara (my first; he's a stubborn and cranky bastard after my own heart), a white leucistic female named Moopy (shes my little princess, I love her), a grey/brown wild type called Party Boy (Ironically he loafs around the tank all day and doesnt party at all) and Mamba, a tiny black wild type who's very shy.