Gill Length

[Ace]

Just wondering if any of my fellow Axie lovers have any secrets to motivating the growth of those long, beautiful gills some of your Lotls have.

 

[LSuzuki]

Some of it is genetics. Some breeders have axolotls with those nice, photogenic gills. :happy:

Some of it is environmental. I've read that axolotls kept in lower oxygen water tend to have longer gills, but I don't know if that is proven or just a reasonable hypothesis.

Of course, axolotls kept in a good environment (clean water, safe and comfortable tank, nutritious food) are going to look better than those not so well kept.

 

[Bette]

I've noticed that since switching over to sponge filters only, my axies have gotten longer, fuller gill stalks.

 

[LSuzuki]

Interesting! What type of filter did you have before, and do you think the water is "less oxygenated" or that there is some other reason?

 

[Ace]

Awesome. I've been using a sponge filter since day 1 on my little golden. His gills are beginning to fill out nicely now that he is about 4 inches in length. Just wondering if anyone had any advice so I could start early:grin: Of course, I'll love the little guy no matter what, but I would love for him to grow some long, fluffy gills.

 

[Bette]

Interesting! What type of filter did you have before, and do you think the water is "less oxygenated" or that there is some other reason?

Well, I do think that the water was more oxygenated before when I was running a fluval u3 internal filter. There was more water movement too.
Mind you, my axies have never had short gills. But I noticed a difference even still, after switching to the sponge filter.