Gills became really giant and Loopy (pic)

J

jennifer

Guest
recently in the last couple of weeks i have noticed that Big Ben's gills were getting really thick and LOOPY?? in parts. it has gotten colder and then warmer and i dunno if that has anything to do with it.. but i am wondering if anyone has seen this before because i didnt seem to see anything else on the site about it. thanks!
71314.jpg
 
Sometimes the gills will loop because of the strength of your filter. If it's too strong then the axie is probably being affected by it. Axie's don't like a lot of water movement or circulation.

Other than that, if the water is warm-ish throw a few frozen ice-blocks in there to bring it down a little.

Good luck,
-Em.
 
I've never seen loopy gills, but have you added anything recently to your tank over the last few weeks? Is he behaving anything out of the ordinary or looking ill apart from this?

Also, don't use ice blocks as they can cause fluctuating temperatures which in turn stresses your axie. Better to use fan/s blowing across the surface of the tankwater (pedestal fans are great if you have one, they can be adjusted by height and angle). Alternatively, the use of ice bottles of dechlorinated water rotated before ice completely melts so as not to cause fluctuating temps. (dechlorinated because if the bottle bursts it the water could kill your axies).
 
Looks like bloodworms or a parasite in the gills to me. *shrug* I've never seen anything like it.
 
Im still only a newb compared to half the people on this forum, but I agree with Joan. I didnt want to say anything unless I got knocked down. But It does look like bloodworms in the gills.
 
i think they also look like bloodworms, what do you feed your axie and did they suddenly happen or have you watched them slowly grow. they look really thick.
emily were did you get the info about the gills looping due to the filter.
 
they look like worms, not exactly like blood worm though, they aren't that smooth, they are segmented and the "loops" are not, it also doesn't ook lik ethe sape of a bloodworm, the way it bends...definately looks like a parasite though, there is were most of the blood goes so it would make sence! I put dibs on parasite.
 
Is it possible that it has a parasite, though, if all i have ever fed it are those little pellets (i got them from the indiana university axolotl colony)? also the tank is basically empty. i recently changed the filter/cleaned the tank and the gills have gotten a little smaller. i also have a question about its Cloaca that I will post in a new thread.
 
also could you give advice in how to help treat the condition if there is some kind of parasite in the gills. i have never really had to treat him for anything in the last 2 years so any and all advice/instructions you could give i would appreciate! thanks again

p.s. i want to say that the gills have changed in the last couple months since I have moved to a new city .. so maybe something in the water?
 
To me, they don't look like parasites or worms. They are exactly the same color as the gills. I think your original description of "loopy" may be correct. I've never seen anything like this, but it looks to me like an outgrowth of the gills themselves.

The gills of an axolotl are capable of growing larger when they are in an environment with less oxygen. I'm wondering if maybe this is the first stage of that kind of outgrowth... and maybe these extensions will become frilly after a while. I'm just making a speculation here. What kind of filter, or oxygenation do you have in the tank? And what kind of lid?
 
i have him in just a normal tank with the screen lid.. and the filter is this --> http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=281

is there any way to improve oxygen level? like those aeration systems that put bubbles in the tank? i have noticed that his gills get kinda big and fluffy probably trying to get more Oxygen. never knew how to fix the problem though
 
If you have a screen lid, I wouldn't worry about oxygen, unless you have a very deep tank (not much surface area). The type of filter you have should do a pretty good job of oxygenating the water. If you are concerned, you can get an air pump and an airstone.
 
You know what? My 3+ year old axolotl get that from time to time. Sometimes it is there sometimes it is not. I do regular water changes and i even have living plants and normal paramaters. I too would also know if this is something "normal" or something bad.
 
my axie baby has gills like that too but as annmarie writes it comes and goes ??
 
they're normal and part of the gill structure a bit like blood veins, cooling the water should cause them to regress again
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Thorninmyside:
    Not necessarily but if you’re wanting to continue to grow your breeding capacity then yes. Breeding axolotls isn’t a cheap hobby nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It costs a lot of money and time and deditcation
     +1
    Unlike
  • stanleyc:
    @Thorninmyside, I Lauren chen
     +1
    Unlike
  • Clareclare:
    Would Chinese fire belly newts be more or less inclined towards an aquatic eft set up versus Japanese . I'm raising them and have abandoned the terrarium at about 5 months old and switched to the aquatic setups you describe. I'm wondering if I could do this as soon as they morph?
     +1
    Unlike
  • sera:
    @Clareclare,
     +1
    Unlike
    sera: @Clareclare, +1
    Back
    Top