It's usually a sign of bad water quality - do you test water parameters on a regular basis?
Any changes in the tank?
I've had a couple of different situations with gills during the last couple of years.
The gills of my first one shrank and withered significantly when the tank was unstable under a period and started growing out immediately when I got the problem under control.
When I had a very high oxygen content in the water - all my Axies' gills shrank - and the water was perfect and they were healthy. Some say that it only happens when the oxygen levels are low but my personal thought is that they do shrink in high oxygen environments and grow in low oxygen environments. In the case of high oxygen levels - I guess the gills kind of regress since they don't need them as much and vice versa for low oxygen values in the water. Some say differently - but my own experiences point to this conclusion.
Also - I think it's a bit individual. Some of my Axies and friend's Axies have huge gills - others have more modest ones.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.