Photo: Gomez is starting to worry me, any ideas what this is all about?

[ted22]

Okay, I'll start with the pics.....

You can probably see the white lumpy specks...

The lumps are very textured, wont wipe off, not fuzzy (please ignore the bubble on the end of his toe hes had it since I got him a year ago it has not grown or shrunk just stayed there I think its just a fluid bubble and doubt it is significant)

The spots are very irregular some even could look like scarring or callous like (i diddnt think axolotls scarred i thought that was their thing.)

As you can see, there are strange irregular lumpy white bits, unfortuantly you dont see the true lumpyness in the photos (bear in mind gomez has always been a lumpy bumpy one), its not fuzzy lookin, as far as I can tell doesnt wipe off, some look abit flakey, some almost like scars.

Heres what I know.... I noticed this skin thing 5 or so days ago (seems to be spreading as there are more lumps now than there were) He hasnt eaten properly for the best part of 2 months, last time (he ate properly) was xmas eve when he ate 2 large worms and a nice juicy cricket. Since then he has eaten 1 small muscle 2 very small worms and around 6 mealworms (not all at once, I mean IN TOTAL and he hasnt eaten for 2weeks now) this is very unlike gomez as he (she) loves his food, I was not initially worried as he had done it before early last year, rejected food for 2 weeks but soon started munching again. Gomez has been the picture of health and was (and still is) a good size so again really not worried just thought now shes full size she just diddnt want to munch as much.

Tank changes......
As you may have seen in a previous post I rejigged the setup a couple of weeks ago, rocks/wood/plants, I took all precautions as you would expect, washing/boiling/scrubbing etc. The plants were thoroughly washed and soaked and washed again. Sharp edges? possible on the pieces of slate and the snipped ends of cable ties holding the ferns down although these are cut short and quite hidden, my other 3 axies are spotless so I think ive ruled scarring out. Gomez is a digger and likes to bury himself so considered the friction of him rubbing himself in the sand as a possible cause of the flakey look but not sure about that one. Another theory is some kind of nutrient deficiency maybe, from a good 8weeks of bearly eating, her skin isnt gonna look particularly healthy (it looks like rough old scarred bumpy skin) although looking at the size of him you'd never guess he's not eaten! Just hope he eats again soon!

Other than this Gomez looks healthy as ever in size and shape and seems as happy and active as ever at the moment! The other axolotls are otherwise healthy and active and completely uneffected by this. I am just hoping it isnt some sort of skin infection or other nasty from being unlucky with the plants or something!

As you can see, other than this skin issue he is the picture of health and certainly doesnt look like an axolotl that seems to be starving himself (keep telling myself he'll snap out of it!)

As you would expect from me I am well researched and am experienced in axolotl care, tank parameters are ideal as well as a tight husbandry routine, the tank hasnt exceeded 16deg C for over 4months, sand, no small stones... etc etc....

Heres the tank, should be spot on for the axolotls, doubt anything in there is causing this.
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ery/74021-new-set-up-sorry-bout-wait-its.html

Im not too worried, but certainly got my eye on this, if anyone has seen this before or knows what the cause of this is please point me in the right direction! Vets are not an option at the mo unfortuantly, but gomez seems fine otherwise so im keeping positive!

Thanks

Ed

and GOMEZ and NACHO and IGOR and COLUMBO!

edit: sorry bout the Gomez he/she thing i havnt got used to him being a girl yet!

 

[Kaysie]

I've seen this before. I don't think it's anything you need to worry about, especially if it's not rapidly changing.

Just me thinking out loud: I think some axolotls just have more of a... evolutionarily mature skin tone. Some are very slick and slimy, like you would expect a larval salamander to be, while others are more rough and 'thicker' looking, like a terrestrial salamander. Your axolotl could be somewhere in between.

 

[ted22]

You may be right, I mean if these lumps were normal skin colour I wouldnt have even questioned it as gomez has always been a lumpy bumpy axolotl as you say. Its just the change in skin clolour (white spots is usually a worry) but it might just be that these bits of excess skin might really show up on a melanoid or could it be that the diet is lacking? could it be that new skin growth hasnt coloured up? I mean it has been 2months since a proper wormy meal! Could it be a lack of vitimin d or something?

Thanks for that.


Any one else seen this before?

Ed

 

[morphyrichards]

My Ro has a similar kind of skin to yours and as he's been maturing he's been getting funny little white blotches on him, although without the texture... Like Kaysie just thinking out loud, have you ever tried using any kind of salts / minerals in your tank or holtzfreiters (sp?) solution or anything like that?

 

[ted22]

My Ro has a similar kind of skin to yours and as he's been maturing he's been getting funny little white blotches on him, although without the texture... Like Kaysie just thinking out loud, have you ever tried using any kind of salts / minerals in your tank or holtzfreiters (sp?) solution or anything like that?

Hello mate

Never put anything in my water except the water conditioner. Is this sort of thing seen using salt and things? It hasn't got any worse and still doesn't bother him, still not eating tho. I was maybe concerned this was linked to the lack of food or that I was unlucky with the plants somehow as it all sort of coincides but from your opinions so far its looking promising. Unless anyone else knows any different? Do you think they are likely to be a permanent thing or is this a part of his appearance from now on?

Thanks for the help.

Ed

No sign of those scuds haha, my cherrys are breeding like crazy now tho!

 

[morphyrichards]

'Ow-do Ted,
I'm the same, I've never really added anything to my water but it was just when you were wondering if Gomez' skin might be down to some sort of deficiency and some members swear blind that we should all be adding salts because our axie's need the minerals, but that was just me wondering if there might be any connection with it.

It seems like most dark and wildtype axolotls get funny blotches and Kaysie has seen it before so relax a bit, just keep an eye on it. How old is Gomez now?

 

[ted22]

As far as I know gomez is around 16months old (and now seems to be fully mature or on the cusp of it!) Ive had him (her) for a year now and he was around 4months old when I got him. Im not too worried at all as Its not bothering him and doesnt look bacterial or fungus like and its not spreading. I was just really wondering if anyone had seen this and had any idea what could cause it.

Im more concerned with the lack of eating to be honest, any idea how long an axolotl could go without food? As i said its been 2 months now and im sure that would kill most creatures but he has stayed the same, no weightloss whatsoever and active as ever, im thinkin if I diddnt get gomez up to such a beastly size before he stopped eating he would have had it by now! Oooh i just dont know he's just being a fussy little bugger!

Thats the first ive heard about the salts in the water with axos, have you ever been tempted to try or is it just one of those hotly debated topics? Shall read up on it now! (not that I will put salts in the water, I just like to know my stuff when it comes to my slimy little buddies!)

Thanks for your help

Ed

 

[Kaysie]

What kind of food are you offering? It may be Gomez is bored of whatever you've been feeding, and would be more receptive to something else.

Also (again, me thinking aloud), try rearranging the tank. Making it seem like a 'new place' might help trigger a hunting reflex. I've never tried that, but for some reason it sounds like a good idea...

 

[morphyrichards]

"As i said its been 2 months now and im sure that would kill most creatures but he has stayed the same, no weightloss whatsoever and active as ever"

More wondering... you have cherry shrimp wandering around in your big tank, right (did I mention how jealous of that tank of yours I am?) ... have you got any snails in there as well? I bet there is a few. Any feeder fish? Little lost guppy in a gigantic great big tank, swims around nervously, pokes it's little head out from behind a plant, 'hello, can anyone hear me, I'm a guppy and I'm lost ... does anyone know where all the other guppies are?' meanwhile, stealthily, silently a dark shadow looms from below ... guppy just has a brief moment to go 'oooh' and then "schloop" and away swims Gomez the Fearsome Hunter with a contented, vaguely idiotic grin as he looks for more prey.

 

[smily sam]

The white lumpy specks could just be dead skin. I have heard of axolotls sheding,it could just be this. I don't think the white lumpy specks are conected to Gomez not eating, maybe he is just tiered of his diet, have you tried blood worms or magots,maybe try feeding him some big earth worms.
My advice is to keep othering him food.
Hope Gomez is fine and eats soon
Sam:happy::wacko:

 

[ted22]

Ah, Kaysie the tank set up wouldnt be an issue although I do belive that a change every once in a while is a good thing, its had a major overhaul over the last couple of weeks (im so pleased with it, still need some anubias tho!!) it'll take years to get bored of this one, soo many place for him to poke his nose! Here it is http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ery/74021-new-set-up-sorry-bout-wait-its.html just thought i'd show it off one more time haha!

Food wise of course earthworms are the staple but I have a good stock of all sorts, mealworms, crickets, shrimp, mussles, wax worms, blood worms, i pretty much feed them as big a variety as i possibly can.

And morphy although i am completely void of snails and any fish whatsoever (the guppies ended up being too much hard work, very messy!) there are a few shrimp wandering around but not many yet, with a tank this size with all the hidey holes and plants I doubt he's managed to track one down. All this has got me thinking tho.....

The only thing that has changed diet wise is the fish, the fish were always dissapeering in numbers indicating that someone was hunting them down maybe gomez just loves munching guppies so much and is on a hunger strike? I mean he's bearly eaten since I took them out, could it be possible? I have a very clean suppy of whitecloud minnows at my parents maybe I should get a few fish back in there? My bro has my guppies so could get a few but those things just poop everywhere and made a mess of my beautiful sand, the minnows arent so bad tho!

Its not that he's not intrested, he will come up to a worm (or anything else i try) have a sniff and then just shakes his head in protest as if to say NO ED I DONT WANT THAT! If I keep trying he just gets fed up and backs away. Silly thing!

Again thanks for the help, I'll get to the bottom of this if its the last thing I do, I'm not having Gomez starve himself! I have no idea how he's keeping all his weight on, he hasnt even lost a millimetre round the belly!

Laters

Ed

edit: Also had a thought, i dont know if axolotls would go through this sort of thing but just thought, seeing as gomez is reaching sexual maturity (maybe has already?) and being a girly might be experiencing some bodily changes and things and might not feel like eating (please excuse me I really havnt got a clue about this) dunno if maybe shes started producing eggs and thats made her not hungry or something? There is a young (prob bout 9-10 months) male in there dunno if its a hormonal thing? Meh, as i said I really dont know about this sorta thing just wondering if its possible?

 

[Kaysie]

If you have a good supply of minnows, go ahead and try them. It could be that you're right; s/he was eating guppies, and now there's nothing swimming and s/he's just not happy with eating food that isn't swimming by. Can't hurt to try.

 

[morphyrichards]

edit: Also had a thought, i dont know if axolotls would go through this sort of thing but just thought, seeing as gomez is reaching sexual maturity (maybe has already?) and being a girly might be experiencing some bodily changes and things and might not feel like eating (please excuse me I really havnt got a clue about this) dunno if maybe shes started producing eggs and thats made her not hungry or something? There is a young (prob bout 9-10 months) male in there dunno if its a hormonal thing? Meh, as i said I really dont know about this sorta thing just wondering if its possible?

ROFL PMSL:lol::lol::lol:
Ah mate would love to go out on the p*** with you sometime it would be a laugh! I can just imagine you trying to explain the birds and the bees as well!

But seriously, I have no idea about that either, maybe your onto something... keep the faith Ted

 

[ted22]

ROFL PMSL:lol::lol::lol:
Ah mate would love to go out on the p*** with you sometime it would be a laugh! I can just imagine you trying to explain the birds and the bees as well!

But seriously, I have no idea about that either, maybe your onto something... keep the faith Ted

Haha, One day mate, I owe you a beer for sending me those scuds!

Was hard trying to expain something I really have no idea about haha, but it seems like you understood what I was trying to get accross , its also very strange talkin about Gomez like this he always been ma boy!