Hard white ball on gills?

[slipperem]

I am familiar that there is cottonball like growths on gills which is fungus. However, this hard white ball is at the base of his gills, and it seems quite firm and did not come off easily when I lightly brushed it, so I am hesitant to assume it is a fungus. He is active with a good appetite, and otherwise seemingly healthy. Is there some kind of other growth I should be considering that looks like this? Or could it be a kind of wound? I know a couple weeks ago he was eating a worm that come out his gills for a few seconds before he swallowed it but I can't even remember if it was the same side.

 

[wolfen]

in the photos the white lump is enveloping the gill filaments which is more like a fungal/mold infection rather than blastema cell structure.
use 3.5g/l non iodised salt in the tank or if possible 100% holtfreters + 0.2g/l magnesium sulphate, once the area has healed (whether cause by fungus or injury) reduce salt level to 2g/l or 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate, 2g/l salt acts as a preventative and to make the water more suitable, 50% holtfreters etc.. acts as a preventative and to make the water more suitable plus adds essential salts and minerals.
for info.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity

 

[slipperem]

in the photos the white lump is enveloping the gill filaments which is more like a fungal/mold infection rather than blastema cell structure.
use 3.5g/l non iodised salt in the tank or if possible 100% holtfreters + 0.2g/l magnesium sulphate, once the area has healed (whether cause by fungus or injury) reduce salt level to 2g/l or 50% holtfreters + 0.1g/l magnesium sulphate, 2g/l salt acts as a preventative and to make the water more suitable, 50% holtfreters etc.. acts as a preventative and to make the water more suitable plus adds essential salts and minerals.
for info.. Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity

Thank you for this great advice! I will say in person it does seem separate from the gills/more coming from the base near them but not attached to them. I don't understand how it'd be a blastema either since he has all of his gills, isnt that for a regrowth of lost parts?

 

[wolfen]

a normal wound would have a small area around the injury site that would be slightly raised whilst healing occurs, where as due to the size of the mass under the gill it is more comparable to blastema formation.