Lumps?

[panpan]

I'm really worried. I recently changed the substrate to sand and axi has seemed fine with ph etc all normal. However I just noticed he seems to have little bumps along his side and there also seems to be what looks like a cut in the top of his back, quite close to his head. What is this!? I am very worried so please reply quick.

P.S he's in there alone so no fights could occur.

 

[kapo]

What were your water parameter readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Did you change the water completely or partially? Is there anything in tank sharp that he could have cut himself on or do you have a lid on/off your tank and do you keep cats? Are you able to upload a photo, very hard to speculate otherwise

 

[panpan]

All the water readings were the same as normal. I think ph was 7.0 and i think nitrite and nitrate were both 1ish (the tester I use isn't very good and am looking into getting something more accurate). I did probably about a 30% water change at the most. In the tank there is a rock which I've worried about before because it's pointy but he's never had any trouble before. However he is rgowing. I also put some ping pong balls in when I changed the substrate and they have holes in which could be pointy if they havn't been trimmed properly. I have a lid on but with a slight crack in it. I do have a cat but she is shut out of my room for that very reason unless im in there with her. I dont want too upload a photo because to take a decent photo I have to turn the tank light on and he doesn't like that. He does seem to be eating fine though. However I should point out about 2 weeks or so ago he ewnt off frozen bloodworm and has just been on liver which I know is probably unhealthy but I am looking into a new kind of food. Could this have caused the lumps? Also can you recomend any healthier food options that aren't alive please. He doesn't like dead worms by the way as I have tried that.
P.S sorry it took me ages to get back but I couldn't log on.

 

[panpan]

I have just been reading that you can feed them prawns! Would this be a healthier option even if it isn't the liver that is causing problems. I would like to point out that he seems perfectly fine and is eating well, moving around etc. Could it possibly just be because he is growing or something???

 

[Bellabelloo]

I had a huge supply of worms in my compost bin, but when the weather got warmer they all scarpered! so my axolotls are eating basically sea food cocktail (sold in freezer packs) I rinse them once defrosted as they usually contain a glaze then slice into managable portions , prawns, mussles, squid etc. I also feed them raw ( organic free range) pork, beef,lamb and chicken..with the addition of the occasional slice of chicken heart. I have also discovered that they enjoy live river shrimp that you can get from aquariums( i had to ask as they usually keep a supply in a tank off display) and smallish pond snails. The diet varies depending on what we are having.

 

[kapo]

Panpan - Did you test for ammonia? If you think your tests are inaccurate then you should take a sample of tankwater to your petshop and ask them to test it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

If when testing for ammonia or nitrIte the levels are above 0, then you should be doing a partial 20-30%waterchange. This may mean that you should be testing either every day or every 2 days (to be on the safe side) and if needbe (ie: ammonia/nitrIte levels over 0) then do a partial 20-30% waterchange on your tank. This will keep levels safe for your axolotl.

Earthworms, live bloodworm/blackworms/tubifex worms can be fed to your axolotl.

I doubt very much that liver caused the lumps, could very possibly be a water quality problem if you have a nitrIte reading of 1.


Bellabelloo - Where do you keep your compost bin? With warmer weather they do tend to dig deeper (either into garden or further down compost bin). I moved our compost and worm bins to the shadiest part of our garden before summer set in, and managed to retain quite a substantial amount of worms thankfully. But it's always good to send the kids out wormhunting when it starts to rain (under the garden furniture, potplants, stones or bricks) - keeps them occupied and our axies happy!

 

[panpan]

Thanks Kapo and Bellabelloo, axi seems fine although lumps are still there but he doesn't seem stressed and is acting normal. He loves prawns!!! I was very pleased when I found this and I will try him with some other seafood when I can. I have changed the water and will continue doing so til readings are ok.

 

[panpan]

Hmm.....
Ok i did a 20% water change the other day but I've noticed for a few days now I havn't seen him out of his tank. Is this just coincidence and he likes it in there or is this something to worry about?

 

[Bellabelloo]

What do you mean out of his tank?...does it come out of the water because if it does its a totally different ball game!. My little treasures have just swapped places... Jeffrey was always in the drain pipe with princess pretending to be a leaf while floating among the weed. Now she's in the tubs and he is trying to convince me his some sort of adapter to the filter. I suspect they are trying to keep us on our toes ( but have kids to do that to me!!)


Kapo the compost bin is in the middle of the garden, the worms all one day just massed together in a huge ball , so when I lifted the lid to do a little harvest they all fell on me..still having treatment from the shock of it!! . And more or less totally disappeared, I have a few back now. The kids are well trained and are in direct competion with the hedgehog in locating the mighty wriggly worm

 

[kapo]

By tank, do you mean his cave/tank hideout? If you've tested the water, temperature's ok, below 24C, then just keep an eye on him/her.

Bellabelloo --- ah yes kids, no what you mean ! I can understand/appreciate your shock, my introduction to the wormball sounds very similar to your experience and had the husband and kids rolling round laughing at my antics to get them off me. Now I have absolutely no trouble pulling them out of the ball and cutting them up if I need to - all for the good of our axies.