Question: My Axolotl Has Changed Colour?

[EmmaT]

Ive had my axolotl about 2 months now, and when i first bought her she was jet black..now she's going the same colour as her belly..slightly grey/white is this normal? or have i done something wrong!

She's in a 30x15x12 tank with sand, plastic plants and a couple hides..seems happy enough and loves her worms and frozen blood worms. the water is still rather cloudy and its been set up about a month now..im taking about 30% out every day/every other day and replacing with new tap water also adding tap safe.

kinda new to this lotl business so any replys would be helpful.

p.s hope ive put this in the right place

 

[Alkylhalide]

I'm learning that axies change color continuously. Ive had mine for about two monthes too and their colors change all the time. It was hard when I was selling my babies because I couldnt garantee the color was going to be the same color two months down the road lol.

I think its normal.

 

[EmmaT]

ah that's a relief, thought it was something i had done, she is still black but nowhere near as dark, also the peelig... is that normal? she gets it on her head and back but when she brushes past a plant it comes off

 

[snuggly time]

What are your water parameters? Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and temperature?
Peeling can be a sign of poor water quality. Also what tap safe do you use and do you put the amount in as instructed by the bottle?

 

[layna]

Uh oh, the peeling doesnt sound good.
Do you have an api liquid test kit? if your water is all good then i would consider getting some 'API stress coat+' it puts a protective layer on your axies and has aloe in it to sooth ect, there are other products containing aloe but i would reccomend the stress coat.
Also are the plants rough or sharp? it may be catching its body and pulling off the skin :/
Other than the water and plants being okay, if the stress coat doesnt help and its still happening then you need someone with more experience im afraid

 

[Petersgirl]

This is not vitally important, but your black axxie may be Wildtype! Toothless came to me as black, and within a month, her tummy was white, her head was olive coloured and her entire body was covered in gold spots. She was sold in the marine shop as 'black.'
An easy way to tell is to look at your axxie's eyes. Do they have a shiny silvery blue ring around the iris? You have a Wildtype. Does it have pitch black or blue eyes, without a shiny iris? Melanoid.

It may also be that the colour is changing as the skin sheds. Sometimes this is normal (if you were sure of your tank parameters, it could be considered normal) and other times it is caused by high levels of nitrite or ammonia, or a very high PH (axxies are quite lenient with PH and can cope quite well between 7 - 8, but it's still better to keep a weather eye).

I had problems with cloudy water too and it could be leaving food or waste in there (mine was caused by bloodworm) or inadequate filtration. Another cause is adding new sand. Do any of these sound familiar? Stress Coat is great as, like layna said, it can help wounds to heal.

If you are really concerned, then I would suggest temporarily moving your axxie into a large container and filling it with dechlorinated aged water (i.e bottle some tap water, use Tap Safe or Stress Coat, and let it sit overnight). You can keep the axxie in there as normal BUT you will have to replace the water daily in order to stop the axxie getting ill (as you won't have a filter). The idea is to use the dechlorinated aged water daily to fill the tubs from the bottles, and then fill the bottles up immediately afterwards, dosing with more Tap Safe, and leaving it to sit. That way you have an instant supply of aged clean water to clean every day. You will also need to keep this large tub in a dark, cool place where no - one will knock it over. I have an emergency large food tub for this, as well as a breeder tank (a basic 3 gallon glass tank) for longer term occupants.

I know this sounds like an awful lot to do but I've done the same for a month while my other tank cycled and am doing it now for my new axxie. Unless we have your tank parameters we can't know how safe your tank is.

I hope this helps!

 

[Tea Addict]

Ive had my axolotl about 2 months now, and when i first bought her she was jet black..now she's going the same colour as her belly..slightly grey/white is this normal? or have i done something wrong!

She's in a 30x15x12 tank with sand, plastic plants and a couple hides..seems happy enough and loves her worms and frozen blood worms. the water is still rather cloudy and its been set up about a month now..im taking about 30% out every day/every other day and replacing with new tap water also adding tap safe.

kinda new to this lotl business so any replys would be helpful.

p.s hope ive put this in the right place

I'm not entirely sure whether untreated water causes peeling but I just wondered because you said you added tap water and tap safe, but did you treat the water with the tap safe seperatly before adding it into the tank? Just a possiblity.

 

[EmmaT]

Thanks for all the quick reply's!

I don't have a test kit myself as of yet. but i do get it checked at my local pet shop every week or so, I had it done today and it was..

pH 7.6
High Range pH 7.4
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

Temp is always between 68/70

guy at pet store told me to carry on with my 20% water changes for the next 3 days..adding tap safe and API quick start, as my tank has only been up and running about 3 weeks..does this sound about right?

He also said don't feed her for 3 days to let the Ammonia sort itself out..this will not go down well as she is a massive fan of her earthworms lol

the peeling of the skin has gone..the plants aren't rough...when she swam past or rested on them little bits would slide off..kind of like when we peel from sunburn? lol :happy:

when i do the water changes iam taking my watering can..adding tap safe and quick start..and adding water straight from the tap..then adding to the tank?

 

[EmmaT]

oh..and her eyes are deffo black..i will add some pics as soon as i find my USB cable!

 

[EmmaT]

What are your water parameters? Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and temperature?
Peeling can be a sign of poor water quality. Also what tap safe do you use and do you put the amount in as instructed by the bottle?

pH 7.6
High Range pH 7.4
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

 

[Petersgirl]

If they are definetely black without any shininess, then they're melanoid. Those parameters look fairly good - the ammonia is a little more than it should be (I'm having the same problem as you - my ammonia is slightly more than zero but isn't quite green enough to be 0.25, think I should cut down some of her food and try a few water changes just to make sure it's safe. I'm testing every day).

If you can get it tested fairly regularly at your LFS or marine shop, then that's great, ours is a little further away so I bought my own. You can get API Freshwater Master Test Kits on Amazon for £20 (£35 in my local Pets at Home!) which last ages. Always worth getting since when your axxie gets a little off-colour that's the first thing to check.

The water changes and Quick Start can't hurt. It'll definetely keep your axxie more comfortable. I was suggested to do 40% to ensure the ammonia doesn't harm your axolotl, but people vary greatly in opinion. Try the 20% for now and test to see if it's gone down significantly after 3 days. If it still looks a little high, try 40% with Quick Start. If your axxie looks uncomfortable (zooming around the tank, looking distressed, unable to settle, skin peeling or redness) then be sure to test just to make sure your ammonia hasn't spiked. My tank is in much the same position. It's been set up 3 weeks cycling with water changes and Quick Start, and I'm monitoring every day to ensure Toothless is still comfortable. The problem is that these guys can produce so much waste that they crash your tank. Hence all the tests.

Can you store ready made tap water with dechlorinator in in bottles overnight? I only ask because aged water is at the same temperature as your room (preventing temperature shock) and allows time for all the nasties to be cleaned out. It also evaporates your chlorine for you. What you're doing is what I've heard a lot of people do, but I've always felt ensuring the water is aged can't hurt. I simply store ready made salamander water in large bottles next to the tank and let them age. I add Quick Start to the tank water after I've added the aged water. I don't really know why. I'm not sure if it matters overmuch.

Hope this helps! Keep us posted! Glad to hear the shedding's stopped :blob:

 

[EmmaT]

Uh oh, the peeling doesnt sound good.
Do you have an api liquid test kit? if your water is all good then i would consider getting some 'API stress coat+' it puts a protective layer on your axies and has aloe in it to sooth ect, there are other products containing aloe but i would reccomend the stress coat.
Also are the plants rough or sharp? it may be catching its body and pulling off the skin :/
Other than the water and plants being okay, if the stress coat doesnt help and its still happening then you need someone with more experience im afraid

Ok so i bought some stress coat today, i see it also makes tap water safe, so im guessing i dont need to use tap safe aswell. think she may have a bit of a curled tail on the end...think its the filter she doesnt like..what filter do you use? i hear the sponge sort with air pump is probably better. i use the Interpet p1 which is really powerful but i do have a shower sponge that i've put on the front so as its no so powerful, or maybe the water is stressing her slightly? its still a little cloudy but i've been adding API quick start for the past 3 days..also doing 30% water changes because my Ammonia was a little high.

 

[layna]

Ok so i bought some stress coat today, i see it also makes tap water safe, so im guessing i dont need to use tap safe aswell. think she may have a bit of a curled tail on the end...think its the filter she doesnt like..what filter do you use? i hear the sponge sort with air pump is probably better. i use the Interpet p1 which is really powerful but i do have a shower sponge that i've put on the front so as its no so powerful, or maybe the water is stressing her slightly? its still a little cloudy but i've been adding API quick start for the past 3 days..also doing 30% water changes because my Ammonia was a little high.

Im not sure on the effectiveness of the quick start products, but yes stress coat is a all in one so you dont need dechlorinator as well
A curled tail is a sign of stress, so it may well be the filter, i have big rocks and plants in front of mine to stop the flow, but my axies like sitting under the flow.
A sponge filter is perfectly fine, and also acts as an air stone, you just need to make sure you remove the poop when you see it as they dont do chemical filtration.
Just keep an eye on the ammonia to make sure it doesnt get too high.
If you are going to get a sponge filter, keep the one your currently running in there with the sponge filter for a few days to allow the good bacteria to get established on the sponge, or else your cycle make take even longer

 

[Petersgirl]

Can I also suggest, if your flow is a little high, that you can try a shower puff (brand new and rinsed) in front of the filter's output and stuck to the side with a rubber 'foot?' It stopped mine bothering my Tooth, and she's been content with it ever since! Ooh, and you can also, if you're changing filter, take filter media from your old filter and put it in with your new one (for example, putting your old white sponge in with your new filter, or, if it's a completely different type - for example, the PF Mini is square sponges and the PF1 is long, thinner sponges - rub the media all over the new sponges). Good luck!

 

[EmmaT]

Can I also suggest, if your flow is a little high, that you can try a shower puff (brand new and rinsed) in front of the filter's output and stuck to the side with a rubber 'foot?' It stopped mine bothering my Tooth, and she's been content with it ever since! Ooh, and you can also, if you're changing filter, take filter media from your old filter and put it in with your new one (for example, putting your old white sponge in with your new filter, or, if it's a completely different type - for example, the PF Mini is square sponges and the PF1 is long, thinner sponges - rub the media all over the new sponges). Good luck!

yeah its a shower puff i am using (do have some pics added) noticed that the peeling had stopped but now she has a slightly curled tail, there is no blood. didn't know if it was the Ammonia or maybe the filter..the whole thing is under water so i am not sure if there is much aeration? do try to have the output above the water level slightly so as there are bubbles...but it makes such a noise and when she is floating about near the surface i think its a little too powerful for her.

 

[Petersgirl]

Hmm..that's odd. My shower puff blocks all bubbles from my filter but I do use it to disturb the water surface a little for aeration. I watch my Mini Water Lettuce to see. Basically, if it's getting pushed around the tank, your filter output's too strong. You could try something that won't disturb the tank and that your axxie won't eat (say, an almond leaf, which some people use for medication anyway) and see if it's pushed around your tank. If there's significant flow, then yeah, it may be.

Tails usually curl as a sign of stress but gills usually curl in response to the filter too I . Saying that, I know people whose axxies have curly gills all the time - my Tooth included. Sometimes Tooth's tail just curls for no reason. If your axxie's tail is permanently curled then maybe it might be ammonia - you can always test if you're concerned. If it's only once in a while I think that's kind of normal. Tooth does it when she rests sometimes, especially when she decides to fit into the smallest corner possible! I use an air bar for aeration - Tooth loves hers and the output isn't all that strong on it.