My Axolotl has issues!

[lisa]

I have two axolotles but my white one has issues. It has red gills but they keep changing colour. Sometimes they are vivid red and othertimes they are really pale. Also it had blue eyes when I bought it but they keep changing to black. My two axolotles never fight, they often sit together with heads touching but suddenly my white one has started taking off when touched and nearly knocking itself out on the sides of the tank!}

(Message approved by jennewt)

 

[alex]

the colour of the gills is more red in warmer weather and pale in colder weather. dont know about the eyes.

 

[sherrisixxx]

Don't worry, that's normal. My axie Rosie, which is white,(leucistic), has totally white gills when she is sleeping, but the gills are turn to bright red if she is energetic and moving about a lot. Also her eyes were very blue when she was younger, but now turning more black. So exactly the same as yours! This is normal.

 

[lisa]

Thanks alot!

(Message approved by jennewt)

 

[teesha]

when the axolotl is just staying still it doesn't need as much blood circulating. Since white axies have less pigmentation than wild type axies it is much easier to see their blood. Much like when he run around our faces turn red with the increased blood supply the same happens to the fishes gills as it needs more oxygen transported around the body via the circulatory system. This is why the gills redness fluctuate as it is one of their sources for breathing. They also breath through the buccopharangial cavity (by breathing in air like us but instead of haveing a lung it is like a sac) and their skin.
Sorry if i seem like a nerd but i am in a course about animals and i am putting my knowlege to use!!!