My new axie's seem to be losing their gills?

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maia

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Hi there,
I am new to all of this axolotl stuff, I brought home 2 axie's 3days ago. One is black, and the other is a light brown with small spots. I have read through similar threads and havnt found anything quite like this.
They have been typically stressed out by the change of environment and flipping out a little. However, I have noticed a difference in their gills. Their feathery bits were bushy when I took them home and suddenly they look shrivelled and not bushy at all, they almost look as though they have lost alot of the feathery bits. On closer inspection I have noticed tiny little bubble type things where the feathery bits should be, I dont know what to do?
Any help will be greatly appreciated, Thanks.:(
 
What is the temperature (and please say if it's the water temp, or the room air temp)? Have you checked the levels of pH, ammonia, etc? What sort of filter do they have? Tank size? Hiding places?
 
Hello again,
The water temp seems to be at about 17-18C, the pH is between 7 and 7.2, I dont know what sort of filter it is? The pet shop assured me that the water flow wouldnt be to powerful for the axies. The tank seems to hold about 50litres. I know there is gravel on the bottom, which I have now found out is dangerous for the poor things, should I change to sand now or will it just stress them out even more? Thankyou for your help. :confused:
 
To some extent, the gills can shrink and grow "as needed" for the amount of oxygen present in the water. What you are seeing may be normal, or simply a reaction to the stress of moving. Adding ornaments (plants, pots, tubes, etc) in the tank will help to further reduce the water flow around the axies (and reduce stress in general).

3 days may be too soon to be getting ammonia in the tank, but this is something you should monitor closely during the next few weeks. See:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

I would suggest removing the gravel, despite the stress. If you want to take a gradual approach, remove it from half of the tank, and feed them on the bare side of the tank. They may still ingest gravel, however, even when it's not right under their food.
 
Hello again, I had trouble trying to attach the pics of my little axie and his tank so I have inserted the links. As you can see my axie's gills are looking very sore. I have put a big hiding log and plants in the tank. Thankyou again for your help.:confused:

picture of axie front on:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r92/maiaji/2007_0814axies0004.jpg
picture of axie back view:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r92/maiaji/2007_0814axies0010.jpg
picture of tank and filter:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r92/maiaji/tank1.jpg
 
The gills look blistered. I wish I knew what to tell you, but I've never seen this before.
 
hi, i havnt seen anything like this before, only been with axies for just over a year. just a thought, could it be some sort of chemical burn? do you use any chemicals in your tank?
i would also suggest going back to the place you got them from and question them. they might have the same problem or perhaps your axies were developing this before and its only come out now.
one more thing, did you cycle your tank? maybe testing it again may indicate for you to do another water change. good luck
 
Maia, get your tankwater tested for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

Did you cycle the tank before getting your axolotls or just set it up the a few days beforehand?

Did you use tapwater with a dechlorinator (something that removes chlorine and chloramines from your tapwater) when you setup the tank, or have you used any other chemicals in your tank, as advised by the petshop. And if so, what are they?

I've seen blister type looking bubbles on other parts of an axolotl's body due to water quality, but never on the gills like that.
 
Hi Maia,
Sorry to hear about your little axolotl's..In your 3rd photo (the one at the bottom) it shows your filter, towards the left hand side there is a kind of largish clear pyramid..what is it?..
 
Hello,

Kapo, can I buy a test kit like the pH indicators to test ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?
and no like any ignorant new pet owner, I didnt know to cycle the water and I was not informed of this by the pet shop. The only thing they told me was... "they eat these pellets here and leave them in the bag in the water for at least 30mins before releasing them into the tank. I have since read the vast array of things I should have done. I used tapwater with added surestart.

Bellabelloo, the pyramid looking thing is just a stone, it just looks strange in the image :)

The bubbles or 'blistering' of BOTH of my axolotls gills is really upsetting, I was under the impression that I had done everything perfectly. Now I find out about the danger of gravel, water cycling etc... I am concerned. I think I will change some of the water tomorrow just incase it is some sort of chemical hurting them.

ALSO, totally unrelated the little black guy has extra fingers on his right front foot/hand I was told axolotls can grow parts back if they are damaged, he just seems to have extra and doesnt seem to mind at all, should I be concerned?

Thankyou so much to everyone that has answered to my questions so quickly! My axie's and I really appreciate all of your friendly advice, x Maia
 
Hi Maia,
You can buy the tests individually , I did as I didn't appreciate that i would need to test the water so often. I now have 4 and feel like a chemist( don't understand it all mind you!!). There are also varuious sets that you can get..I wouldn't get the 5 in one test strips though. When I started cycling the tank I did daily 20-30% water changes and i tested every day or two . Its great after what feels like for ever the readings start to come down..I still test weekly and do 20% or so water change every week.
With regards to the extra toes I wouldn't worry too much..he's just being extra zealous with its regenerating powers!
 
Help!!!

:( HELP! My axie's that ive had now only 6 days are dying. They had blistery gills and now my brown guy is floating on his side. I have rung the pet shop i bought them from several times since buying them only last friday, with no advice. I went to my local pet shop and they have tested my water and found the pH ok and little ammonia that they said would stress an axolotl but not kill it in a week.

I think they must have been sick when I got them but they looked fine in the shop. I have put the floating one in a small container in the fridge, the water is just shallow enough to cover his body and gills and to allow him to put his feet down if he can - following instructions from a similar thread.

The pet shop gave me 2 things which I have now added to the water after doing a 50% water change: Prime - a solution to fix the ammonia and Stress Guard to cover them in the slime coat they need (they assured me that these products were gentle enough for axolotls).

Is this all okay, its so hard to trust the pet shops advice when they seem to blame the problem on me, "its the water", "the temp," "did you buy plants?" when I have followed every instruction they have given me + more. I dont know what to do. should I put the other axie in the fridge too to help him recover? I am devastated they something has happened to my new friends.
I couldnt handle it if i was neglectful. Please help again, Maia.:(
 
hi maia
yes i would place your other axie in the fridge as well, dont forget to place spare bottle of dechlorinated water in there for daily water changes.
they will destress in there and hopefully recover, it will not harm them in anyway just make sure temp is above 5 degrees around 10 is best.
you really need to get water testing kit and stop adding anything to the water.
make sure your tank is fully cycled before replacing them as it certainly sounds like water problems to me.
good luck
 
Maia I agree with Frances/Digger. Stop adding something to get rid of the ammonia, etc...

The reason your ammonia will be high is that your tankwater was cycling.

You do need the test kits and if you don't have them and any of your axolotls remain in the tank, then you should be doing 20-30% waterchanges daily, this is the best way to keep the toxins down, while it is cycling.

Also, try and avoid doing huge waterchanges as this can also cause problems.

Adding chemicals other than a dechlorinator is only a temporary fix and invariably mucks up the cycling (establishing of good bacteria). Don't add any other chemical other than a dechlorinator.
 
Thankyou for your help, my beautiful brown axie died last night in the fridge im afraid that whatever was wrong with him happened too quickly for me to act upon.

Both pet shops I have talked to have told me to use PRIME to help with the ammonia and Stress Guard, are these both unsafe for the axolotls? It is crazy everyone in this forum says the complete opposite to the pet shop.

The remaining black axolotl is doing okay hanging at the bottom of the tank (unlike the other one), and ate a pellet or two last night, so I dont think putting him in the fridge is the answer anymore. The one that died was gulping for air so should I put an aerator in the tank to provide more oxygen for my little black guy?

Thankyou so much for all of your help, my axolotl and I muchly appreciate any advice as confusing as it all might be x Maia
 
The advice that many of the forum users are giving you is based on their experience from raising axolotls and due to poor advice given by petshops.

You do not need the stress guard nor the Prime. You have to fix the root of the problem. You can add an aerator but the main concern, by the sounds of things is your water quality due to a newly cycling tank.

What most petshops don't tell you, in my and many other forum users' experience, is they don't tell you about why you should cycle a tank prior to adding fish or axolotls. This establishes good bacteria, which can take anywhere from 3-10.5 weeks.

As you have only had your axolotls for a wee while, adding them to a newly setup/uncycled tank, would have caused the ammonia to build up, through feeding and whatever waste (ie axie poo/food residue). This is entirely normal, but during this period you should be doing at least 20-30% daily waterchanges as this keeps the toxins down and still allows the tank to cycle, as well as daily spotcleaning of any (if found uneaten food/poo).

Prime will as I mentioned only temporarily get rid of or bind the ammonia. By doing this it throws out the cycling process and you're back to square one. You need ammonia in the tank to cycle, you fix it by regular partial (daily 20%-30%) waterchanges.

Quit using the Prime and Stressguard and start doing the daily waterchanges.

One axolotl can show symptoms, it doesn't mean the others aren't effected. Blistering gills is a sign as is gasping.

Did you manage to get any freshwater test kits for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate? A good brand is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Check with the petshop, they can order them in if they don't have any. You can buy them individually, but also in a master test kit which includes all the products including low and high pH.

If they don't have them, just make sure you get a sample of tankwater tested, and ask them to give you the figures for each one! Keep a note of it in a little notebook by the tank.

Don't stress if they say "it's toxic" or "you need to use/buy this" or 'you're doing something wrong". And don't be tempted to buy any other products they suggest unless it's a dechlorinator or freshwater test kits. As long as you keep up with the daily partial waterchanges and take one step at a time. Where axolotls are concerned the majority of petshops tend to give poor advice. Petshops are also in business to sell the products they stock don't forget.

Have you checked out www.axolotl.org website?
 
kapo said:
Where axolotls are concerned the majority of petshops tend to give poor advice. Petshops are also in business to sell the products they stock don't forget.

Have you checked out www.axolotl.org website?
Click to expand...

Just want to say; I agree with Kapo 100% - unfortunately - pet trade is purely a business for most pet shops. My sister has a lot of experience with dealing with pet shops, pet shop suppliers and breeders/enthusiasts ~ you get the very best help and advice from the enthusiasts.
 
I am sorry for asking so many questions and thankyou for your patience.
It is heartbreaking to think that I may have caused harm on an animal. I have started with daily water changes yesterday and I added the aerator to maybe alive some pressure on the poor guy's oxygen intake. I will stop adding anything to the water except (surestart my water dechlorinator).

The pet shop that tested my water for me said it wasnt too high, and didnt think it would have effected my axies in such an adverse way. I will buy a test kit tomorrow, I was soo stressed by my sick axolotl that I forgot to buy one while I was there.

I am now under the impression that I have done everything as I was meant too. The pet shops do have no clue, I think my new friends had been poorly looked after when I brought them home and the added stress of a change in environment did real damage to their fragile bodies. How do I spot clean up axie poo? THANKYOU for your input, I am sincerely greatful for your help, Maia.
 
Hi Maia, I wouldn't worry too much - although like yourself - I'm a beginner at keeping Axolotls; I've been told that "they take some killing" by a respected UK breeder. Sounds like they were in very poor health when you bought them.
 
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