New Axie owner health question

[keiferlou]

I could have sworn I saw a Health thread before registering but, for the life of me, I can't find it now If I missed it somehow, I apologize.

I got my Axie this past Thursday 6/13. I didn't care about gender so I'm not sure what he/she is so I just call the critter a guy until I know otherwise. His name is Frankie. It'll work either way. So, he arrived with only one full leg, which I had already read was common and that regeneration is a thing with Axies and it didn't seem to hinder him in any way. I wasn't gonna send him back anyway, I thought it gave him character and made him even cuter IMO That's not my issue with him.

I've been looking at pics and videos of these amazing little creatures since I first heard about them but had never thought to look for the little things. He's Leucistic and when he showed up, he looked almost invisible I could see a little color on his right side behind his gills, none on his left side and a black ball of stuff near his cloaca. I've been feeding him frozen bloodworms (thawed) in a clear plastic cup. I let him eat until he's done and swims out on his own. This takes no more than five minutes. Then I remove the cup and he goes on about his Axie business. That little black ball has grown but I didn't worry about it until earlier when I noticed it sort of sticking out. I thought maybe he's like my big Angel fish and it kind of strings out behind sometimes and just is nasty. I watched him for a while and he seems to be acting normal, at least as far as I know only having owned him 3 days. Swimming around, popping up to the surface, digging in the sand in front of his hide holes, etc. I walked by earlier and he was in the corner, almost looking like he was doing push ups so I stopped. As soon as I stopped, he stopped and turned to look at me like I caught him doing something.

The black ball thing is still there and I'm admittedly a little worried. I gave him a chopped up mealworm treat earlier and he ate it up so I don't know what to think. Would he still eat if he was sick? My husband thinks I'm overfeeding him but I'm a worrier.

Shy pooper? Over feeding? A real problem? I'm attaching some pics. First one is the day he arrived. Second is feeding. Third is him hanging out. Last one is blurry but shows the black. I've always been a believer in "If something isn't right, the animal will act different."

I hope other Axie parents can help us out.

Keiferlou

 

[Jennewt]

I'll move this to the axolotl health section of the forum...

 

[Jennewt]

I don't think it's a problem, just his digestive tract.

 

[auntiejude]

Yes,thats his gut, and it looks normal to me. You can see it on most leucistic or albinos - have a look at some of the gallery pictures and you'll see it on others.

 

[Possum63]

I wouldn't worry, it looks normal to me. Leucistic and albino are usually very transparent until they get quite a bit older. Mine didn't get solid colouring till about 11cm onwards but I don't know if that's late or not.

Something that has popped to mind though is where did you get the axy from? Do you know what substrate it was on? I'm just wondering if it's a pebble that's not quite passed yet. Also, if it is something that is blocking him up then you should have noticed he hasn't pooped? If this is the case fridge him. Fridging is great for helping axolotl pass anything like if they are constipated or have swallowed pebbles.

And one last thing... You're little axy is too freaking cute!!!! I miss my big pretty boy looking as tiny and cute as yours.. Although he is very handsome now

 

[keiferlou]

Thank you all so much! Sorry, I just saw the replies I was sooo worried but it turned out to be just plain ol poop lol! I had already looked up the fridging process and was fixing to do it then when I looked at him the next morning, there was a little black poop and he was looking at me like, "Where's my food?". He's totally fine and I'm just a worrier

I ordered him online from backwaterreptiles.com and I have no clue what he was kept on and I had him on fine sand until that happened and freaked me out so I took out the sand and he's in a bare tank now. He's my first Axie and I wasn't sure what was going on! I don't think he was on gravel because when he did poop, it was soft. Surely it would have been hard if it was a pebble.

Thank you all again very much! Good to know I'm amongst good people on here, even if I forget to check for replies And thank you Jess, I think he's a handsome little feller too