Question: Pale axle

[matty d]

After each feeding my young axolotl (unsure of age), he goes a very pale white colour in his usually orange gills, he becomes very lathargic and doesnt react to light or movement like usual. is this normal?
He lives in a rather large tank by himself, he feeds on live bait worms daily and his water temp rarely goes below 22*c (its summer in aust. outside temp avg 40*C). His tank is in the darkest and coolest room of the house.
can someone please help

 

[lea]

hi matty d

they can change colour.......they are also lazy....they are most active when we are asleep so we miss all the fun............the temp is hard to keep down in this weather but i add frozen 3ltr milk bottles to my tank as well as having hosing running though a freezer.....

lea

 

[Blaze]

Axolotls do go through a range of coloours with different feelings I find. My one will be lethargic after a big meal usually.

 

[matty d]

hey thanks guys, you put my mind at ease.
Also, are they effected by the colour of light? i have a dull blue/purple light at the top of the tank and everytime i turn it on he swims towards it and becomes very active? should i use it?

 

[Shizeric]

The color of the light is not going to affect your Axie. He is becoming active when the light is turned on because he is trying to find a hiding place to get away. Axies don't have eyelids and try to avoid the light as much as possible. I doubt he is swimming towards the light, but rather frantically swimming to wherever he can find a place to hide. You should have no problems using the purple light in your tank, but just try to limit its use to a few hours a day since axolotls will be most active (and happier) in the dark.

p.s. make sure you have hides in the tank for the axolotls to escape to when they want to feel secure.