Laura, I read all your posts before they disappeared. I'll post the site addie - John Clare's notes re Metamorphosed Axolotls & Tiger Salamanders again just in case it's required;
http://www.axolotl.org/tiger_salamander.htm
You asked, what can you do if your axolotl is metamorphosing? Please keep in mind that I'm not certain this is occuring to Axle, ok Laura...
However, seeing as how his gills are sparse & you wrote that he takes alot of air at the surface, I think it would best to just ensure that something is placed in the middle of the tank so as Axle can get up easily to breathe from the surface when he needs to, also give him the food he enjoys &
him.
I couldn't find any info re sequence of stages axolotls go through - metamorphosising ( basically because it rarely occurs spontainiously I guess ) however, people working at the Indianna University have been doing alot of research, etc. - axolotls over the years. I found the following site which notes changes that occur to axolotls - metamorphosis. The aim of the study was to explore the induction of metamorphosis in the Mexican axolotl salamander, Ambystoma mexicanum. The hypothesis for this experiment was that if the axolotls would undergo metamorphosis if exposed to thyroxine. Axolotls have been used in metamorphosis research studies because they do not naturally experience metamorphosis yet it can be induced, which can be controlled.
http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfb100/axolotlmain.htm
If Axle is metamorphosising any changes will be more obvious during the next few weeks.
Please let us know either way, ok Laura.
Regards, Ros.