Possibly overreacting?

[ForeverGarzone]

I'll admit I have a tendency to overreact when it comes to pets since they can't tell me flat out if something's wrong with them, so I'm coming to you guys before I have a heart attack over these little axie's!


My Falkor's gills are a little turned up, but they aren't tight. I can't tell if it's normal looking or if he appears stressed out at all. He eats just fine (a lot, actually!) and has grown a lot in the past week and a half! His fingers and toes are coming in and everything. Has he just not grown into his gills yet? Or should I look into it more seriously?


Also, Toothless (who spent his whole first week with us at the top of the tank hiding out in the shade of the floating plants) has relocated to the inside of a rock cave in the tank. Only problem is he floats at the very top of it where I am unable to see from outside the tank. I know he's alive because he floats down and eats from time to time. Did he just find a new hide out? Or should I be concerned?


Any advice or ideas would be helpful so I can stop panic attacking every five seconds! These were the best pictures I could get of Falkor with my phone, if necessary I can break out the actual camera!

 

[Petersgirl]

Worry not, fellow axxie lover! Your axxies look completely healthy!

Falkor likely hasn't grown into his gills yet, and even then, curled gills are not necessarily a sign of stress. Some gills are just super curly. The only thing to beware of is the flow from your filter - if it's strong, consider something to buffer the flow (or, if you can afford it, find a new, less powerful filter). Buffering the flow is cheaper and easier - Nikki71's shower 'pompom' trick is cheap and effective, simply buy a brand new shower pompom and rinse it out in tank water, then stick the rubber 'foot' that comes with it onto the tank so that the pompom buffers the flow).
Floating in axxies is often caused by constipation or wind so it might be worth keeping an eye on Toothless. It may sort itself out. Also beware if he floats and is overly active (zipping around the tank, etc) as this might indicate that your tank parameters are going wonky. If he continues to float you might need to consider fridging him to allow him to pass the wind or food that is making him float, but don't worry too much about this. Sometimes lotls just float and if he doesn't seem stressed, or isn't losing colour or condition, he's probably just floaty.

If you're still a little unsure, I'd always recommend testing your water if you haven't done so. Otherwise, they seem normal

 

[ForeverGarzone]

Worry not, fellow axxie lover! Your axxies look completely healthy!

Falkor likely hasn't grown into his gills yet, and even then, curled gills are not necessarily a sign of stress. Some gills are just super curly. The only thing to beware of is the flow from your filter - if it's strong, consider something to buffer the flow (or, if you can afford it, find a new, less powerful filter). Buffering the flow is cheaper and easier - Nikki71's shower 'pompom' trick is cheap and effective, simply buy a brand new shower pompom and rinse it out in tank water, then stick the rubber 'foot' that comes with it onto the tank so that the pompom buffers the flow).
Floating in axxies is often caused by constipation or wind so it might be worth keeping an eye on Toothless. It may sort itself out. Also beware if he floats and is overly active (zipping around the tank, etc) as this might indicate that your tank parameters are going wonky. If he continues to float you might need to consider fridging him to allow him to pass the wind or food that is making him float, but don't worry too much about this. Sometimes lotls just float and if he doesn't seem stressed, or isn't losing colour or condition, he's probably just floaty.

If you're still a little unsure, I'd always recommend testing your water if you haven't done so. Otherwise, they seem normal

Oh thank goodness! I actually have the shower pom between the shower pom and glass and it's amazing that's for sure!

Toothless has actually been out and about the past two days, hanging out at both the bottom and top of the tank so I guess he's done going through whatever it was!

 

[Petersgirl]

Sounds like a happy axxie! Glad to hear he's better!