Red toes, veiny tail, and now white dots

[andyng00]

Around 5 inches long.

5 inches huh? . . . i think LOLLYPOP is right, considering that 5 inches is obviously not sexually mature yet, it may be going there and have not yet reached it . . . is she eating right ??? is she plump or is she thin???

 

[GazerOfStars]

I've been keeping up with this and recently noticed a similar set of symptoms. Mine are both fine but have picked up a couple of spots along their tail. They both seem fine and there is nothing I can think to be stressing them other then the fact i've switched them to feeding every other day. I've put some pics up on my profile and most here agree its nothing to worry about.
If your worried about it becoming fungus or being fungus (as I was seeing the white spots in mine) I've been advised indian almond leafs. Dried, you float them in the tank and they help clean up the infection. You can buy them off e-bay mine were £3 or so. Bought them just in case really.

Hope that puts your mind at ease.


---
I am here: Google Maps

That actually did calm my mind some. By looking at your pictures your Axie's tale looks extremely similar to mine. How old is your Axolotl, Canon?

I think I'll pick up some Indian Almond leafs. Is there anything I should know about them? Like how long to float them in there, is a water change required after having them in there so long. Or is there a specific kind or qualities i should look for in a leaf?

If nothing else maybe it can soothe my Axie to help the marks go away.

And I hope so, Andy

Aristotle has been eating very healthy, earthworms everyday and is plump.

 

[KingCanon]

Mine are about five inches or so. I'd wager a few months. As for the almond leaves I just read to float them till they start to break down a little. They can lower the water ph as well but being a natural remedy i'm guessing it can't have too drastic an effect.

I just got them as an "in case" for now. I have also been in contact with a local colleges and zoo's and tracked down a few other bits and bobs. The red dots can also be due to the water being deeper. It's to do with blood pressure I think. Any way being out at ease is always good too. !


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.276816,-2.546106

 

[GazerOfStars]

The water being deeper? You really think the depth of an aquarium could stress them out?

Anyways, please keep me up to date with how your guy is doing from time to time!

 

[lollypop]

I don't think the depth would stress them per say, I think he was trying to say that deeper water affects there blood pressure

Mine are in about a foot and a half deep, it's usually a little deeper than that, but before they laid eggs I had a bit of a tank misshap ( major back shyphon all over the floor) so I was gradually building the level back up so
1 I didn't stress them anymore than they had been
2 the replacement water to do it emediatly would have been way colder than the tank water they were in
3 I didn't want to crash my cycle (not overly likely with the external filter I have, but wasn't taking any chances)
4 as they laid eggs during the slow re fill process it was easier for me to poke in their tank and not end up quite so soaked with a slightly reduced level. (I'm only small, so my kids keep telling me )

 

[Kaysie]

These guys are native to deep lakes in Mexico; I don't think the depth of an aquarium will have any bearing on their blood pressure.

Adding more water won't crash your cycle.

 

[danchristopher]

I think I'll pick up some Indian Almond leafs. Is there anything I should know about them? Like how long to float them in there, is a water change required after having them in there so long. Or is there a specific kind or qualities i should look for in a leaf?

I just saw this and wanted to point out that tannins leeching into your water will lower your pH. I used indian almond leaves at less than the recommended dosage for the tank (I think it was something like 1 leaf per 15 or 20 litres?) and my pH dropped from it usual 7.4 to just below 6 in a matter of days, which then caused one of my axolotls to shed a lot of skin from the acidic water.

I took a few of the leaves out and did a larger than normal water change and the pH bounced back up to around 6.6. I've since removed all the leaves and my pH steadily rose back to normal with further water changes.

I'd recommend only using a couple, maybe half of the recommended dosage? Maybe someone else who has used them more often has a better idea.
You could use them in a separate container or tank that your axo is in maybe? I dunno, they would lower the pH in this other container/tank as well. Just be aware that they can lower the pH significantly!

 

[GazerOfStars]

Naturally my tap water is very basic. But since adding drift wood a few months ago my ph has been perfect. I hope adding these leaves won't screw it up

Anyone with a lot of experience in this?

 

[danchristopher]

Basic = hard??
My hard water turned acidic when I added driftwood. Eventually - after the wood leeched some more tannins and water changes removed them - it returned to normal, the same thing happened with the almond leaves. I would just monitor the changes to your pH when you add them. It will probably happen slowly, over a few days, so it won't necessarily harm your axolotls as they can tolerate a wide range of pH levels. What you want to make sure of is that it doesn't drop below 6, cause that is when you will have real problems. Keeping it above 6.5 is probably best.

 

[GazerOfStars]

Yeah, my water is quite hard. Straight out the tap the ph is about 8.4-8.8. My tank tests about 7.4-7.8 these days.

But yeah, I guess I shouldn't be too worried with the power of drop tests

 

[danchristopher]

With water that hard I'm sure you probably won't need to worry so much about throwing a few leaves in there, the pH might drop but when you do a 10-20% water change it should bump it up again pretty quickly.

 

[GazerOfStars]

*Tips hat* Thanks Dan

 

[Kaysie]

There is a difference between basic water (having an acidity <7.0), and hard water, which refers to the mineral content. Hard water tends to be basic, as the minerals serve as a buffer to acidity, but the two words are not synonymous.

 

[GazerOfStars]

Very true. In my first days here at Caudata.org my main worries was preparing water for my Axies. I posted the water quality report of my city and a member suggested driftwood (which ultimately improved my ph.)

According to said report the ph is: 8.69 and the hardness is:143 ( to be honest, I'm not quite sure what this means. But from my little knowledge of it, this is classified as hard?)

http://www.cityoffargo.com/attachments/0da7a2b9-c7b4-4431-a0ff-d9e708d28b08/2010%20Water%20Quality%20Report.pdf

 

[KingCanon]

My main concern was substrate. Water manipulation is so well documented it's more a factor of picking the correct method of manipulation for the species. I think many axie new comers are per whelmed by the stories of how simple they are to look after and then the mountains of information that comes from every element of their care. Places like this can be a god send and a curse if your not confident to sift through the info.

Have the symptoms abated? Are they hunky dory now?


Sent from the comfort of my throne room

 

[GazerOfStars]

The toes are looking mildly better. The toes that looked stubby seem to be on their way to growing back. Progress at least.

The tail looks about the same, however.

My Indian almond leaves are also on their way.

I'll take a couple more pictures in a day or two and let you see Aristotle for yourself.

Throne room X)

 

[Coldnorthtoy]

According to said report the ph is: 8.69 and the hardness is:143 ( to be honest, I'm not quite sure what this means. But from my little knowledge of it, this is classified as hard?)

http://www.cityoffargo.com/attachments/0da7a2b9-c7b4-4431-a0ff-d9e708d28b08/2010%20Water%20Quality%20Report.pdf

That's a rather hard-to-read report. I'm not sure how 'Alkalinity, carbonate' can be 9 ppm when there's 113 ppm of bicarbonate in the water too. I suspect that your city's KH (Carbonate Hardness) is probably ~121 ppm, or around 6.8 degrees.

KH is basically a measure of the Carbonate in the water and speaks to the water's ability to absorb and neutralize acid. As far as I understand it, the higher the KH, the more stable the pH - and often relates to a higher pH, too.

As for your 'hardness:' general hardness (GH) is basically a measure of the Magnesium and Calcium in the water. According to the USGS:

[General] Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium, and by a variety of other metals. General guidelines for classification of waters are:

• 0 to 60 mg/L (milligrams per liter) as calcium carbonate is classified as soft;
• 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard;
• 121 to 180 mg/L as hard;
• more than 180 mg/L as very hard.

So at 143 ppm (basically equivalent to mg/L, and 7.4 degrees), your hardness is 'USGS hard.'

More details here.

 

[Munchausen]

Black veins and pinkish skin could be water quality. Just put fresh, aged, water in to dilute old water and it should be fine.

 

[GazerOfStars]

Black veins and pinkish skin could be water quality. Just put fresh, aged, water in to dilute old water and it should be fine.

By water quality do you mean the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? If so, these levels are all perfect.

Thanks, Coldnorthtoy From what you understand does my city water seem suitable?

Updated pictures still to come.

 

[Coldnorthtoy]

Thanks, Coldnorthtoy From what you understand does my city water seem suitable?

Well, I'm not a chemist - nor do I play one on TV - but I am a nerd, and my opinion is worth every penny you paid for it but in terms of hardness, I believe your water is about ideal - assuming your KH actually is ~121, and not just the 9 ppm listed as 'alkalinity,' at least.

Given the amount of 'various nasties' in the water, I suspect a carbon element in your filter would be a good idea, though - but someone else can chime in if they are better informed.