Rescue Axolotl Dobby

[DobbysMom]

I have multiple exotics, a few being rescues. However Dobby is my first aquatic. I was contacted by a friend of a friend who was trying to rehome Dobby as it belong to her teenage daughter who is now off to university. They knew I’ve taken in sick animals in the past.

we’re told Dobby is about 2 years old, though that seems to be a guess. Gender is also unconfirmed. His previous owner did not monitor water quality or temperature, only using 100% water changes every so often with distilled water. I will attach a picture of his previous living conditions.

since getting Dobby home I have done some quick research for the basics of care & have him tubbed while his new 20 gallon long tank cycles.

his gills look quite small to me. He also has some discolouration, previous owners said the spot on his head developed many months ago and has remained unchanged. It is not raised or textured at all.

I have ordered Indian almond leaves . I’ve also done a few black tea baths. I’ve read mixed things on tea baths, though they at lease soothe skin which I’m sure Dobby could use right now.

Any thoughts on the condition of his gills & skin ? Any tips on how I can help him heal? Any remedies ?

any and all info would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[axolotl nerd]

I have multiple exotics, a few being rescues. However Dobby is my first aquatic. I was contacted by a friend of a friend who was trying to rehome Dobby as it belong to her teenage daughter who is now off to university. They knew I’ve taken in sick animals in the past.

we’re told Dobby is about 2 years old, though that seems to be a guess. Gender is also unconfirmed. His previous owner did not monitor water quality or temperature, only using 100% water changes every so often with distilled water. I will attach a picture of his previous living conditions.

since getting Dobby home I have done some quick research for the basics of care & have him tubbed while his new 20 gallon long tank cycles.

his gills look quite small to me. He also has some discolouration, previous owners said the spot on his head developed many months ago and has remained unchanged. It is not raised or textured at all.

I have ordered Indian almond leaves . I’ve also done a few black tea baths. I’ve read mixed things on tea baths, though they at lease soothe skin which I’m sure Dobby could use right now.

Any thoughts on the condition of his gills & skin ? Any tips on how I can help him heal? Any remedies ?

any and all info would be greatly appreciated!!

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id do tea baths, a bubbler, and a lotta food to help those gills grow!!

 

[DobbysMom]

id do tea baths, a bubbler, and a lotta food to help those gills grow!!

What food do you suggest ? Original owners fed only red wigglers. I also keep night crawlers for my frogs.

should I be feeding more than every other day ?

 

[axolotl nerd]

What food do you suggest ? Original owners fed only red wigglers. I also keep night crawlers for my frogs.

should I be feeding more than every other day ?

i’d feed night crawlers. i’d just feed as much as he can eat

 

[peapuffer]

From the looks of it, seem to be a female. How you can tell is by the back legs and under the tail a male will have a bulge and a female will not, or may have a small bulge. The spot on the head seems to be just an odd coloring on the skin. If it isn't textured or raised, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. It may have scraped its head in the past and it's just that color because of how it healed. I'd feed nightcrawlers, washed and cut up in quarters...as many as it will eat. Dobby doesn't look too skinny or malnourished. For the gills, if you keep Dobby in a consistent and healthy environment, they should come back and look good. A big reason they recede and shrink is stress and water conditions not being taken care of. Try to keep her temperature consistent and if she's being tubbed, a good water change every day. In the tank, be sure to do your weekly water change and try to remove any poop or excess food sooner than later. All in all, she's not too far off from returning to a happy, healthy axie and being a lovely new addition!

 

[DobbysMom]

From the looks of it, seem to be a female. How you can tell is by the back legs and under the tail a male will have a bulge and a female will not, or may have a small bulge. The spot on the head seems to be just an odd coloring on the skin. If it isn't textured or raised, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. It may have scraped its head in the past and it's just that color because of how it healed. I'd feed nightcrawlers, washed and cut up in quarters...as many as it will eat. Dobby doesn't look too skinny or malnourished. For the gills, if you keep Dobby in a consistent and healthy environment, they should come back and look good. A big reason they recede and shrink is stress and water conditions not being taken care of. Try to keep her temperature consistent and if she's being tubbed, a good water change every day. In the tank, be sure to do your weekly water change and try to remove any poop or excess food sooner than later. All in all, she's not too far off from returning to a happy, healthy axie and being a lovely new addition!

Amazing ! Thanks so much !!

 

[DobbysMom]

From the looks of it, seem to be a female. How you can tell is by the back legs and under the tail a male will have a bulge and a female will not, or may have a small bulge. The spot on the head seems to be just an odd coloring on the skin. If it isn't textured or raised, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. It may have scraped its head in the past and it's just that color because of how it healed. I'd feed nightcrawlers, washed and cut up in quarters...as many as it will eat. Dobby doesn't look too skinny or malnourished. For the gills, if you keep Dobby in a consistent and healthy environment, they should come back and look good. A big reason they recede and shrink is stress and water conditions not being taken care of. Try to keep her temperature consistent and if she's being tubbed, a good water change every day. In the tank, be sure to do your weekly water change and try to remove any poop or excess food sooner than later. All in all, she's not too far off from returning to a happy, healthy axie and being a lovely new addition!

What would be the best angle to get a picture to sex ? Or are you pretty confident she’s a she ?
Also, would lightening be a sign of healing ? Her gills and parts of her extremities seem to be almost translucent

 

[peapuffer]

I'm fairly confident she is a she. The best angle would be a side picture right behind her back legs, where the cloaca is. A male will have a noticeable bulge. I see what you are talking about with the lightening, I noticed it with the gills when I first saw the pictures and responded. I assumed it was stress related, where when she has a consistent environment she'll look how she is intended to. It could be just her coloring or it could be something else all together, that I am not sure of.