Shedding skin?

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MuffinPeanut

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Hey everyone! Ive got two beautiful axolitls in a big 90 litre tank, and they have gotten along swimmingly- but just recently I have noticed that they both have little flakes of skin (or potentially slime coat) that stick to them and come off when they swim. I would love to know if there is something Im doing wrong and whether this something to be concerned about- my water parameters seem to be pretty okay, their temperature sits at around 17 degrees celsius, and theyre fed a mixture of bloodworm and Fish Fuel Co's axolotl food cubes. They seem pretty normal, and eat regularly, but their lil skin just keeps coming off, and I am worried.


Please help!
Emily
 
Post some pics and the ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels so we can see what we're dealing with :)
 
Hey Guys-
Ammonia levels are a bit high at 0.2 but we have been doing lots of 20 percent water changes to try and fix that- but this was occurring even when ammonia is at zero, so that's a little bit confusing. Nitrites and nitrates are both at 0, supposedly- I use a water testing kit :).
Attached below is my lil dark axolotl, Peanut. it's super visible on him, not so much on Muffin because he's albino, but the flakes are still there.
So far, we don't know what to do other than continue monitoring them, and keep on doing water changes. their behaviours are pretty normal, but I just don't want them to be in pain :(
thanks for your help!
 

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What is your pH? It usually doesn't really matter too much BUT a really high pH can make the ammonia have a more severe reaction to axies.
Your temperature is good, so that shouldn't be causing it.
It looks like it may be the ammonia, keep bringing it down. Did your tank cycle properly? You do want to be seeing nitrates at the low levels (5 or 10ppm). If they have always been 0, the tank may not have cycled.
Also I can see pebbles/gravel in your pic, make sure to take it out asap as they can be ingested and cause impaction. Bare bottom or sand is perfect :) You can get play sand from bunnings, just make sure to wash it until the water runs clear (it takes forever lol). I also strain it because there are bits of gravel.
 
Hey Hayleyy- the pebbles are actually part of a poster picture at the back of the tank (like a landscape picture you tape to the back of a tank, so that it's not just clear)- they do live on sand already- i would never put pebbles in their tank because I know that they're silly enough to eat them :')

It is possible that the tank never cycled properly- it was only set up for a week or so before we put Muffin in there. is there a way to cycle it while there are axolotls in there?

Also, their pH sits at around 6.4-6.7, so pretty low. I will continue with their water changes :)
 
here they both are :) :cool:
its hard to see but the background is all of the cool back part with pebbles and rocks, and most of the plants, and the red floor is the lil aquarium sand from a fish store :)
 

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MuffinPeanut said:
Hey Hayleyy- the pebbles are actually part of a poster picture at the back of the tank (like a landscape picture you tape to the back of a tank, so that it's not just clear)- they do live on sand already- i would never put pebbles in their tank because I know that they're silly enough to eat them :')

It is possible that the tank never cycled properly- it was only set up for a week or so before we put Muffin in there. is there a way to cycle it while there are axolotls in there?

Also, their pH sits at around 6.4-6.7, so pretty low. I will continue with their water changes :)
Click to expand...

Very glad to hear that it's just a background. A lot of people don't realise gravel is dangerous so it's always good to check!

It can be cycled with them in there but it takes longer as more water changes need to be done. It is better, however, to cycle without them in there. I find it too dangerous to have them in there, as ammonia and nitrite are toxic. If you have a spare tank or container they can be in (with daily water changes), I would recommend that.
 
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