Should I be concerned? (New axolotl owner)

[StarInTheStorm]

Hello! So I recently bought two axolotls. Im keeping them in a 40 gallon tank as of right now and Im little concerned with my one melanoid. His gills have been curled forward since I got him (Ive had them for about 2 weeks).

As far as I know he is eating well (they dont like to eat when Im watching them...how do you tell if an axolotl is on the thin side?). Ive tested the water multiple times to make sure everything there is good. And their temp is about 63-64F (18C).

Ive heard that when their gills curl forward its a sign of stress/sickness so should I be concerned?

Ive added a picture. Sometimes they are slightly more curled but not by much more.

 

[Otterwoman]

I hope someone that knows will weigh in but I'm going to guess and say it's OK (I never kept axies).

 

[GalLuvsAxolotls]

What a little cutie! Gills curled forward can be a sign of stress as you indicated, but if the water parameters are good (no ammonia, trying to keep nitrates <=20ppm) it could too much be flow. What kind of filter/power heads do you have on your tank?

And does he have an area that is shaded or a cave so he can get out of the light?

What are you feeding? He looks a smidge thin to me... nothing horrible, but could add a little weight...

 

[StarInTheStorm]

Hi thanks for the reply! Im not sure the brand of filter I use as it was a gift but I have it set to the lowest setting, with a prefilter sponge attached and I have a bath loofa thing attached to the output to reduce flow and that seems to be working pretty well.

The room they are in is kept pretty dark most of the time and I have some driftwood scattered about it a way that allows some hiding spots as well as a terracotta pot as an additional hiding spot.

The breeder I got them from suggested to start with some bloodworms for now. They get 1 bloodworm cube each and I put the cubes in 2 separate feeding jars that Ive placed in the tank. My other axolotl is doing great though, gills normal and a good body shape (at least I think so) so Im wondering if that little one is stealing most of the food or bullying the other one out of the way for food? Here'a a picture of the other one I have.

 

[Wysper]

I had the same thing happen. I got 3 babies at about 3-4" long each. Two of them had the regular gills that flowed back, and one had gills curled forward, but no other signs of stress.

It took him/her about a month to fully relax and now shows gills flowing back. I think sometimes moving and changes can stress them out in different ways. The other two didn't seem bothered, but the 3rd one was nervous about the changes I suppose.

If you don't see any other issues, and the water parameters are fine, I would just let him relax and get used to his new surroundings.