Small axies?

[Abdab]

I've had my axies for 7 months but I'm sure that they are 1 year and 3 months old however they are very small. I'm not completely good with measurements but I'm sure they're somewhere between 3 and five inches. From what I've read this would indicate a much younger axolotl? But I could be wrong

 

[LSuzuki]

If you have had them for 7 months, then you know they are at least 7 months old. :happy: How big were they when you got them?

If they are 3-5 inches, they are definitely smaller than expected for their age. They may just be small, or there may be something wrong.

What are you feeding them and how often? What size tank are they in? Any other signs of possible illness? What are the water parameters? Can you post pictures?

 

[Abdab]

They were less than an inch long when I got them, but they had all four legs. I feed them frozen bloodworms every 2-3 days though sometimes more often if they're looking skinny, however they don't seem to eat a lot anyway. Their tank is 3x1x1 feet. They don't seem to show any signs of illness except I think their gills are quite small? My old axolotls definitely had larger gills. I probably sound like an idiot but I'm not sure what you mean by water parameters (I'm not good with all the fish-keeping talk)

This is what they look like, they weren't in the tank because I had to clean all of the glass. The only other health issue is we think the golden-albino one is blind though we're not 100% sure, she doesn't seem to react to stimulus in front of her or around her though.

 

[LSuzuki]

Well, bloodworms aren't a good staple diet for older axolotls, even though they are recommended for juveniles. I don't know if a prolonged diet of blood worms would restrict growth or not. I suspect it might depend on on things like how much calcium is in the water, but I am just guessing.

I recommend feeding them earthworms/nightcrawlers and/or a good "carnivore" pellet (Hikari sinking carnivore pellets are good.) It might take them a bit to get used to the change of diet or they might take to it quickly. You might have to chop up the worms into smaller pieces.

If they were less than an inch long when you got them but had all 4 legs, then it sounds like they are naturally small or like you are bad as estimating sizes :happy: or both. I have some tiny ones right now (3/4" compared to siblings that are mostly 1.5") and I have no idea if they will ever get as big as the rest.

The picture isn't super clear so it is hard to tell if the gills are a problem, but one of them looks rather skinny. (Maybe it is the lighting.) Can you post some more pictures?

Water parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temperature. Do you have a test kit? If not, get one of the good master test kits. Welcome to API Fishcare: FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT

How often and how much water do you change?

 

[Abdab]

I'll admit that we don't change the water as often as we should, but it's difficult because it is a 2 man job and I live with my grandfather who has physical disabilities. We tend to change more water less often rather than less water more often. However, I've tested the water regularly and its all good. No nitrate or nitrites, I don't think there's any ammonia, the pH is slightly high, but nothing to be concerned about that's just because we live in a hard water area. The temperature is generally kept between 15 and 20 degrees C.

This is the only other recent picture I have but it's much less clear than the first one. The leucistic axie is on the skinny side, but she has always been this way and doesn't eat as much as the albino, though I always put plenty of food in for the both of them.
As for feeding them just on bloodworms, I know it's not the best diet, but my friend owns my old axolotls and they have been on bloodworms their entire life and while I understand they're bigger because they're older, they also seem to have grown at a normal rate.
The axolotls were definitely less than an inch when I first got them, though I think they had only just got their legs. I got them from a pet shop that was keeping around 30 of them in a shallow 1 foot square tank, so maybe that impacted their growth?

Also I apologise for the terrible pictures

 

[LSuzuki]

Could one of these help with the water changes? http://www.amazon.com/25-Foot-Python-Aquarium-Maintenance/dp/B000255NXC I bought a snap connector to make it easier to hoop up to the faucet (can't find a link for that), and to take water out, I just use it as a siphon and drain it into a bathtub drain. If you do buy one, get one that is longer than you think you need - it helps to have some slack in the hose.

I really recommend switching to a more nutritious diet. Even if they don't grow more, it will help them live a longer, healthier, life. See this thread. http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-general-discussion/81727-why-earthworms.html

 

[Abdab]

So could I feed them on earthworms that are found outside and other insects I find, or that I find? Or would I need to buy clean ones/create my own culture? Because I don't have the facilities to start keeping my own bugs (mainly lack of space) and purchasing clean ones seems to be pricey, but if I could feed them ones I find that would be perfect as my family own an allotment. Could I use composting worms that I find? From what I have read people seem to do that, but I always thought they could make the axolotls sick.

 

[Kilolotlkeeper]

So could I feed them on earthworms that are found outside and other insects I find, or that I find? Or would I need to buy clean ones/create my own culture? Because I don't have the facilities to start keeping my own bugs (mainly lack of space) and purchasing clean ones seems to be pricey, but if I could feed them ones I find that would be perfect as my family own an allotment. Could I use composting worms that I find? From what I have read people seem to do that, but I always thought they could make the axolotls sick.

You can do that if you don't use pesticides in your yard, but no other bugs like small beetles or anything. Earthworms are the very best thing you can feed your axolotl I just switched my juvenile over. You can even get worms from a fishing store or Walmart


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[LSuzuki]

If earthworms aren't practical, carnivore pellets are an excellent choice. Over there, they actually make pellets aimed at axolotls. Over here, I settle for Hikari Sinking Carnivore pellets.

 

[Abdab]

Thank you both for the help! Maybe this will bulk my little water babes up a little more.

 

[AxolotlChris]

I buy earth worms (dendrobaena:For all your worm and wormery needs - Bucket of Worms

and use JBL Novolotl pellets: JBL NovoLotl XL 250ml Novo Lotl Complete Staple Food Pellets for Large Axolotl | eBay