Strange Nasal Excretions on the Tank Wall

[Kaisebon]

Today, whilst watching my axolotls, I noticed something fuzzy on Matlal's nose. Upon closer inspection, I saw what I thought was skin shedding from the tip of one of its nostrils. I really am not sure if axolotls could shed their skin in flakes like that, so I kept watching with slight concern. Eventually, "the flake of skin" came off completely and when Matlal pressed it against the glass it was facing the entire time, the "skin" came off and stuck on. Matlal then swam off, and I was very perplexed from what I just saw. The "flake" that flaked off of Matlal's nose was radial and almost appeared as though there were numerous filaments branching off of the centre. I also noticed that it wavered whenever Matlal swam by it. This is explained because from a side view, I could see a single stalk holding the filaments in place. During these observations, I have noticed for the first time that there were more of these scattered along the glass wall wall of varying sizes. I'm not certain if they have only appeared today, or if they have just been accumulating and I simply did not notice until now. From the cluster, I immediately compared its appearance to a cluster of jellyfish polyps, although it looks much more like a cluster of fan worms with flaccid stalks, only pure white and a few millimetres in diameter. Consequently, I could not supply pictures. I have noticed that the larger leucistic produced much more on his or her side of the tank, especially in tightly grouped clusters by the filter. I have concluded at this point that these were excreted from the nose.

Does anyone recognise this strange phenomenon? Is it strange at all? Should I be concerned about it? Should I clean these excretions promptly? Why is this happening? Are these of my axolotls' creation, or another organism's (parasite?) creation? Matlal seemed to duly touch the glass and swim away, as if it intended to excrete and plant that.

I would do my own research, but I haven't the slightest idea what to search.

 

[Kaisebon]

With the assistance of a magnifying glass, I could see that the filaments appears to have more filaments branching from it, giving it a feather-like appearance from each filament. This would mean that there are less filaments jutting from the centre than I have thought. Therefore, instead of filaments jutting from the centre, it is more like feathers. Keep in mind that these are very small, and I could be misjudging their appearance.

I am not certain if I'm very clear. Please ask as many questions if possible.

 

[Kaisebon]

Whoops

Gah, I feel like an idiot. After awhile of trying to sleep, I had an epiphany. As I thought more and more of my observation, I began viewing it in different angles and realised that these were not excreted from my axolotl's nose, but were simply algae that Matlal was unduly nuzzling as he or she was watching me. It was getting late at night and it did not occur to me that I simply needed to scrape the glass of my aquarium more often. Perhaps I should sleep upon a phenomenon for an extra day before mortifying myself in the future. (You can tell that I'm not only a newbie with axolotls, but with aquariums, can't you?).

 

[Bellabelloo]

Could they be hydra?

 

[Kaysie]

It's probably not algae, but rather, your bacteria! They form a slimy coating all over everything in the tank, not just in the filter.

 

[Kaisebon]

It is most definitely not hydra. To ascertain this possibility, I performed more research on hydra, namely its anatomy, and the tentacles on hydra does not branch the same way these growths do. Furthermore, most of the other organs are non-existent on these growths, therefore I am quite confident that these are not hydra.

And bacteria? I would never have thought of that. I do suppose it would help increase surface area and further increase gas exchange, but I wouldn't have thought they could cling and branch into a flowering state like that.

 

[Jennewt]

Some kind of "tank critters". Part of the tank ecosystem. See
Caudata Culture Articles - Aquarium Invaders: Algae, Snails, Worms and Other Critters
Any chance you could get us a close-up photo?