Weird balls on ends of gill hairs

[Pennythelotl]

My axolotl has long gills. I wouldn’t necessarily say over grown but theyre pretty long. They droop forward and have white tips sometimes or patches. The thing that concerns me most is the tips of the hairs on her gills almost look like they each have a little ball on the end. Anyone have any idea to what this is. I havent had her very long and the hairs have been that way since i got her. I cant find any information on the internet. Also ive seen her on occasion bring her gills back but since day one in the tank at the pet store theyve been drooped forward. Nitite is 0 nitrate is 0 ammonia is 0. The only parameter thats off is ph which is still right around 7. Temp stays at a steady 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Eats European nightcrawlers, soft pellets for axolotls and sometimes bloodworms. Ill post pictures when i can

 

[Autistic Catholic]

It would be helpful if you could show a picture. Also, your test seems odd. How are you getting 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 0 nitrates?

What you describe could possibly be fungus but difficult to know without the pictures.

 

[wolfen]

My axolotl has long gills. I wouldn’t necessarily say over grown but theyre pretty long. They droop forward and have white tips sometimes or patches. The thing that concerns me most is the tips of the hairs on her gills almost look like they each have a little ball on the end. Anyone have any idea to what this is. I havent had her very long and the hairs have been that way since i got her. I cant find any information on the internet. Also ive seen her on occasion bring her gills back but since day one in the tank at the pet store theyve been drooped forward. Nitite is 0 nitrate is 0 ammonia is 0. The only parameter thats off is ph which is still right around 7. Temp stays at a steady 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Eats European nightcrawlers, soft pellets for axolotls and sometimes bloodworms. Ill post pictures when i can

if you have zero nitrates you are either changing 100% water daily or the tank isn't cycled.
without a photo then guessing would be the best that anyone could give.
for information look up "fungus on axolotl gills".

 

[Pennythelotl]

I us

if you have zero nitrates you are either changing 100% water daily or the tank isn't cycled.
without a photo then guessing would be the best that anyone could give.
for information look up "fungus on axolotl gills".

e test strips. My options for reading results are a 0 or a ten i was simply trying to state water conditions arent the issue. My point is ive been keeping fish for 15 years and i know for a fact my tank is fully cycled. Water changes happen once a week 25% at a time. Water parameters are very stable. Axolotl didnt want to eat when i first got her for the first two days, but now she seeks out food. Her condition hasnt changed at all since i got her. Shes only grown. Ive been researching how to diagnose and treat her but i can find anything helpful on diagnosis. Only treatment. Ive been thinking about just treating her with natural methods and seeing if anything shows improvement

 

[Pennythelotl]

I use

I us

e test strips. My options for reading results are a 0 or a ten i was simply trying to state water conditions arent the issue. My point is ive been keeping fish for 15 years and i know for a fact my tank is fully cycled. Water changes happen once a week 25% at a time. Water parameters are very stable. Axolotl didnt want to eat when i first got her for the first two days, but now she seeks out food. Her condition hasnt changed at all since i got her. Shes only grown. Ive been researching how to diagnose and treat her but i can find anything helpful on diagnosis. Only treatment. Ive been thinking about just treating her with natural methods and seeing if anything shows improvement

I use test strips so they arent very accurate. I just know its well within safe levels

 

[Pennythelotl]

She doesnt have fuzzy growth like most of the pics show. Its more just like her gills arent healthy in a few small patches but the condition doesnt change. Have i just stalled out whatever bacteria or parasite she has. Is it just unable to progress in my tank

 

[Pennythelotl]

As for picture. My camera doesnt work so ive been waiting for someone to either come over and then they could send me pics from their phone or ill have to get a new phone

 

[wolfen]

I use

I use test strips so they arent very accurate. I just know its well within safe levels

either way get a liquid test as well, strip tests are good for a quick check incase of massive fluctuations but wont pick up minor issues, fungus is one of the main problems along with receding the axolotls suffer with their gills. the fungus can be because of either damage caused by bad water parameters or a lack of salt or minerals in the water, read Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity for more information.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

My options for reading results are a 0 or a ten

Ok so you don't know for certain if the water parameters are fine. As wolfen has said, any problem with the gills can be a matter of imbalanced water parameters and if the test strips do not yield the best results, then it might be time to find a more reliable reading.

 

[Pennythelotl]

either way get a liquid test as well, strip tests are good for a quick check incase of massive fluctuations but wont pick up minor issues, fungus is one of the main problems along with receding the axolotls suffer with their gills. the fungus can be because of either damage caused by bad water parameters or a lack of salt or minerals in the water, read Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity for more information.

I will get liquid tests. I have a feeling its a lack of minerals in the water. I will look into this. Thankyou for the information

 

[Pennythelotl]

Ok so you don't know

Ok so you don't know for certain if the water parameters are fine. As wolfen has said, any problem with the gills can be a matter of imbalanced water parameters and if the test strips do not yield the best results, then it might be time to find a more reliable reading.

i feel like 1 ppm is not that big of a fluctuation

 

[Autistic Catholic]

i feel like 1 ppm is not that big of a fluctuation

Axolotls are extremely sensitive