Weird red squiggly line on axolotl head

[SunnyFlowrr]

My axolotl has a red squiggly line on the right side of his head, it's not on the other side of his head. In his gills on the right also have one red frill thing.

 

[wolfen]

looks like a blood vessel, what are you water parameters as it look like its gills are regressed and are lacking any blood flow.

 

[wolfen]

all of the frills are meant to be red as that is blood flowing through them allowing the absorption of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide.

 

[SunnyFlowrr]

all of the frills are meant to be red as that is blood flowing through them allowing the absorption of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide.

I live on an acreage so there is no chlorine in our water, I dont know what the ph levels are but I will try to do a test right away

 

[SunnyFlowrr]

all of the frills are meant to be red as that is blood flowing through them allowing the absorption of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide.

The ph levels are good, how do I help to get his blood flow going again

 

[wolfen]

what are the water levels ie.. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate also temperature and ph . for an axie to have regressed gills the water quality would be poor as they regress them to protect themselves,

 

[SunnyFlowrr]

what are the water levels ie.. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate also temperature and ph . for an axie to have regressed gills the water quality would be poor as they regress them to protect themselves,

Ph 8-8.5 Kh 180-240 Gh 180 Nitrite 0.5 nitrate 40-80. How can I fix these levels?

 

[wolfen]

I assume you are using strips to test the tank with, you are best using a freshwater liquid test kit, you also need to test for ammonia. ph is way too high and is past tolerance levels, nitrites are to high and are the limit for tolerance, nitrates high but tolerable, kh - gh fine. has the tank been cycled.

 

[SunnyFlowrr]

I assume you are using strips to test the tank with, you are best using a freshwater liquid test kit, you also need to test for ammonia. ph is way too high and is past tolerance levels, nitrites are to high and are the limit for tolerance, nitrates high but tolerable, kh - gh fine. has the tank been cycled.

What do you mean by cycled?

 

[wolfen]

What do you mean by cycled?

all aquariums whether it be for amphibians or fish, fresh water or salt water has to be cycled before hand, in a water environment waste is removed through what is called the nitrogen cycle (hence the term cycled), the nitrogen cycle is.. waste > ammonia > nitrite > nitrate > nitrogen (but because it involves denitrifying bacteria water changes are done instead). the axie poops > the poop breaks down into ammonia > nitrifying bacteria consumes/converts into nitrites > nitrifying bacteria consumes/converts into nitrates >water change is done to remove nitrates. If your tank isn't cycled then the ammonia levels will build up harming your axie, then as bacteria start to grow and convert the ammonia to nitrites causing the nitrites to build up and once again harming your axie, and also whilst cycling the ph can fluctuate from slightly acid to slightly alkali, which can stress and harm your axie. your axolotl needs to be taken out and tubbed (change the tubs water daily) whilst the tank cycles. to cycle the tank you need a source of ammonia (dr tims for example, gives directions for use on bottle), because you haven't got chlorine in the water you don't need a dechlorinator, you need a freshwater liquid test kit, to speed up the cycle you can add nitrifying/aerobic bacteria (sold in most pet shops), a filter for the tank (the filters minimum tank size should be the same size or greater as in a axie tank it contains the majority of the bacteria), air pump with air stone (this is to oxygenate the water to keep both the axie and the filtration healthy) you will need a thermometer to keep a eye on the temp (warming the water will help with the cycling so you might need a heater). at night time add ammonia until it reads 4ppm with the test, have filter and air pump running, retest (also test for nitrites and nitrates) after 24hrs (because yours is already showing signs of nitrifying bacteria colonisation we will skip the wait a week and go straight to the 24hr testing) top up ammonia to 4ppm (if it reads as 1ppm top up ammonia until it reads 4ppm), repeat every 24hrs, until 24hrs after topping up the ammonia is 0ppm and the nitrites are 0ppm (then the cycling is finished), whilst the cycling is progressing the nitrates will rise, do not do a water change on the cycling tank unless it reads 110ppm or higher. once the tank has cycled change the water to remove/reduce nitrates (the percentage of water removed is the percentage that the nitrates are removed).the axolotl must be removed from the tank whilst it is being cycled. adding a air stone into the tub with the axie in helps also almond/catappa leaves will aid in healing and stress, remember to change 100% of the tubs water daily (useful to use two tubs so it is just transfering from one to the other rather then try to juggle the axolotl whilst changing water. a 1gallon tub (tuppleware, pyrex etc..) should be big enough.