What in the world is this?

[ferret_corner]

Ok - mind you my axies don't stand up on their hind legs often - and if they do its rarely pressed against the glass to show me all their hoo-ha-ha bits.

But I SWEAR in all the pics I've seen of axie genitalia - I didn't see this...

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi sharon,

Those sure are confronting pictures. Have you observed any accompanying discharge and abnormal behaviour? How long has it been there and has it been growing any bigger or smaller?

It is really hard to tell definitively what it could be but for that lesion, some of the differentials (according to likelihood) include:

- Cloacal prolapse
- Excrement/skin shedding
- Abscess
- Granuloma
- Neoplasia
- Spermatophore???!!

I really hope its nothing serious but keep us updated.

CHeers
R

 

[inkozana]

Unlikely to be an abscess or spermaphore, for one spermaphores are not pink, haha.
An abscess is caused by a foreign body invading a wound or cut that was previously there or on impact (like a bite or slash) Because axolotls do not have canines or any sort of teeth at the front of their mouth I don't think a tankmate bite could cause an abscess, also you would have noticed blood loss and an obvious sore if it was a cut from an object in the tank.

I agree with Ray that it could be a rough prolapse.

 

[ferret_corner]

He is the smallest of the three with a deformed/malformed leg and extra toes. It actually looked like an opaque bubble. I'm trying to get a good look this morning but he isn't cooperating!!

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him. As in he isn't displaying symptoms of being ill. Eats fine, gills are normal, tail is straight, etc, etc.

Its the first time I've been given such a priviledged view! So whether or not its been getting larger or smaller - I have no idea.

Ok with some work and a flashlight - I got new pics...
Any thoughts?

Sharon

 

[michael]

Hi Sharon,
It's tough to say what is going on with that one. It almost looks like a prolapse but not really. I have one I kept that has the same weird color pattern as yours. All along it was my guess that the weird pattern was simply pigment and not any skin problem. If the axolotl continues to get weird bumps and folds maybe it is some sort of genetic problem. Your guess is as good as mine.
So far mine just has different colored pigment. It looks a little wrinkly but that could be an illusion because of the color. Mine seems healthy and is growing fine.

 

[Jennewt]

Has he always had those oddly-colored patches?

The odd bulge appears to be beside (or behind?) the actual opening of the cloaca? It's hard to tell in the photos. But if this is the case, that would rule out a prolapse or anything "coming out of" of or "stuck in" the cloaca. Then it would more likely be some kind of "growth", like a mole or tumor. This would be consistent with the animal eating and behaving normally.

 

[Azhael]

To my untrained eyes, it looks like a tumorous growth of the cloacal tissue.....i don´t think it´s prolapse.
Note that the abnormal "bulge" continues (and is part of) with the cloacal lip, instead of coming from inside it.

 

[ferret_corner]

ROTFL! Ah well ok if the experts have no clue - I don't feel so bad! Yeah he's always had the oddball colored patches. But again this is the first time I've caught him pressed up against the glass showing his oddness so blatantly!! So this is the first time they've been so noticeable.

He does have a VERY noticeable white freckle on his right side. It might be an old injury from crashing into the driftwood but its been there forever, so I'm not sure. Here's a picture of his freckle. Please ignore the sand and spots on the glass!! I'm going to buy a large glass something or other to put him in and maybe get a good shot of his nether regions that way.