What is wrong with these axolotls?

hi all,

I've just got three young gold axoltols about two weeks ago. They had some white patches on them which I googled and decided they were the normal white markings that gold axolotls can have. Recently they seem to be getting worse but I don't know if I'm just noticing them more and getting paranoid, or if they are fungal or bacterial issues. They don't appear to be fluffy so I'm thinking bacterial.

The water chemistry is all perfect, pH is 7, temperature is 16 degrees. There's no real water flow in the tank (I had a bubbler in there but took it out after a few days because it caused too much movement). I can't find anything wrong with the tank itself, but they have been spending more time swimming rather than just sitting on the bottom (very active - not sure if that's just because they are young or because they are stressed or something). Their gills look fine, its just these white patches all over the rear part of their bodies (which look worse in the attached photos than they do in real life!).

The thing too is that all of them are voracious feeders. There has been no loss of appetite which I understand happens when they are sick.

I have four adult axolotls in another tank (two white, two black) which I've never had any problems with.

These first three photos are taken while swimming (note also the red behind the front leg....is that something wrong as well?)

three more photos. The first two are the same tail from different sides.

They are beautiful. The white or silver splotches are normal markings. They don't appear to have anything wrong with them.

The red blob is, I think, its stomach. Look at it before a feed and after. During swallowing is even more interesting! My leucistic juveniles all look like that. Less so as they get bigger and less see through. There is a diagram of axolotl innards somewhere on the site. On the other side is a black blob. Presumably the other end of the process....

No idea about the white patches (I would have assumed they are the natural markings). You need someone with more knowledge than me.

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I agree with Michael, they look fine to me too.
The white markings are part of their colouring. The pinkish bit behind the leg may be the liver.

Axolotls - Biology

I see nothing wrong with them, other than that they are positively beautiful

thanks guys, I was hoping that is what you would say. I think its the case that the more I looked at them the more I convinced myself they were sick. I've never had gold axolotls before so those markings really throw me.

The other spot that can mess with your head is their gill stalks. The golds have a bit of gold/white patterning that will make you do double takes and tripple takes second guessing if they too are fungus. I know I freaked myself out a time or two. No fungus though.

Those are some good looking golds by the way. Keep up the good work.

on these ones the markings on the gill stalks are sort of a different shade of gold so I knew they were just markings. It was the appearance of the white markings on the tail and body that was throwing me. Since then I've noticed that one of my adult black axolotls has similar markings on its tail, but they aren't very noticeable because they are just a slightly different shade of blackish.

They are growing really fast too! I had no idea they would be so quick.

In terms of them swimming a lot, is this just because young ones are more active naturally?

Young ones are more active, yes. Before you know it, they'll be asking for the car keys.

Thank you for posting this and the pics! I noticed the same thing my my gold axie and had the same concern. Glad to know its just a goldie thing.

wandering said:

The red blob is, I think, its stomach. Look at it before a feed and after. During swallowing is even more interesting! My leucistic juveniles all look like that. Less so as they get bigger and less see through. There is a diagram of axolotl innards somewhere on the site. On the other side is a black blob. Presumably the other end of the process....

No idea about the white patches (I would have assumed they are the natural markings). You need someone with more knowledge than me.

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We've just bought two axolotls, and we were told they were leucistics, but they look exactly like this which we thought were golden albinos.. Do yours still look like this, or do they go more pink as they get older?

My leucistic is now all grown up. The organs are not so visible now. It is still pinky white with black eyes. It does not have the lovely shiny markings visible on the goldens in this post. Sounds like you have golden. The pink/red eyes and patches are a giveaway.

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wandering said:

My leucistic is now all grown up. The organs are not so visible now. It is still pinky white with black eyes. It does not have the lovely shiny markings visible on the goldens in this post. Sounds like you have golden. The pink/red eyes and patches are a giveaway.

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Yeah I haven't actually seen them in person yet - my boyfriend went to see them today and took a picture but you can't see properly. We pick them up tomorrow so I'll check the eyes. Thanks for your reply!


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Those white/silver markings are called iridophores and are part of their natural colouring And I hear you on the gill stalks! My eight monther just got white/silver marks on her stalks and I thought it was fungus at first. Luckily a torch light assuaged my fears!

Your goldens are beautiful. I can't wait to see them as adults

Tephra said:

I see nothing wrong with them, other than that they are positively beautiful

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Here here..they are little stunners. :happy:

I think my axolotl is sick!

Hello i have 2 juvenile axolotls, The one is a golden albino and im a new owner, the other axolotl is doing fantastic. The golden albino isnt growing very fast compared to the wild type, im worried hes sick here are some pictures. i do daily water changes have their water at 64 degrees and do daily water checks for ammonia and ph etc.