Question: Axolotl gills injured?

[thegoldennugget]

Hi everyone, new here and haven't found anything that matched up to my question, but it looks like my little guy got two little scrapes on the top of his gills and might have cut the tip of one off on accident, probably swimming around (he gets very excited when i feed him). I noticed it the other day since they seemed to be such tiny wounds!

As ever though, I am extremely worried about him! I know how easy it is for them to get infected and even though i know that they are capable of growing back limbs and gills and the likes, i want to be sure that everything is going well. Nothing looks infected (i didn't even notice the two scrapes until i got close to him), his gills are pink and fluffy and he isn't acting strangely or not eating. In fact, everything seems to be normal except for the tip of one of his gills and the very minuscule scrapes. He swims happily around and relaxes in the hideaway i have.

I did take what i believed to be the culprit out of the tank (a hideaway rock) and moved everything from the walls as to give him room. My water is right around 61F, recently cleaned and changed and ph levels are where they're supposed to be. I fed him worms in the past but haven't since before he got these cuts, and have been sticking to pellets that he loves to eat.

Was wondering if there is anything more that i should do, or if i should be monitoring him for any changes? Again, the scrapes are so tiny that it'd be difficult to even get a picture of them to show you all. Any suggestions on anything else i should be doing? I just don't want to do anything wrong and hurt him!

 

[Hayleyy]

All you need to do it watch for fungus (it will be fluffy, like cotton), keep the water temp stable and regularly test your water for ammonia (0ppm), nitrite (0ppm) and nitrates (<20ppm, water change when it gets higher). It should heal up pretty quickly!
What was the reason you switched from worms? I always recommend feeding worms as they are nutritionally complete. If your axolotl loves pellets then you could save them as a weekly treat. I've found pellets and frozen foods pollute the water really quick, so I offer them this once a week when I have them tubbed while doing water changes to avoid spoiling the water.

 

[thegoldennugget]

Awesome thank you! That makes me feel a lot better!

I think i might have gotten a weird batch from the worm farm (family friends, very trusted source for good quality worms that don't have any treatments or pesticides don't worry! I live in the middle of nowhere and this is the best place to get them!) because i noticed I had to fish the old worm pieces out from time to time; he'd turn his nose up at them and swim away. I was actually going to go and get worms from them the day i noticed his scrapes! That worried me so much i didn't want to put worms in there and potentially risk anything. I personally do like feeding him worms rather than the pellets as well and now that he's bigger and i have my own house i really want to try growing the worms myself.

 

[Hayleyy]

What kind of worms were you using? The most readily available where I live are red wrigglers but they emit a smell/taste that axies (or me!) don't like. I've had the most success with nightcrawlers, but have to order them online as they aren't in local bait or fish stores.
Goodluck with the axie recovery!