GazerOfStars
Member
Note: Sorry if this is a little wordy, or has too many pictures (4), but I'd rather be thorough now than later in the comments, so I can get the best help possible.
First of all, I'm glad to see that Caudata is back online, when this first started (2 weeks ago) I had to resort to some sub par resources on the internet, which honestly only made me worry more with claims of "Organ failure" and the like.
[Alby The Axolotl is 4 years old and is housed in a 30 gallon tank. Bare bottom, with a couple of hides and plants growing on an object made of coconut shell]
Anyway, to the point: On Febuary 22nd I fed my axolotl, Alby, two small-medium sized earthworms. While watching her eat she eventually spit them both out, I probably should have waited for her to fully swallow the first one before offering her the second. I promptly removed one of the worms and tossed it and let her finish eating a single worm. No problems so far.
The next day (See picture 1) I noticed her mouth was hanging open and her gill stalks were very red and she was flapping them every few seconds. The most distressing part was that I could see her tongue move up and down every time she flapped her gills. I had no idea an Axolotl's tongue was even moveable.
I gently lifted her towards the top of the tank so she could grab a few gulps of air with her mouth.
I tested the water parameters and the ammonia was a little high, so I promptly did a partial water change and added a bubbler to my tank. Ever since I've been doing partial water changes every day or every other day for the past two weeks. It's been a few days since my last water change and I just tested the parameters. Ammonia and Nitrite Levels are slightly elevated, but we're definitely on our way to restoring the cycle. I'm going to do another water change after I submit this post.
During the first week after her mouth had this problem, I tried feeding her on two occasions with her normal diet of earthworms. Both times she had trouble gripping onto the worm, and they usually just fell out of her mouth. She managed to fully swallow a small piece of worm a little less than an inch long.
A week after I first noticed this mouth problem I purchased some bloodworms and thankfully she was able to eat two cubes with little problem. So *Phew* she still has the desire to eat and is able to get something in her belly.
Another week passes with pretty much no change, she still happily will eat bloodworms,with a little extra effort on her part.
That's about it, and brings us to today. I guess the central point of this post is: Has this happened to anyone else? What could it mean? Is this just a temporary physical injury to her jaw region and will eventually subside, or is it a sign of something more sinister?
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this lengthy post. I appreciate any kind of replies you may have for me.
--------------------------------
Finally, short descriptions of the pictures I'm including with this post.
1. [Two weeks ago] First time noticing Alby's mouth being agape
2. [Today] Just after eating. I feel bad saying this, but the mouth issue looks a little cute.
3. [Today] An example of what her tongue looks like when it moves while flapping her gills.
4. [Today] View from abvove.
First of all, I'm glad to see that Caudata is back online, when this first started (2 weeks ago) I had to resort to some sub par resources on the internet, which honestly only made me worry more with claims of "Organ failure" and the like.
[Alby The Axolotl is 4 years old and is housed in a 30 gallon tank. Bare bottom, with a couple of hides and plants growing on an object made of coconut shell]
Anyway, to the point: On Febuary 22nd I fed my axolotl, Alby, two small-medium sized earthworms. While watching her eat she eventually spit them both out, I probably should have waited for her to fully swallow the first one before offering her the second. I promptly removed one of the worms and tossed it and let her finish eating a single worm. No problems so far.
The next day (See picture 1) I noticed her mouth was hanging open and her gill stalks were very red and she was flapping them every few seconds. The most distressing part was that I could see her tongue move up and down every time she flapped her gills. I had no idea an Axolotl's tongue was even moveable.
I gently lifted her towards the top of the tank so she could grab a few gulps of air with her mouth.
I tested the water parameters and the ammonia was a little high, so I promptly did a partial water change and added a bubbler to my tank. Ever since I've been doing partial water changes every day or every other day for the past two weeks. It's been a few days since my last water change and I just tested the parameters. Ammonia and Nitrite Levels are slightly elevated, but we're definitely on our way to restoring the cycle. I'm going to do another water change after I submit this post.
During the first week after her mouth had this problem, I tried feeding her on two occasions with her normal diet of earthworms. Both times she had trouble gripping onto the worm, and they usually just fell out of her mouth. She managed to fully swallow a small piece of worm a little less than an inch long.
A week after I first noticed this mouth problem I purchased some bloodworms and thankfully she was able to eat two cubes with little problem. So *Phew* she still has the desire to eat and is able to get something in her belly.
Another week passes with pretty much no change, she still happily will eat bloodworms,with a little extra effort on her part.
That's about it, and brings us to today. I guess the central point of this post is: Has this happened to anyone else? What could it mean? Is this just a temporary physical injury to her jaw region and will eventually subside, or is it a sign of something more sinister?
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this lengthy post. I appreciate any kind of replies you may have for me.
--------------------------------
Finally, short descriptions of the pictures I'm including with this post.
1. [Two weeks ago] First time noticing Alby's mouth being agape
2. [Today] Just after eating. I feel bad saying this, but the mouth issue looks a little cute.
3. [Today] An example of what her tongue looks like when it moves while flapping her gills.
4. [Today] View from abvove.
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