Axolotl tail seems to be decaying

[Mikelawyer]

So I’ve had this axolotl for about 6 months now and until this it has seemed very healthy. Eating really well, being super playful, and has very fluffy gills. But I just recently noticed at the tip of his tail it is becoming clear and seems to be dying off maybe. And I’d just like to figure what it is if anything serious. And it seems like his healthy tissue on his tail is turning flimsy looking like dead skin and seems to be spreading up his tail

 

[Mikelawyer]

A much better look
It is very flimsy and seems like it’s is taking over heathy tissue but is hard to tell

 

[wolfen]

check the water parameters and temperature.

 

[Mikelawyer]

check the water parameters and temperature.

The temp is 59 and everything else has been good

 

[Mikelawyer]

check the water parameters and temperature.

I freak out anytime it gets above 64

 

[wolfen]

to get a better idea would need to know what the ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels are as well as what chemicals are used, such as dechlorinator brand/make, and fertiliser if planted tank etc..
would also be helpful to have a full photo with head and limbs.
as it is the only thing I could recommend at the moment would be to use holtfreters solution or a modified solution to improve the water chemistry.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

It looks like cosmetic damage. Are there hard rocks or rough surfaces in the tank? Could he have gotten into a scrap with his pink brother? It looks like the pink one has a similar chip on his tail.

 

[Mikelawyer]

It looks like cosmetic damage. Are there hard rocks or rough surfaces in the tank? Could he have gotten into a scrap with his pink brother? It looks like the pink one has a similar chip on his tail.

So this is a look into his tank setup. I have had all of these decorations in here since February when I got him. He is the only Axolotl I have so it’s him in both pictures. I do a 40% water change every week and he has a 20 tall tank

 

[Autistic Catholic]

View attachment 93172
So this is a look into his tank setup. I have had all of these decorations in here since February when I got him. He is the only Axolotl I have so it’s him in both pictures. I do a 40% water change every week and he has a 20 tall tank

In the first picture, I mistakenly thought the background behind the one decoration was the tail of another axolotl.

But definitely could be a problem with him rubbing too hard against one of the decorations.

Has he grown any?

 

[Mikelawyer]

to get a better idea would need to know what the ph/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels are as well as what chemicals are used, such as dechlorinator brand/make, and fertiliser if planted tank etc..
would also be helpful to have a full photo with head and limbs.
as it is the only thing I could recommend at the moment would be to use holtfreters solution or a modified solution to improve the water

Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Ph 7.8
This was all before I did a 30 percent water change about 10 minutes ago
Unfortunately I can’t get a good picture because just today he started hiding in his little cave in the dark (which he almost never goes in anymore) refusing to leave and not eating which is veryyy unusual. I lured him out put a red crawler in front of him that I get from a bait shop and usually he will snatch it immediately but this time he just moved away completely uninterested. I don’t use any chemicals as I use my house well water for his tank. It’s been a few weeks since my initial post and his tail looks about the same. He also keeps flapping his gills much more than usual which still look very healthy. Other than that and the not eating, hiding, and tail everything seems good.

 

[Mikelawyer]

Ammonia 0.25ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Ph 7.8
This was all before I did a 30 percent water change about 10 minutes ago
Unfortunately I can’t get a good picture because just today he started hiding in his little cave in the dark (which he almost never goes in anymore) refusing to leave and not eating which is veryyy unusual. I lured him out put a red crawler in front of him that I get from a bait shop and usually he will snatch it immediately but this time he just moved away completely uninterested. I don’t use any chemicals as I use my house well water for his tank. It’s been a few weeks since my initial post and his tail looks about the same. He also keeps flapping his gills much more than usual which still look very healthy. Other than that and the not eating, hiding, and tail everything seems good.

He also has no live plants in the tank, no sand, and no rocks that can fit in his mouth

 

[wolfen]

the ammonia levels are safe but ideally should be zero, make sure to clean filter media regularly.
the tail doesn't look to be damaged, it's more the case of either excess skin growth or a reduction of tail fin length.
if you are going to use either a holtfreter solution or modified don't add calcium chloride or bicarbonate of soda as your water is already hard as is noted by the ph and the limescale residue in the tank.
it's quite normal for axolotl to be more inclined to hide in dark places during the day as they are mostly nocturnal, this also means it is better to feed them at night time.

 

[axolotl nerd]

A much better look
It is very flimsy and seems like it’s is taking over heathy tissue but is hard to tell
View attachment 93133

my axolotl kip has had almost this exact thing her entire life, it doesn't bother her and it hasn't grown or gotten worse so i assume it's just a little portion lacking pigment