Concerns about frills and legs

[Phoenix2016]

Good morning! I’m constantly worried about my new juvenile named D’Artagnon. He eats ok, but I’m not sure he is pooping. He is friendly and social much of the time, but not always (I’m sure that is fine). His water runs a little cold (59), but I check the parameters every couple days and they have always been spot on. I have changed the water out carefully twice, and checked for good parameters again. He has fine sand in his tank. I feed him bloodworms with tweezers, and he comes when he sees them out. He occasionally eats very small pieces of earthworms, but sometimes spits them back out. Every couple days I give him some freeze dried brine shrimp.

All this to see if anyone knows why his frills might be forward? Sometimes it seems they are very far forward, but they are still fluffy looking, and every time I think maybe his tail is curled he moves and it straightens out like it was just not quite out of the way of a plant or something.

I thought he was in low enough light, and he doesn’t really use his hides, but now I’m not sure. He is in my living room but sort of tucked into a cubbie with no direct light, and I keep that corner window with the thick blinds closed.

Now, this morning his back legs are straight out to the sides. Is that a bad sign??

Do you think he is ok? Am I doing something wrong? This picture shows him when they are not as far forward, but is t he adorable??

 

[Covey]

Good morning! I’m constantly worried about my new juvenile named D’Artagnon. He eats ok, but I’m not sure he is pooping. He is friendly and social much of the time, but not always (I’m sure that is fine). His water runs a little cold (59), but I check the parameters every couple days and they have always been spot on. I have changed the water out carefully twice, and checked for good parameters again. He has fine sand in his tank. I feed him bloodworms with tweezers, and he comes when he sees them out. He occasionally eats very small pieces of earthworms, but sometimes spits them back out. Every couple days I give him some freeze dried brine shrimp.

All this to see if anyone knows why his frills might be forward? Sometimes it seems they are very far forward, but they are still fluffy looking, and every time I think maybe his tail is curled he moves and it straightens out like it was just not quite out of the way of a plant or something.

I thought he was in low enough light, and he doesn’t really use his hides, but now I’m not sure. He is in my living room but sort of tucked into a cubbie with no direct light, and I keep that corner window with the thick blinds closed.

Now, this morning his back legs are straight out to the sides. Is that a bad sign??

Do you think he is ok? Am I doing something wrong? This picture shows him when they are not as far forward, but is t he adorable??View attachment 92190

Ok, so does your tank have high flow on the filter? Or anything high flow that may stress your axie? Because that could be a cause. And on your axolotls gills, some axolotls just have slightly forwars gills, and his legsbeing straight out is normal and fine, my axolotl Ponyo does it often.

 

[Phoenix2016]

Ok, so does your tank have high flow on the filter? Or anything high flow that may stress your axie? Because that could be a cause. And on your axolotls gills, some axolotls just have slightly forwars gills, and his legsbeing straight out is normal and fine, my axolotl Ponyo does it often.

I think the flow is ok, it is adjustable and I turned it all the way down, plus I placed a narrow but 6” long plastic tub to catch the water flow to try and make double sure. I don’t know if I did that right, but I wasn’t sure what else to do. Should I get a really gentle flow tank like I have for my betta?

 

[Covey]

I think the flow is ok, it is adjustable and I turned it all the way down, plus I placed a narrow but 6” long plastic tub to catch the water flow to try and make double sure. I don’t know if I did that right, but I wasn’t sure what else to do. Should I get a really gentle flow tank like I have for my betta?

Yes, even "ok" flow would be considered a bit much for an axolotl. And yes, you should get a really gentle flow tank like a betta, maybe use sponge filters or overhead sumps.