Illness/Sickness: My axolotl has no gills!!!

[Mark1987]

Hi I was wondering if anybody could help, I got my first axie but the poor thing has not got any red frills, I think it's old tank mates may have nipped at them.

He seems fine, eating blood worms and earth worms, walking about. I have read they swim up to get some air but he only does this once an hour or less so I think he is still breathing through the red frills left under the stumps on the side of he head.

Does anybody know how long they may take to grow back or if that is even the problem?

Cheers

 

[pondweed]

( Oh, you're in Sussex too. Hello! )

There are a few things in your setup that members here will call attention to; the first being that your Axolotl is on gravel. They're prone to swallowing gravel, which can lead to impaction, and in the worst cases, death. You really either need to change the substrate, or— is that a large fish tail I see to the left of the picture?

Axolotls are really best housed alone, since fish will nibble their gills if given the opportunity (since yours is lacking all but stubs!) Some people do keep theirs will small and certain species of fish that live in a different water column, or are there to be a snack for the Axolotl. (They're said to try and eat fish even if they're too big for them— not an ideal situation for either animal!)

It's my understanding the the filaments/frills will grow back in good water conditions, but the "branches" might not grow as much.

 

[snuggly time]

I agree with all the pondweed said. Also have you got the water parameters?? Ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Temperature?

If there is fish in there they will more than likely nipping at your axies gills.

 

[Mark1987]

Thanks for your help, I do have some small goldfish but they are not small enough to be eaten yet not big or bold enough to go near my axie, I have a 20l hospital tank that I can put him in for the time being while my other planted tank cycles even though it was going to be for an iwagami!! Oh well, must buy yet another tank!

 

[BooChan]

Firstly, congrats on getting your new friend. :happy:

You asked about your axie growing his gills back, so I thought I'd let you know my experiences with gill growth and hopefully put your mind at ease. My axie, Boo, had quite small gills when I got him/her (Boo is only 5 months old, can't tell the gender yet!), although nowhere near as small as your axie's. I've had Boo for a month now and if you look at the attached piccies you'll see that his/her gills have grown a lot during that relatively short time. Axies are resilient little things, I'm sure yours will recover from whatever gill nippage he may have received.