Red parts in the gills and tail

[birgit]

Hello,
My axolotl has some red parts on his gills and the lining on the bottom of his tail has turned dark red. One of his toes is also red, and i think a bit injured, i'm not sure that's related of course. Sorry I coulnd't make a better picture, it doesn't show well but the parts on his gills i'm talking about are really really red, very similar to a blood worm. I think a part of his stomach is a bit bloated, or like there is something stuck there. Gravel is not a problem, because i've had him for 2 years now and we have only bigger stones. I worry some of the stones may have a bit of sharp edges, so i will change them soon. But i wanted to ask for some advice, sooner better than later, if you have seen something like this, is there a pattern, how worried should i be, and is there something particular i should do?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kaysie]

The strange gill filaments have come up a couple of times, and nobody has a good answer. I think they're just abnormal growth, and not much to be concerned about.

However, your axolotl looks like it has either an illness, or it swallowed a rock and it's lodged in its mouth. The chin area looks rather swollen.

 

[NeekaLovesYou]

The strange gill filaments have come up a couple of times, and nobody has a good answer. I think they're just abnormal growth, and not much to be concerned about.

However, your axolotl looks like it has either an illness, or it swallowed a rock and it's lodged in its mouth. The chin area looks rather swollen.

I was just thinking the same thing, his jaw/neck looks rather "swollen" Does he appear bloated any where else? For example his abdomen or legs?

 

[FX1C]

The strange gill filaments have come up a couple of times, and nobody has a good answer. I think they're just abnormal growth, and not much to be concerned about.

However, your axolotl looks like it has either an illness, or it swallowed a rock and it's lodged in its mouth. The chin area looks rather swollen.

The mention of the swallowed rock made me think of this post which a little way down shows an axolotl with a similar bulge in its mouth - it also shows the removed rock

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-have-different-way-keep-axolotls-chinaa.html

It is worth checking your one for a similar issue as the rocks shown in your picture are of similar size to the one removed in the link.

Keep us updated please

 

[Olivia97]

I've seen a few axies who have got food lodged there and can't get it out.

 

[birgit]

Thanks all for the replies.
It's really nice to have such a warm place to turn to, especially with me being so inexperienced.
About the chin, i don't think there is a problem with it, i think i just caught him on the pic, while he was doing some breathing movement, but i could be wrong of course. I'm attaching some more pics, so you can see better. It's really difficult to make good pics, i dunno why, i will try to make some better ones tomorrow in daylight.
What really worries me now is the lump in his guts, there is a pic of that too, which could be a bit startling. I don't think it could be rocks, all my rocks are bigger than that, i've never had a problem. Maybe a part of a rock got chipped off, but I think it could be food or some blood vessel problem. In any case, what should i do?
I think the dark part in his guts used to be a bit higher, so that gives me a bit of hope that its moving down and will get out.
I know i have too few stones, and i bought some new and will put them in the tank soon.

 

[Kaysie]

I really would get rid of the stones. Unless they're bigger than your axolotl's head, they can be swallowed. Axolotls have big mouths.

Additionally, rocks are a real pain to keep clean.

Is he pooping well otherwise?

 

[Bellabelloo]

In the second picture, there are many stones that your axolotl would be more than capable of swallowing. I would advise strongly to on removing them all. The lumpy bits that you can see in the main picture are more than likely stones.

 

[birgit]

I've removed the stones, but i'm really worried it may be to late. I agree its very likely the bump is a stone, and i never really thought of that when i posted this topic.
It was very stupid of me, i've read a lot about what substrate to use, and a lot of people recommended river stones, i thought leaving the aquarium bare was a bad idea, since it's not at all close to natural environment. So i thought my stones were ok, since i've read they should be bigger than 3 cm, I guess i didn't realize how much my axie has grown.
What else should i do?
It would be easier to watch now if he poos and i will update.
His nails of the back legs have turned red too.

 

[FX1C]

I would try placing in the fridge.

Follow the fridging guide which is a sticky.

With any luck that might help him to pass it or bring it up. Hopefully he'll know how to fix himself when he's slightly numbed

Have you checked the mouth for anything lodged stuck in it?

Please keep us updated - ill keep my fingers crossed for your little guy.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[birgit]

I'm preparing for the fridging now. I hope i do everything right. I will also check with a local vet that deals with exotic animals, but chances are very slim they will know anything about axolotls.

 

[birgit]

So we went to a doctor today, we found one to my surprise
Although he wasn't experienced with axolotls, he was very nice and gave him an x-ray. No foreign objects showed on the scan and no excess gases. The doctor wasn't too sure what the cause of the bloating is, said it could be an infection or constipation. And he also advised me to wait and not fridge him for now. He will ask some more experienced colleagues and will contact me hopefully. So i haven't scratched off the idea about fridging, i check the temp in my fridge, it's 8 grades so it will be ok, i guess, but i figured i should listen to the doc and wait for the moment.
He also said the red pigmentation doesn't look like blood hemorrages, but more like abnormal coloring due to stress or other reasons.
For now i'll try to keep the aquarium as clean as possible and the environment stress free.
And i will appreciate if you guys share if you have heard of something similar.

 

[birgit]

Hi again, no changes to my axie. I was searching the forms and i started to think i might have an ammonia spike in the tank. I will check the water as soon as i can buy a tester, maybe tomorrow.
But i wanted to ask could this explain the lumps in his stomach? I think it might explain the redness. Especially helpful would be if there are pictures of a similar conditions, since i haven't been able to find the same problem anywhere in the forum yet - bloat stomach at specific places, no gases or floating. And any other ideas maybe?
I will be putting him in the fridge tomorrow, because he ate today.
I also sent a sample of his wastes to the vet for testing.

 

[birgit]

No changes. His been in the fridge since Wednesday :/
I'm starting to worry if the fridge was the best idea, i think his gills have shrunk a bit, and he has some more redness on him.
The doctor found from the tests only planaria, which i have a bit of in my aquarium, but i think it's not harmful, since i know most aquariums are plagued by it.
So i'm out of ideas, i really thought the fridge would help

 

[FX1C]

Hi again, no changes to my axie. I was searching the forms and i started to think i might have an ammonia spike in the tank. I will check the water as soon as i can buy a tester, maybe tomorrow.
But i wanted to ask could this explain the lumps in his stomach? I think it might explain the redness. Especially helpful would be if there are pictures of a similar conditions, since i haven't been able to find the same problem anywhere in the forum yet - bloat stomach at specific places, no gases or floating. And any other ideas maybe?
I will be putting him in the fridge tomorrow, because he ate today.
I also sent a sample of his wastes to the vet for testing.

What are the water parameters when you did check them?

Are you changing the water daily while he's been in the fridge? Are you using cold (kept in fridge) dechlorinated tap water? The gills should not be changing whilst in the fridge because you are providing fresh clean water...

Can you post some pics of the little guy in his fridge box, it could help with comparison.
It's good news the lump was not a rock - but confusing because you don't know what has caused this stress.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Kaysie]

I disagree; gills have been known to shrink in the fridge, as cold water holds more oxygen.

You should consult the vet about whether a course of antibiotics would be warranted. It could be an infection, like an abscess.

 

[birgit]

Well, i only managed to check the Ph for now and it's perfect - around 7.5. I still need to buy the other tests.
I will post a pic tomorrow. I change the water in the fridge with cold water, i try to follow everything from the topic about fridging.
The doctor is not experienced with axolotls so he said he had to read some more into the topic, he said he has different medicines, but is not sure what would be right to use or if anything at all, for example for the planaria eggs. We haven't ruled out infection yet, not sure how they test for that. The doctor felt the bumps on his stomach (i was too scared to do that) and he said they were soft.
It's crazy there are so many stories about sick axolotls and i can't find anything similar to this.
Also, i was hesitant to put him in the fridge, but he started wiggling a lot while swimming and at one time he was standing on his tail, that scared me.

So apart from any helpful suggestions that would be very much appreciated. I want to ask what are the signs of infection, since i don't think this is spreading.
And could it be constipation? He hasn't eaten much the past week, since i haven't fed him, he pooped a bit, but doesn't seem to be losing weight.

 

[birgit]

Checked the ammonia levels.
Ammonium NH4 is 0 maybe 0,1
So Ammonia NH3 would be about 0,002 at most.

 

[FX1C]

Checked the ammonia levels.
Ammonium NH4 is 0 maybe 0,1
So Ammonia NH3 would be about 0,002 at most.

What kind of test kit do you have to distinguish between NH3 & NH4?
Those results are incredibly accurate.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[birgit]

Well, i have Sera for PH and Sera for NH4, and you determine NH3 using a table from the second kit, taking the PH and NH4 value.
Not sure how accurate it was, just followed the instructions, the NH4 water was yellow maybe just slightly tinted with green, but hard to notice at first sight.
I've done cleaning more den usual, since i noticed signs something isn't ok with my axie, maybe i had a bit more ammonia before, but i haven't changed more than 50 % water a day, much less actually. So maybe i had higher levels of ammonia before, but not drastic.
Question is what to do now to help him?