The new guy - bare with me,there are pics...

[apryl]

So,after advertising on the net for another axi,getting answers from all over THE WORLD!!!,somebody in NZ contacted me with a "white" one.The new guy arrived today by car,after a 7hr trip,was in about a litre of very warm stinky dirty water,motionless.He'd been living in a tank only big enough for 2 goldfish for over a year,his hills are miniscule,and he's definately a he!The lady who gave him to me had been dumped with him when her daughter moved away and knew nothing about axies,so I feel good to have saved him from his jaded past.No idea of his age,over 18mnths.I had to put him in with Boris straight away,my other tank sprung a leak when I went to prepare it yesterday,grr!Anyhoo,he went in ok,sat there for a minute,and is happily cruising with Boris now.No bent tail or gills.Phew!So here he is, Diablo

 

[apryl]

And just so Boris doesnt feel left out....

so pretty

 

[amanda]

awww!! I feel so bad for the little guy! (well, i mean i'm happy that he's with you now, but still...) i mean, it looks like he's just sittin there (in the first pic) sayin to himself, "okay....okay...." he looks really pathetic. i'm sure that Diablo is definately going to be much happier now!

 

[lindsay]

Oh the poor little guy!

I'm glad you rescued him! Boris on the other hand looks very healthy and handsome! I love his colour.

Good luck with nursing Diablo back to health!

 

[casey]

Well done for rescuing Diablo, Apryl!

He has a very unique shaped head - I like it!

He looks much better in the later pics - probably happy he's safe!

Good job!

 

[nathan]

i am glad that he's with you Apryl

hmm what a strange shape he has though

 

[apryl]

Thanks guys,he seems ok,although he keeps trying to escape every now and again,maybe because he was in so little water before?could be why his gills are so small too?I tried to give him a worm,he wasnt keen yet.maybe tomorrow.
Yeah,I love my Boris,he's my first guy(well,he might be a she..),and I've had him since he was a peanut,3mnths old.His gold dots keep getting shinier as he grows.And he LOVES the camera!!So funny.

 

[apryl]

This was the scene this morning when I got up,somehow I think he's feeling at home already lol

 

[hayley-jane]

Hi Apryl

Firstly well done for rescuing him, he looks in a right state.

Just a few concerns though, could he possibly be metamorphasising due to the bad conditions he was in before?

I say this because as you said, his gills are remarkably tiny and also I notice his dorsal fin is very small - and this is one of the first things to shrink during the change.

His legs also seem a little one the chunky side, perhaps the muscles there are getting ready for land?

I don't know for sure, so please ppl don't shoot me down! It just seems that he could be changing?? What does everyone else think?

Another thing...though I have no experience with male axies myself, but does his sexy area look a little too big? Or is this normal?

 

[jordan]

yea he definitely looks happy now!

 

[hailz]

He's lovely Apryl! i love the markings on his face. He must feel lost now in his new big tank after being in such a tiny one for so long.
Boris is such a unique colour, do they get along well together?

 

[apryl]

I have posted a thread asking about the metamorphis thing,I was thinking that myself,thanks Hayley-Jane,hopefully someone has an idea.I remember seeing pics on here a while ago of an old guy starting the change,thats what Diablo reminds me of.More stress for the poor guy!
Hailz,Boris is very welcoming,although he has snapped when Diablo comes floating down on top of him,understandable.Otherwise I have seen Boris go and run his face down Diablos side as if he is sniffing him-or getting fresh??hahaha.

 

[jordan]

Thats pretty funny.

 

[apryl]

Since my other thread on morphing has been locked I am adding here.I did a 1/3 water change today,a few days earlier than my usual weekly change but I felt it needed it.Diablo sat holding the top of the filter with his nose out of the water for a couple of minutes a few times lastnight,he went to the bottom easily when he wanted,but would go back up again.His eyes aren't bulging,and he breaths with his gills under water fine.Maybe he feels comfort at the top after being in such a small tank before?Am getting some floating plants today,and will inquire about a floating island too.They are cork aye?Thanks for all the replies,on both threads,maybe I just worry too much,it was only day 1 yesterday and he had a lot to get over(sad conditions and the transporting).I will keep you all informed of his progress

 

[jordan]

i am sorry for getting your other post locked, if you looked at the free for all you would see that i am quite sorry. O he may be stopping at the top because his gills are so small, that they can't push enough oxygen over the gills so he has to stay at the top.

(Message edited by axolotlboy21 on October 27, 2005)

 

[hailz]

Well i understand boris snapping, i wouldnt be very happy if another person came floating down and landed on my head,lol

 

[andrew]

I'm wondering how old he is?

My eldist is only 2 so i am a relative newcomer to axolotls, however i have read a few posts about older axolotls gills shrinking with age.

You maybe lucky and have one thats morphing, but on the downside if this is the case i have also read that when they morph after they are mature they don't live for very long afterwards.

Please someone correct me if i'm wrong. Just a few thoughts.

 

[jordan]

An axolotl that metamorphoses prior to when it begins to reach sexual maturity will usually lead a somewhat normal life. It will eat the same food and behave in a similar manner to the Tiger Salamander, but it will not live as long. Axolotls that change after they have reached sexual maturity tend to be very weak animals, and usually don't live more than a year after metamorphosis. thats from www.axolotl.org and it seems that you would be right about the morphed axie not living long.

 

[hayley-jane]

How is he today?

Did you manage to get a floating island?

I agree with Jordan, it could be possible that he's at the top so much because his gills are so small.

 

[apryl]

Hi guys,Diablo is a normal axolotl today,YAY,I havent seen him do anything odd,and he's been keeping all 4 feet on the ground for ages.He still hasnt eaten,have emailed the people I got him from to see what and how they fed him.I feed Boris by hand,if Diablo hasnt been he will learn by example aye?I think I may have been too paranoid earlier,as I said before it was early days and he had come from a tiny tank to my big one,he had a lot to get used to!But he is as good as gold to day,a box of fluffy ducks,as long as he eats soon I will have no concerns.I have been lucky that they have gotten along or that would have been another stress lol