Question: What gender is my axolotl, and why he have small gills?

[Edwa24]

Hello, I'm new in this forum. Three days ago I got my first Axolotl. The bottom of the tank filled with gravel, and that was bad idea... He began swallowing gravel, thanks god that the gravel was small. Now he (i think) pooped out all the gravel and now he is feeling better. So, the question is Shiro (name of my axolotl) is male or female? I think he is a male. Here is some photos (Shiro is very young). And why his gills is so small? First two photos was taken in a first day. Sorry for my english if it's bad, im from Lithuania.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Hi..unfortunately the pictures do not show up .

 

[Edwa24]

Do not show up the gender ?
Then can you tell me why Shiro's gills are so short? And is it bad?

 

[CJ1981]

The pictures will not open so we can not see them. Could you try up loading them again please? Thanks

 

[Edwa24]

Here.

 

[Edwa24]

Sorry for that. Now must show.

I really think that Shiro is a boy, but I don't know why his gills are so small and is it normal? :uhoh:

 

[Coastal Groovin]

Your axolotl is to small to sex. You can't sex them until they start getting around that 6-7 inch mark. Short gills could be from poor water conditions or just your animals genetics. Test your water chemistry. pH and ammonia. If you don't have a test kit do a small 10% water change once or every other week and see if this helps. If this is a new tank less than two months old your tank my be cycling. If it is do it 2-3 times a week until the tank is cycled properly.

 

[Edwa24]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Niels D]

You're using gravel as a substrate. This can cause impaction when swallowed. I recommend that you get rid of it and start using a different kind of substrate like sand or no substrate at all. Be sure to check the caresheet on this site for more tips.

 

[Edwa24]

I was using gravel in the first day when i got Shiro, but now there is no gravel in a tank. As soon as possible I will buy a quartz sand.

 

[Niels D]

That's a lot better.

 

[Petersgirl]

My second axolotl's gills were very small when I got him. Apart from the water conditions he was kept in, it might be that he was bitten by other axolotls, his nutrition or his age. My second axolotl (Galaxy) got better with cool, clean, tested water and plenty of earthworms (two a day of small 'hooker' dendrobaenas which were tiny enough for him to eat whole).

Your new baby just needs you to take care of him with good quality water and good food, his gills should get bigger in no time