Curled gills are one of the first and most common signs of a stressed or unhappy axolotl. If your axolotl's gills appear curved outwards, towards the front of its face, it most likely means that your water parameters are off. Perform a water check and if necessary, a water change as well.

Why are my axolotl's gills not fluffy?

Shrinking or poor gills usually indicate the animal isn't too healthy/happy. Make sure there is little to no current, water no warmer than 22° C, water chemistry is right, and they can't swallow anything unhealthy. My axolotls have always had long, fluffy gills except the few ones that died not much later.

How do you tell if an axolotl is stressed?

The two main signs of a stressed axolotl are gills curved forward, and a curled round tail tip. Especially among young axolotls, the gills can curve forward because the water flow is too strong.

Why are my axolotl's gills small?

Yes, it could have something to do with oxygen levels. The gills can expand and contract to adapt to water conditions. Larger gills are needed in oxygen poor water. Smaller gills are generally a sign of good oxygenation in the water.

Why is my axolotl's gills turning white?

Usually, if an axolotl is sitting very still, they don't need a lot of oxygen. So the blood (which carries oxygen) doesn't flow to the gills in high volumes. So the gills can look pale.

AXOLOTL HEALTH ISSUES & TREATMENTS | What to Do If Your Axolotl Is Sick

How do I know if my axolotl is healthy?

Continuously pale gills (more obvious on white and albino axolotls), overgrown gills, and limp gill posture can all be signs of infection. There may be times when your animal's gills are pale, but a few hours later you note that they are nice and pink or red again. This is normal.

What does ammonia burn look like on axolotl?

As the pet owner, you want to always know the signs of ammonia burn in order to ensure the axolotl is safe and happy. You might see the axolotl gasping for air and the body turning reddish. That could be a clear sign your amphibian is suffering from excessive concentrations of ammonia in the tank.

What is toxic to axolotls?

For example, Sterazin and Protozin from Aqualife are toxic to axolotls. Anything containing metals such as copper or manganese should also be avoided. Two of the most common compounds used in aquarium medications are malachite green and methylene blue.

Do axolotls ever lose their gills?

Usually, amphibians have gills and live underwater when they are young, but then they lose their gills, develop lungs, and live on land as adults. Axolotls, however, keep their gills and continue living in the water as adults.

How do I know if my axolotl is sad?

You can gauge whether an axolotl is stressed when it is not eating and when its gills are forward-curled. The best way to avoid this is by fitting a spray bar or flow-spreading outlet.

Can I put my axolotl in the fridge?

Step 3: Fridging the Axolotl

Your axolotl will likely not be hungry during fridging, even after a week or two. Because of their slow metabolism, they in addition to a lack of appetite they also experience weight loss much more slowly. The axolotl can stay in the fridge for however long it takes their health to improve.

How often should axolotls move their gills?

This behavior is observed when the gills flick down then up, about every 3-9 seconds. What it means: This is expected behavior in the axolotl. Gill flicking is how the axolotl helps take in more oxygen.

What does aloe vera do to axolotls?

The Aloe Vera in STRESS COAT can cause issues with many axolotls. One major negative of Stress Coat is that it uses amine based polymers that have potential toxicity issues when used with Resins such as Purigen. The active ingredients in Aqua safe are Sodium hydroxymethane, sulfinate, polyvinvy.

How do I make my axolotl gills Fluffy?

One great option is worms. Worms like blackworms, earthworms, frozen bloodworms, red wigglers, etc. are fantastic for promoting longer, denser gill filaments. Many axolotl owners report that their axies developed fuller gills in response to feeding a high quality pellet food.

What does aloe do to axolotls?

Aloe vera is toxic to axolotls, so make sure that the water conditioner does not contain aloe. Conditioners containing aloe often state things such as "natural", "plant", "herbal extract", or "slime coat". The water conditioner must also not contain iodine.

How do I get rid of ammonia in my axolotl tank?

A good filter, regular water changes and regular siphoning up of detritus and uneaten food will go a long way to counter high ammonia levels. Use of live plants can also help buffer against ammonia spikes.

Is 8.2 pH too high for axolotl?

8-8.2 is ideal for axolotls. Don't bother messing with it unless it gets much higher.

How do you tea bath An axolotl?

You will need a shoebox-size roughly 10L plastic tub. you will then add a black tea bag to the tub and fill it with boiling water enough just to cover the axolotl. The axolotl mustn't be in the tub at this stage. Allow the tea to stew and the water to cool to at least room temperature before adding the axolotl.

How do I give my axolotl a salt bath?

Remove your axolotl's fridging container and your pre-mixed salt bath solution from the refrigerator. Shake up the salt solution a bit to make sure the salt is fully dissolved. Fill your salt bath tub, and gently move your axolotl from it's fridging container to the salt bath container.

How much salt do I put in my axolotl tank?

2010 Research Grant Donor. I add a tablespoon of marine salt per 10 gallons on axolotl tanks.

What happened to my axolotls gills?

Axolotls can also lose their gills if their water quality is poor. The ammonia levels in the water can burn the frills off of an axolotl's gills. To help axolotls heal you can put almond leaves in their water, or do tea baths with pure, unscented tea.

What is the lowest temperature for axolotl?

Minimum Water Temperature for Axolotls

The minimum temperature your axolotls can survive is 10°C or 50°F.

Why does my axolotl keep swimming into the glass?

Swimming against the glass for long periods is a general sign of a stressed-out axolotl.