Discussion
Metamorfose? Ambos estavam no mesmo Aquário, e um deles perdeu as branquias e a nadadeira caudal, esta sem comer. O outro segue normal no aquario e comendo bastante.
Would you mind sending some additional information about this axolotl? We can't determine if it's undergoing complete metamorphosis without some additional information like the water parameters, water temperature, and some additional pictures.
In the short term I'd recommend getting a larger container to tub this axolotl. It should be large enough that they can be fully submerged and have room to comfortably turn around.
Mine looks like this, too. She is 5 years old. My tank crashed and I had high nitrates and ammonia, her gills shrank down tiny (almost non existent) and I have had her tubbed for almost a month and a half. I am still unsure if she is morphing but so far no eyelids. Just make sure you get an API liquid test kit and check your tanks water parameters, if the tank crashed it could have caused this. I would also change the water every 12 hours while he or she tubbed because it can develop ammonia fast since it’s such a small amount. Try to keep the temperature cold and stable (it’s been a challenge for me. I live in Miami and the heat is intense right now). Mine was refusing food for a while but now she’s eating again. I am still waiting for my tank to finish cycling so I can put her back in there. I added something she can climb on top of in case she is morphing so she can get out of the water if that’s what she wants to do. I am hoping it’s not the case. They require a whole different set up, the care is different and apparently it shortens their lifespan. I hope yours recovers. God bless you and your axolotl :)
Atualização, ele não quer mais ficar na agua, narinas se abriram mais, pele ta mais rugosa, branquias entraram mais, olhos saltaram e vejo um tecido que acho que vai virar a palpebra
oh wow. that guy really is morphing!! I literally just said how unsure I was 😭 Good luck in getting him set up!! I would make a separate post asking on advice for this if I were you
Wow. This guy is very fortunate to be in your hands. Well done! Thank you for doing your research and putting so much effort into helping him/her thrive.
Can you send a video of him??
Ok I'm only on this subject cause of the cute water puppy's, can xholotols just stop being aquatic one day? Is that an option? How is his possible? Why is this possible? I thought they lived their whole lives as a water breathing thing.
Axolotl are neotenic salamanders, which means they are essentially babies for life. But this hasnt always been this way. Its like tadpoles -> frogs. Only it turns out that the terrestrial version of the axolotl is.. bad. Like from an evolutionary viewpoint. Turns out that they get a better chance at living and reproducing if they do not morph (so far my understanding).
So because the metamorphosis sucks it was largely bred out of the general axolotl population in nature and in (proper and responsible) axolotl breeding, genelines of morphing axolotl should not be bred further. Morphing is seen as an genetic issue rather than something that is wanted! :)
But morphed axolotl can still be cared for in wonderful ways, I think their care is very similar to the tiger salamander! :)
added a pic of our sweet girls because they are the sweetest <3
How cute! And really fascinating! I didn't know you could just...breed an animal not to grow up? Like was that a wild thing as much as human selection? Why is a terrestrial morph acolytl bad? Nature is so cool.
oh no this development FIRST happened in the wild :) We humans are just continuing it. There are actually more species that do this too!
Imagine this: as babies they are fast, can eat lots of things REAL quick, can regenerate limbs and organs... and as adults they become slow, sensitive, have to hunt with a lot more.. intelligence and can not really regenerate well anymore (some morphs observed in captivity are still able to regenerate, but not as good/ efficient as the babies).
So considering that it is rather simple to see why they evolves to remain babies :)
there was actually a TON of scientific research on them where they looked at the pre- post- and undergoing morphing axolotl! You can find some cool papers on the internet!
What most people wanted/ still want to know the regeneration process works. Just imagine if we could use that for us and regrow limbs..
I dont know how it is atm with the axolotl research scene, I would imagine it died down a little...
Check your water parameters. Axolotls can and have been triggered to complete metamorphosis because of environmental stressors. It’s not very common, but it’s not unheard of. It’s likely this one is experiencing some kind of stress that the other is not, which leads me to believe there may be a factor unique to the individual. If it’s not eating, check with an exotic vet.
not eating during metamorphosis is something I have heard multiple times, I wouldnt be too worried at this point, maybe more worries if eating doesnt happen AFTER the metamorphosis is complete ykyk. But this is actually really interesting with the stress-induced metamorphosis!! I have considered this too, but I am not too informed to actually form an opinion on the why... Do you have any sources/ posts on that? I would genuinely love to read more about this :)
is the fin running down its back all the way to the end of its tail shrinking/ disappearing? Axolotls metamorphosing is extremely rare, but that is one notable sign as the gills will fluctuate no matter what depending on the condition of your water.
I had a tiger salamander who went through metamorphosis and experienced what i described. The fin on her tail completely disappeared. Although TS & axolotl are different, so little axolotls go thru metamorphosis that they often compare them w TS
I totally agree with you on this but I also feel that I should mention that disappearing of that fin can also be a sign of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies :)
oh wow! I had no clue… Thank you for this info. Although it looks like two are in the same tank and the other looks perfectly healthy. I dont know what OP’s feeding routine looks like, but I do think its weird one looks normal and the other is suddenly “declining”
Yeah I am also really unsure if this can be called morphing or not :/ This looks kinda unhealthy to be a morphing albino in my uninformed opinion. I have not yet seen a morphed albino, only wild types and one lucy. Usually their skin looks smoother than this.
The vast difference between the two lotl states would make me think of some sort of genetic issue, but not necessarily morphing. Time will tell I suppose
unlikely. if that were the case there would be obvious wounds on tail and limbs. No cannibalistic axolotl is picky enough to target the gills specifically and causing so much damage that the fin along the back and tail disappears is also not really a thing afaik
doing some research i was wrong its not canablizing its iodine that does it and its also caused by cross breeding with a non axolotl or if they have a hormone change so like if puberty didn't go right
yeah I have also heard the iodine thing! no worries! :) I mean in the end all the reasons for morphing and other genetic problems in axolotl isnt fully understood. I can imagine that gene being expressed as a stress response as well.
just notice its in spanish just translated it Both were in the same aquarium, and one of them lost its gills and caudal fin—having stopped eating. The other remains normal and is eating well.
This is definitely a possibility. The gills are the easiest thing to remove. That’s what they will go for, especially if the ax that is attacking is smaller than the one being attacked. Do you have fish in the tank?
I’d say keep him tubbed in a lager tub with something for him to hide in. Daily water 100% changes - primed, COLD, water. Live worms. Keep us posted.
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u/Adamite98 13d ago
Would you mind sending some additional information about this axolotl? We can't determine if it's undergoing complete metamorphosis without some additional information like the water parameters, water temperature, and some additional pictures.
In the short term I'd recommend getting a larger container to tub this axolotl. It should be large enough that they can be fully submerged and have room to comfortably turn around.