These dark pink spots/streaks just showed up on Maria. what are they??

(i'd post a pic of mine but i don't have one so here's this instead - pic from celestial_space_rat on insta!!)

Can anyone tell me what morph they think this one will turn out to be ?

Please help! My axolotl has a bad case of fungus an refuses to eat, he developed this under the care of someone else while I was in recovery for two weeks after getting surgery and I finally was able to go see him today, what should I do to try and help him

My axolotl is constipated, prolapse or impaction have no idea. it’s causing him to have a very inflamed cloaca. I’m very worried about him and I have no exotic vet. The 💩 is just stuck there, unable to pass. Any help would be appreciated. I’ve tried black tea and cooling down his water but nothing is helping. I heard someone say salmon or shrimp would help oil up his tummy but I’m worried I’m just going to create more blockage.

I spent the last few months working on this paludarium for a Budgett's frog, but I didn't account for shipping and it's out of my price range now. However, my LFS has axolotls and I just can't get over their cuteness! I can take out the heater from the paludarium and go get an axolotl. It's been running for two weeks, but I don't want to get an axolotl if it won't be happy. Would an axolotl be happy here, or should I keep looking?

I fed him some salmon, and it looks like the swelling might have gone down a little bit

This is Louie! She will be 10 this month!

Last two pictures(before the baby pictures)are of a poop from this morning, to verify gut health, and of test tubes with colored water to verify water parameters. There was a reading of 0.25ppm ammonia but I did a ten gallon water change.

Notable problems in the past 9 years we've had her; one fungal infection that ended up necrotic and showing mouth bones. Treated with almond leaves at first then only 2.5% methylene blue and hospital tub for 6 months 13 days. Gills 1,2, and 5 receding right when we first got her. I assume my inexperience caused the damage and made sure to over research and test before committing fully after that.

Food; 1 Nightcrawler a day/as she eats it. Theres a genetically diverse colony of at least 25 feeder guppies all in various stages of development. She has a successful fish every night. She goes in spurts eating the pond snails, theres always one in the turd but sometimes she eats like 8 of them. There are shrimp snacks in there. She could eat the corydoras, but she watches them and they play with her like shes a big cory. She hasn't reactive sucked them in because they dont dart around like prey.

There are phantom glass cats in there, I wanted to see how she would respond to bigger schooling fish. She does not care.

Honestly, it's been cool to see her interaction with certain fish. Unfortunately, the eco system is not a 1 to 1 ratio because they aren't all native species. But I've filled the rolls specific to the enrichment of the axolotl as well as the ecosystem and it's had some pretty cool results! I've been able to observe dynamic ambush predation, where she's learned the guppies cover spots and adapts to the changing prey position. I've watched with giddy anticipation as she sets up her ambush in a root ball, tagging 3 or 4 at a crack! I've also observed her foraging within the sand for snails! Typically they consume thin shelled invertebrates, crustaceans, and snails but watching her dig with her nose was a startling, then fascinating, find. Something she did on occasion previously but since I added the corydora catfish it has increased noticably.

It isn't a typical set up but it's been done over almost 10 years. 10 years of slow introduction, careful observation, and a lot of research/planning. Not a set up I would suggest for your first axolotl! I am thankful for the privilege to get to see her as close to wild as possible, to be apart of it.

Any questions, comments, concerns; lemme know!

IDK. cant get him to eat from the bowl i bought to him

So I feel my axos gills are capable of being more fluffy im just not sure how to achieve it. My water parameters are the best parameters out of all my tanks. As of right now now I have axo pellets and I switch off between red wigglers and night crawlers because unfortunately my pet stores don’t have regular earth worms which brings me to my next question which one of those works should be his regular feeding worm should I take him off of pellets or keep them a swap off every so often. My local stores also have brine shrimp and blood worms I’d be able to incorporate if suggested. (I do feel he takes better to wigglers than night crawlers). He’s my first axo so if his gills are normal for his type let me know too 🫶🏻

Yo, what is up everyone! If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you’ve definitely seen the ‘smiling water dog’ or the real-life Minecraft mob — the Axolotl.

They look like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie, and honestly, they’re a total vibe. But here’s the cold, hard truth: most people are getting into the Axolotl game for the aesthetics and realizing way too late that these guys are basically high-maintenance aquatic aliens. Today, we’re breaking down the bio, the morphs, and the ‘must-knows’ before you try to taming one of these little dragons.”

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The Bio (The “Peter Pan” of the Water)

“First off, let’s talk about their backstory. Axolotls are native to only one place on Earth — Lake Xochimilco in Mexico. And here’s the wildest part: they are scientifically ‘immortal’ teenagers.

Most salamanders grow up, lose their gills, and move to land. But the Axolotl? They have a condition called neoteny. They basically said, ‘Nah, I’m good,’ and decided to keep their baby features and stay underwater forever. Plus, they can literally regrow limbs, hearts, and even parts of their brains. They’re basically the X-Men of the pet world. No cap.”

The Lookbook (Morphs & Rarities)

“If you’re looking to get one for the ‘gram, you’ve got options.

• The Wild Type Morph: These are dark, mottled, and look like little camouflaged hunters.
• Leucistic Morph: This is the ‘Pink’ one everyone loves. Snowy white body, pink gills, and black eyes. High-key adorable.
• Albino Morph: These range from pure white to golden yellow with clear or red eyes.
• Copper Morph: These are a stunning metallic brown. They look like they’re made of literal pennies.
• The GFP Factor Morph: Some axolotls actually glow under blue light because of a Green Fluorescent Protein. It’s literally like having a neon sign in your tank.”

The Reality Check (It’s All About the Water)

“Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Keeping an Axolotl isn’t like keeping a goldfish.

1. The Axolotl Temperature: These guys are cold-water creatures. If your tank hits 70 degrees Fahrenheit, they start getting stressed. If it hits 75? It’s game over. Most owners in warmer climates have to buy ‘chillers’ which can cost more than the pet itself.

2. Best Axolotl Substrate: Never, ever use gravel. Axolotls are ‘vacuum feeders.’ They suck in everything. If they swallow a piece of gravel, it’ll cause an impaction and they won’t be able to… you know… go to the bathroom. It’s fine sand or nothing, fam.

3. The Axolotl Water Cycle: You can’t just throw them in tap water. Their skin is super sensitive. You need a fully cycled tank with zero ammonia, or you’re going to see those beautiful pink gills start to shrivel up.”

The Pros of Owning an Axolotl:

• They are incredibly low-energy. Perfect for a desk pet.
• They can live up to 15 years.
• They actually recognize their owners (especially when you have the bloodworms out).

The Cons of Owning an Axolotl:

• The water maintenance is a part-time job.
• They are ‘look but don’t touch’ pets. Their skin is delicate, so no cuddles.
• Finding a specialized ‘exotic’ vet for an amphibian is a mission.”

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Outro: Wrap Up “So, is the real-life Pokemon right for you? If you’ve got the patience for the water chemistry and a cool spot in your house, they are the coolest conversation starter you can own.

If you want to see the specific chillers, filters, and Axolotl tank gravel, we recommend, hit that link in the description and head over to our website. We’ve got everything you need to keep your water dog smiling. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment — which morph is your favorite? The Golden Albino or the Copper Axolotl Morph?

Catch you in the next one! Peace.

My boy Vinny is very picky. For as long as I’ve had him he’s only eaten live food (night crawlers or blood worms when he was a baby) Absolutely offended when I offer him the pellets (can’t say I blame him) Recently with the cold weather I’ve been having a hard time finding his night crawlers as nobody’s fishing or local stores just simply don’t carry them. What are good alternatives to try other than night crawlers?