Tag: how to

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Signs of Stress

Grow with Water

If you didn’t read my last post, it was about my rescue axolotl Trooper and his recovery. This blog will just be more detailed about what his recovery looked like. Within weeks of being on his own, the first thing to grow back was his reproductive organs aka his balls. Funny, how that’s the first thing to grow back, and the fastest at that. It looked kinda awkward though because he was still short and stubby. I guess that’s why the second thing to grow was his length.

August 25th 2019 (top), September 8th 2019 (middle) September 27th 2019 (bottom)

Trooper started to grow longer, then wider (he’s almost at full length now). I think it’s because Trooper knew he didn’t have enough room for everything else inside his little body. After that, his limbs and gills began to grow back. It took almost a whole year for his gills to become pink and fluffy again and even longer for his limbs. His limbs still haven’t fully grown back. I believe this is because his body is putting energy towards more important things (they only use their feet for gripping). Finally, his head got bigger to match his new body size.

How to Grow an Axolotl

Trooper’s head also began to get bigger to match his growing body. He started to become more hungry, and I was so happy when he swam up to collect his food for the first time (usually I bring it to him). I remember the day he was able to swim gracefully for the first time without a struggle, you could see the smile on his face. 

He’s come so far. I no longer have to cut worms because they’re too big. Trooper even accidentally attacked a fake plant because he missed the worm I was trying to feed him. I spent the next five minutes trying to pry the plant out of his mouth while he tugged. Before, he would hardly even lunge for food. His last owner said, “he didn’t like to eat” pfft I’ve never had any issues (besides maybe once or twice). 

Taken on May 13th 2021

Categories
Signs of Stress

Stress in Axolotls

Axolotls are not hard to care for, but for some reason, my friend (at the time) had difficulty with it. Mango, now Trooper is an Axolotl I got from a friend that he borderline abused. Trooper showed major signs of stress. He was starving to death, surviving in a dirty tank, and living out of a bucket with a filter. Trooper’s bones and ribs poked out of his sides, his tail curled at the end, his gills had became shriveled up, and purple (which is caused by extreme stress and lack of oxygen). He couldn’t even reproduce! He had mentioned months prior that he had an axolotl when I brought up wanting one. Other than that, he never mentioned him.

August 24th, 2019, and he randomly asked if I wanted him. I was so excited for my axolotl to have a friend, but I was very wrong. The poor guy, three years old and half the size he should’ve been. I put him in the tank with my other Axolotl. Trooper instantly started to swim around and stare at all the decorations. He even climbed in the fake plants and PVC pipes. I could see the relief in his face to have something to grip onto (especially when he struggled to move).

Relieving Stress

I knew it was a risk putting them together because of the size difference, but they were so happy together at first. The Axolotls would lay together and follow each other around the tank. Trooper even would start eating consistently (he was never used to having a full stomach, so he threw up regularly.). I had to feed him in small proportions for months and slowly introduce more food like I did when Undyne was little. Trooper even got introduced to salad shrimp. I would defrost it in hot water, he was not a fan.

Eventually, Undyne became food aggressive. She later learned if she started biting him, that I would feed her in an attempt to get her to leave Trooper alone. He was too small and weak to fight back. I came home one day, and all his limbs had been ripped off. I felt so upset and angry, especially with myself.

That day I set up a 10-gallon tank, and Trooper was on his own. He loved it! It was sad for a while because he could hardly move. His arms and legs are still growing slowly, but they’re definitely coming back.