Pregnant axolotl?

Question

i bought 2 axolotl's not long ago (about a month or 2) and from the off i noticed the black one had a veracious appetite, considerably more so than the albino. Now the albino i was informed is a female yet i didn't enquire about the black one. I have been informed that you can tell the s*x of axolotl's by shape of tail, body and head and the lumps between the legs. the black one does look entirely different but the leg lumps DID look more or less the same anyway..

the albino one now will readily consume 10 and upwards mealworms in one sitting whereas the black one has stopped eating quite so much (maybe in comparison?) the albino has ballooned and is quite firm to the touch but too fast for it to be fat and also her well, private parts seem to be... well open when she swims about and is obviously red and i'm not sure if this is of any importance but her tail also seems slightly red/pinkish now. Please help and apologies in advance for the poor description and wording used!

alex

Answer 1

Hi Alex,

I found your question extremely fascinating.  I'm a student in a Library and Information Science program, and I hope that I can direct you towards satisfactory and reliable resources that will answer your questions.  

In your post, you did not mention if your Axolotls have gone through metamorphosis, so I'm assuming that they have not, and they are still in their larval stage, with gills and fins.

You mentioned that you were feeding your Axolotls mealworms.  The Axolotls web page, gave the following information:

"Other foods, such as mealworms, are quite low in calcium, which can lead to a number of problems. They also have a lot of chitin (a structural protein in insects and some crustaceans) which axolotls can't digest, and this passes through their guts intact. Again, these shouldn't be fed as the sole food but rather as an occasional treat to avoid health problems. Mealworms present an additional danger: they have poweful jaws that can damage an axolotl internally. If you must feed mealworms, it is advisable to crush the jaws of the mealworms prior to feeding. This can be accomplished using a strong forceps or tweezers." (http://www.axolotl.org/health.htm)

There is also a bacteria that causes red patches that you mentioned in your post:

"Aeromonas hydrophila, one of the "red leg" bacteria, is one the most common diseases that axolotls can suffer. It is septicemic, i.e. it can be widespread in the body because it is carried by the blood. Common symptoms are red patches on the limbs and parts of the body. Treatment for most bacterial problems is best left to an expert, but the hobbyist has some means at his or her disposal. Obviously, changing the water is a good idea, but 100% Holtfreter's solution can also help to reduce bacterial numbers in the water and to aid osmo-regulation in effected animals. Antibiotics can be used in axolotls and the the most reliable form of antibiotic delivery is by injection, but this should usually be left to an expert."  (http://www.axolotl.org/health.htm)

I am not a vet, and cannot give a diagnosis.  I would highly recommend taking your Axolotls to a vet or a professional who knows amphibians very well.  They will be able to give you a diagnosis and help answer any questions you have about keeping Axolotls.

Good luck Alex, and enjoy your new pets!

~Tiffany

Answer 2

Whats a axolotl !! Is it a type of lizard ?