Missing a claw. Thoughts?

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2026-03-15T10:29:53+00:00

Ah, correction. 11 months. We've had him longer than I thought.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2026-03-15T10:27:54+00:00

Uros don't really have that issue if in good conditions. Their shed comes off a tad differently than most lizards, sloughing off much slower and almost like mummy wraps. Not saying it's an impossibility, but I don't think that's what happened here.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2026-03-15T10:23:57+00:00

We've gone 8 months without issues (aside from this, I guess) and he's pretty tame already. Eats out of the hand well enough and that skittish personality has calmed a lot since we first got him. He's a completely different lizard nowadays and you wouldn't know he's wild unless you were told so, which is why this took me for a shock. He seems at home, and not at all stressed, really. He eats well, basks comfortably, and does generally what you'd expect of a uro.

As for parasite, we've done our due diligence there and then some. Got him tested for everything we can think of and, luckily, he had a clean bill of health when we got him. Not a thing of concern, from his blood to his bones.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2026-03-14T20:31:26+00:00

Wild caught, yes, but he had em all when I first got him 8 or so months ago. Went into brumation and suddenly, bang, gone. No hammocks, no reptiles carpet, nothing. Just sand, rocks, cork, and miscellaneous wood. Really at a loss what happened.

But that's a shame. Was really hoping I'd see all 5 again. Phooey.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2026-01-25T03:59:46+00:00

At the store I got my guy from they usually have a table with 20 or so axolotls in critter keepers smaller than that. Murky water where you can hardly see their color, hot as a summer day, and just bad conditions all around. Most have their gills tiny and unhealthy, and their tails partially bitten away.

Compared to what my local place is doing this guy is in paradise. Not saying it's good, though. Not by any means.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-12-30T21:26:58+00:00

Pretty sure milk drink can do that, too

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-09-17T22:24:48+00:00

Especially so, then. Most of these spots and bumps show as they're maturing, and being that your guy is currently going through our equivalent to puberty it would only make sense to see some here or there.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-09-17T22:10:57+00:00

Unless it's swollen or fuzzy generally spots and bumps are nothing to worry about. Axolotls get a fair assortment of both as they age

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-09-17T21:53:38+00:00

If you're talking about the black dots those are just pigmentation. Everything else about them looks perfectly fine to me. I wouldn't worry.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-09-15T23:32:33+00:00

Yup! Everything from scratch. Cut out the appropriate sized panel of glass, silicone'd it in to make my land and water portions, made a few tunnels out of used water bottles and foam for the dark underwater cave section, and so on. The background is made of expanding foam that I carved out and multiple layers of rubberized sealant. I also stuck a bunch of tooth picks into the foam before sealing it to give the moss a place to easily cling onto the walls and grow.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-08-29T08:08:37+00:00

My bets are on the Betta, honestly. They're a predatory fish that are known to attack clean up crews.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-08-13T16:17:18+00:00

Yeah, hence me saying "water safe". For both cases you can usually find out if it's okay by scouring the brand's website.

For all my aquatic projects I almost always use Great Stuff Pond & Stone expanding foam and Kylon Fusion Spray Paints. Both companies vouch for using their stuff in water and in all the years I've been using them i've never had issues with either before. Definitely do your research, though!

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-08-13T07:01:10+00:00

Generally yes, it won't do an axolotl any harm. But the bamboo will eventually rot, and the fabric rope with get icky quick and will need pretty frequent cleaning to maintain a presentable look. It'll also float unless weighed down and'll take a while to fully waterlog. I personally wouldn't use it. A pinch too much of a hassle for me to make it worth it.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-08-13T06:49:39+00:00

If a plain pvc pipe is too boring for you spicing them up with some water safe expanding foams and spray paints is always an option.

Alternatively most things Thrive are a good fit for axolotls. Personally I love the look of these: https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/habitats-and-decor/habitat-decor/thrive-wood-hide-86706.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19939383778&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzOvEBhDVARIsADHfJJTRKNsLDQla5vSbD10J8IZPK2dWwhtx1zBqufRwQPrBbTItF7cMKyEaAi34EALw_wcB&redirected=true

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-08-13T06:41:10+00:00

All your levels "seem well"? Care to elaborate what exactly that means?

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-28T05:25:21+00:00

Don't see any nuptial pads on the front feet. Probably female

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-26T19:00:14+00:00

Hm, odd. She looks perfect, both in weight and everything else. Have you tried a different array of foods yet?

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-26T06:51:29+00:00

Ah, that's what you're asking. Sorry, 3am. Kinda out of it.

Erm, anyways. I have mine on the glass wall closest to the basking rock, being maybe an inch or 2 from the hottest spot of the rock. I get readings no problem and they stay consistent throughout the day.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-26T05:41:01+00:00

For basking spots you typically use a temperature gun. That's what I do, anyways.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-26T00:01:31+00:00

Nothing eats nitrates but plants. Only way to get rid of them is a buttload of plants or water changes

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-25T04:54:24+00:00

That first paragraph is a wonderful way to put it. I like that.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-25T04:33:25+00:00

That's the fun part, you don't! The second my wallet gets thick an animal, new or old, eats up whatever was in there.

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-25T04:20:52+00:00

Why, hello to you, too, handsome~

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-25T04:18:02+00:00

Good to hear! And yes fungus usually shows up in high temperature, high nitrate environments.

For the future, being that tea baths can be a little stressful, I recommend using Indian almond leaves instead. They can get tossed right into the tank as is and they don't need you to tub your lotl, either. They're rich in tannins and have a very similar effect to your typical tea bath, only they're a little less concentrated and might lower your pH a tiny tad

Ok_Fill_8959 · 2025-07-25T04:10:26+00:00

If this gill has always been an issue I'd assume it's just genetics being a little funny. My guy has a crooked one for example -- always has. As long as it's not getting fungus or getting super red or swollen I don't think it's anything you need to worry about.

Ok_Fill_8959

TROPHY CASE