Axolotls

[nor_wester]

Hi everyone....my kids want an Axolotl (absolutely UGLY things if you ask me...however)....any suggestions on tank size, set-up, food...etc. Never had one before so much input would be appreciated

[spooky]

Many, many, years ago I looked after some. Not very successfully, so I'll only comment on the bits I think I got right. They survive happily in cold water and I imagine their requirements for water changes/filtration are similar to other fish.

Feeding them was a bit of a pain (swearing removed). I had some meat I was meant to feed them (I forget what type, but it was raw meat) and then had to encourage them to eat it. Unfortunately they are a "wait until it swims past and grab it" sort of creature, so I recall waving the meat on a skewer in front of it's face hoping it would grab it. This didn't always work. I really hope that there is a better way of feeding them. Fortunately, like fish, they don't need a lot of food.

They can grow quite large (20-30cm ?) so base your tank size on that sort of length using whatever the formula is for goldfish.

[livebearer_breeder]

Many, many, years ago I looked after some. Not very successfully, so I'll only comment on the bits I think I got right. They survive happily in cold water and I imagine their requirements for water changes/filtration are similar to other fish.

Feeding them was a bit of a pain (swearing removed) I had some meat I was meant to feed them (I forget what type, but it was raw meat) and then had to encourage them to eat it. Unfortunately they are a "wait until it swims past and grab it" sort of creature, so I recall waving the meat on a skewer in front of it's face hoping it would grab it. This didn't always work. I really hope that there is a better way of feeding them. Fortunately, like fish, they don't need a lot of food.

They can grow quite large (20-30cm ?) so base your tank size on that sort of length using whatever the formula is for goldfish.

i used too own 2 a white one and a black one, you only need to feed them once everyt three days with a small peice of mince meat, there is no need to put the meat ona scewer, they dont tend to like eating infront of ppl while there beoing watched, they do live in cold water, and like dark places to hide, do water changes once a week! the only thing i will say is they do huge turds that sit on the bottom of the tank!! its digusting!, they like planted tanks! and occasionally feed them some live food! they will grow quiet big!

Cheers

Shae 250

[Phillz]

I had 3 awhile ago, they are quite neat pets, I kept mine in a 4ft tank, heavily planted with lots of hiding places.

The more they get used to you the easier they are to feed....I used thin slivers of meat such as heart.

They don't hurt when they nip your finger by accident....their teeth aren't that big. They can bite each other though, lose linbs etc.....freeky thing is they can grow them back

Mine lost a injured of toes in a fight, the old ones healed, but she grew new ones aswell....funniest thing...had about 7 toes on one foot LMAO.

I ended up giving them to my nephews class, as their mascots....apparently they are still going strong.

Good luck with them, and keep us posted!

[funkyfish]

My son has had 2 for about 5 yrs now, very easy to look after, we dont feed raw meat too messy, Axolotl pellets 2-3 time a week. In winter once a week. They also eat worms, slugs and small fish, we get cockabillies from the lake.

One had his leg biten off but grew back, another had to go to the vet because it had a big stone stuck in its mouth ($32.50 later)

Very easy to keep. My son cleans the tank once a month.

[Caryl]

We kept 2 of them in a 60cm x 30 x 30 and fed them worms.

[petplanet]

Bigger the tank the better. 3ft is a good size. Don't keep them with goldfish. They will eat them or the goldfish will nibble the axolytls. Easy to feed - frozen axl food, bloodworm etc. Hand feeding makes less mess and you know which ones have eaten if you have several. Feed daily when small. If it ain't groqing your not feeding enough. Feed big ones twice a week. Planted tanks are great. Hardly ever get sick. Easy to treat. Need cold water with good filtration.

[Vjarn]

i used to breed them, you can have 3 in a 2ft tank for about 5 years, i had 4 in a 3ft tank, one black female about 27cm and a whit male about 24cm and 2 off springs which were wild colour, if you want them to breed you need a planted tank, normal filter but not too strong, they dont like strong currents, clean waters just use tap if in auckland, auckland water clean and perfect, i fed mine steak, little bits of steak, you can hand feed them and they'll know you and come to you when its feeding time, you can handle them and the feel like and eel, all slimy, the colder the water the less you can feed, i use to feed mine once a week, they are cold water and can put in the fridge when on long monthly holidays, you can keep then in anything, don't need an air pump they have lungs and gills, keep away from direct sunlight and have hiding places, logs to sit on, try not to get tiny gravel and go for the large river rocks cause when you feed them they sometimes take big gulps and swallow the gravel. stuffs them up, you'll know the size of the steaks to feed them cause if too big they'll throw it back up, hearts are good but try and cut away from the fatty parts, they'll reall cool you'll grow to love em. breeding is easy to. dont buy the tucker from the pet shops they're no good just spoils your water heaps, they'll eat anything thats in front of them, use to feed mine tadpoles and wild guppies caught at the local pond too. not sure wat else to add so any other questions just ask. not hard to care for these things just an ice cream container forget about it for a week, good for kids.