nemo's mom Posted September 12, 2005 Report Share Posted September 12, 2005 Can anyone tell me the in's and outs of keeping axolotyls? Do they smell? What do they eat? How hard are they to keep? I have currently got a small tank (30 litres) with two goldfish in it but I cannot keep it clean! I do water changes etc, and have done water tests etc, but cannot manage to keep a happy balance. So was thinking maybe it was time for a total change of thinking. I have three young children who would LOVE an axolotyl, but want to know a bit about them before I go ahead and get one. Do they need company? Do you still need an UGF? Do they live completely under water or do they need a platform like turtles? Any help would be most welcomed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 12, 2005 Report Share Posted September 12, 2005 Sorry, I'm no help...don't even know what they are I did a search here, was wondering if it was the fish??? that Mystic had posted a pic of...but can't find it. Are you talking about keeping it in with the goldfish? I have 3 goldfish and 2 ottos in my 10 gallon. The only thing I find gets really dirty is the front of the tank...on the bottom, in front of the gravel if for some reason I don't vacuum weekly in that spot. My water stays good ammonia 0, nitrites 0, and pH usually between 7.2 & 7.6 (leaning more towards the 7.6). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 12, 2005 Report Share Posted September 12, 2005 If you put Axolotls in with Goldfish you'll end up with just Axolotls. To answer your questions: They don't smell, Eat any sort of meat/high protein food, Fairly easy to keep. What size is your tank? Adults can grow up to 30cm so you'd need at least a 60cm (2ft) tank to keep one adult in. They don't need company, Don't need a UGF but do need some sort of filter (not one with too much flow though! They come from lakes in mexico that aren't very fast flowing - too much circulation damages their gills and stresses them out) They're completely aquatic - don't listen to anything people says about them walking. They can metamorphasize into their terrestrial form sometimes but it's very rare (they're neotenous, which means they stay in their larval form all their life & can breed in it). Any more questions, just shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 12, 2005 Report Share Posted September 12, 2005 So is that what Mystic has then???? I still can't find pic here...it has feet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 Yeap. They're actually a type of Salamander - most salamanders are aquatic in their larval stage and look exactly like Axolotls, except Axolotls just decided not to grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 13, 2005 Report Share Posted September 13, 2005 My son used to have them - ugly things - axolotls that is, not my lovely son :lol: We kept 2 in a 2ft tank with an ugf and fed it garden worms. To get them to turn into salamanders requires hormone injections I understand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vimmer Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Caper, you might know them as Mexican Walking Fish? Do a google search for "axolotl" and there are several piccies. Keeping them would be rad, as they are becoming/are endangered in the wild. They are endemic to Mexico City, which used to be a lake, which was drained to build the city. So yeah, a little story that you could one day explain to your kids to go along with the neat little creatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Yes Caryl they usually do require hormone injections but sometimes (like 1 in 1000) they spontainiously metamorphisize. Vimmer's right about them being almost extinct in the wild, it sucks :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRSkz Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I had read somewhere that if they constantly have access/are kept out of water they would turn metomorph. I think they're wicked just the way they are though and wouldn't understand why anyone would want to change them but that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debs01 Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 eeww, creepy looking things!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I think there cute. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Not true MRSkz, a lot of people think that when they get them and the Axolotls usually just die when they try and force them out of water :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRSkz Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I have read that you're NOT to take them out on "walks" as a workmate of my husband use to do w/one he had ages ago. Personaly I can't think of anything cruler. I wouldn't mined having some but then again there are lots of fish I wouldn't mined having. Having room is another thing, and a cold water tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo's mom Posted September 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 I have gotten one who is about 10 cms long (a baby). My tank is only small (35cms long) but I will be getting a larger one as he grows. I have only had him a few days and have just been feeding him cleaned worms from the garden as I am unsure of what else to feed him. Can I buy a dried food from the pet shop? Like what turtles eat? My five year old gets a kick out of feeding him, although he gives me the willy's when I have to do it! His name is Pedro (being mexican and all! ) and he is a dark brown/grey/black colour. I think it is what they call the wild colour? I have a book coming on Axolotl's but would like some advice on feeding in the mean time. I have an alligator which is attached to an airpump which snaps as the air is expelled from his mouth and Pedro thinks he is JUST the best! Think he may be trying to 'get jiggy with it'! Do they like plants added such as oxy weed? I was told that they were not very active, but Pedro is always walking around his tank and swimming etc. Does this mean he is unhappy or hungry?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 How about posting a pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 You should be able to find some small pellets specifically for axolotyls at your local LFS. They will eat beef heart but the biggest thing i found was because they are basically blind it is easy for them to overlook food so if your son is confident hand feeding it and it will take food from his hand that would be the best way to feed it, if the food is just dropped in it ends up making a messy tank. Once you get a bigger tank a mate for it wouldn't be a bad idea. Being blind it's funny the way they will walk all over each other : -)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Caper here's a pic of one of mine that I used to have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRSkz Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 is that a b/n in with the axolotyl? isn't that a warm water fish in with a cold water fish? I'm abit confused here but I didn't think you could mix the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 BN's can handle Coldwater, aslong as there climatised properly. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 And as long as it's cool, not cold. 20° or so should be fine for bristlenoses and axolotyls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 I had mine in 12c and lower if it was a cold morning. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo's mom Posted September 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 How do you take such clear pics?? Everytime I try I just get a blur! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 The way i look at it is there is a difference between what temp they will be comfortable at and what temp they will survive at, bit the same as i won't die at 5 or 50 degrees but i would certainly be very uncomfortable and not enjoy it LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 The tank was just over 20c so it was within the comfort zones for each fish. Secret to good photos = Dad's $1000 camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 axo's go crazy over bloodworms .. an easy food to keep for them.. beats pellets etc.. need good filteration for them u/g + canisters heres a pic I posted before of a tank we set up for them my brother has morphed these guys into adults before and they are just amazing to look at ( but ssshhhhh !! thats a secret )........... 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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