Axalotl advice

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octofasciatus

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 15, 2007
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The blue corner
Can anyone recommend anywhere for advice on keeping axalotl, there is too much conflicting info on the web. Can they be kept with any fish types etc or is it best to keep the little blighters on their own. How big do they grow. My LFS sells them but he would sell AIDS in a jar if he seen the cash.

Many thanks

:chillpill:
 
Axolotl are very hard to get now. I remember a few years back buying them for only 5-10 dollars. I would not keep them with any fish, as the fish will often pick at the axolotl's gills. They max at around 6", and are fun little buggers. If you like axolotls you might look at mud puppies (different from water dogs) which are much larger, and a lot more fun IMO.
 
If he's really that shady, they might be tiger salamander larvae rather than axolotls. But yeah don't keep them with fish and I guess keep them just a little on the warm side. I'm not sure if they'll eat prepared food; I know most larval salamanders will only eat live food, but I had a tiger salamander larva about five inches long that ate pellets.
 
Walking fish.

tank mates - No tank makes,
filter -SUPER low flow filtration
plenty of hide caves – they are nocturnal
feeds – guppy, mealworms, crickets (hand feeding is fun)
substrate – rocks are fine, as long as they are not too small, 2mm – 3mm is too small, some people use beach sand, or larger 10 – 20mm rocks
Lighting is not needed (as above)
no heater, they are good around the 18degree C (you work it out in F)
 
i have 2, i keep them in a 10 gallon with a extremly small filter (zoomed) . i feed mine prekilled rosies, blood worms, and amphibian pellets(they LOVE theese) they need cold water, no heater. NO gravel, this is because if its small, they will swallow it(even if its the size of a quarter) and if its too big theyll have problems finding theiur food. a plant of some sort for them to hide in and your set.
 
I have kept axolotl's now for the past 12 years, and they have done fine on "Trout Pellets". These are the same pellets they feed the trout at fish hatcheries. You should be able to get them at your local feed store, or at least they can start ordering them for you.
 
If the water goes over 75 degrees, the fish will get a fungus and you will most likely lose them. There should be no gravel in there as it will get impacted in their stomach. We keep our axies on sinking pellets. We have used trout pellets but don't like them as much.
 
as you live in the uk liike me try aquatics classified to get them
 
Finally got me a pair of leucistic axalotl. Found this very helpful info at

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/amphibian-care/255157-axolotl-care-sheet.html

Axolotls
Ambystoma mexicanum

About Axolotls (Ax-o-lot-ul)

Axolotls come from the Ice Fed lakes of Mexico, specifically Lake Chalco. It was native to two lakes ~ Lake Xochimilco also, but sadly only remnants of Lake Xochimilco remain.

They are the larval form of the Mexican Mole Salamander, however they never (in their natural environment) perform the metamorphosis in to Salamanders, living their entire lives, throughout sexuality, breeding and adulthood in their larval form.
This is known as Neoteny. They can occasionally morph in to salamanders, but this is not something that should be encouraged, as the body change can be very stressful.

Axolotls are CITES listed as an endangered species. In their native area, they are hunted as a food source, and are known as a local delicacy ~ being used mostly in Axolotl Soup.
This, and the loss of their natural habitat, caused their decline in the wild.

They are commonly studied in scientific laboratories due to their regenerative abilities. If a limb is lost, it can be completely regrown. This, and their rise in popularity as a home kept animal, ensures that the species should not die out completely.

The axolotls in the exotic pet trade, are all captive bred. They breed in such numbers, and are so easy to home rear, that there is no need for captive farming, and their conservation status prevents them from being taken from the wild.

Care

They require cold temperatures, and thrive at temperatures between 16-18 °C (60-64 °F) lower temperatures can cause sluggishness. Higher temperatures can cause too much stress.
They like slow moving water, so an aquarium filter set to minimum is needed. It would also be beneficial if the water flow can be aimed towards the side of the tank. This can keep water movement to a minimum.

They should be kept on sand as a substrate. They feed by forming a vacuum in their mouth, and sucking up whatever is in front of them. If kept on gravel, they can take this in to their stomachs, and are not able to pass it. Eventually, it builds up to the stage where they can not digest their food, and they can die. This is the most common cause of axolotl death, and is a long slow process.
Sand can be passed through them, so does not cause impaction.

They enjoy roaming about, and are fairly active at all times. They can grow up to 12”, and so should be kept in a tank of an appropriate size. 2ft minimum for one axolotl, with an extra foot, for every extra one kept with it. Ie 3ft for 2 axolotls.
They seem to enjoy climbing over plants, so a well planted tank with plenty of hides, and things to do would be ideal. Plastic tubes, weighted down make good hides.

The tank should be kept secure, with a lid on at all times. This is to prevent any other household pet (ie cats) from falling in to the tank. Axolotls are not dangerous to people in any way, but should not be handled. They are completely aquatic, and need to stay in the water, where they belong.


Feeding

They eat a variety of meat based foods, including earth worms, beef heart, blood worm, daphnia, prawn and trout pellets. They become used to people fairly quickly, and soon get the hang of hand feeding!


Breeding

Axolotls, if comfortable in their environment, breed readily.
Once ready to breed, and if a suitable partner is present, the male axolotl releases spermatophores (packets of sperm, attached to a cone of jelly) in to the water, and the female collects one. Between a few hours, and two days later, the female lays between 100 to over 1000 eggs. These are spawn like, and develop much like frogspawn.

They hatch after around 2-3 weeks.

Hatchling axolotls need a constant food supply, and only eat live food to start with. They eat mostly baby brine shrimp, and as they grow, move on to live daphinia, then live blood worm.
Once eating bloodworm, it is easier to move them on to frozen blood worm, which is more readily available.

They grow quickly, and are fascinating to watch develop. It is possible to purchase spawn, or young axolotls, so you can raise them yourself.


There are different colours available, including Leucistic (white with black eyes ~ pictured above), Albino (white with red eyes), Golden Albino (golden with red eyes), Wild Type (brown mottled colouration ~ pictured right) and Melaniod (black). Other colours are being produced, in captive breeding projects.



Axolotls make very interesting and rewarding pets to keep. They are not commonly known, and are certainly a conversation piece. The captive breeding of these fascinating creatures should ensure that future generations can at least see axolotls in the flesh, rather than having to read about them on the internet, or in books
 
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