Just discovered Axolots! Questions!

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Jen1215

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Hi I just discovered these...and am new to the site...a few questions that I couldn't seem to find answered on axolotl.org .

Do they do well living alone? Or would they prefer to have a partner or a group when they are all the same size? I read that similiar size is important but it didn't explain too much more about how social they are.

Is the minimum for an axolot ten gallons per axolot?

I have never seen an axolot in person, just water dogs at the pet store which were the tiger salamander larvae, I want one that stays as a 'larvae' so I want an axolot.

The aquarium I will be getting for an axolot will most likely be a 20 gallon long.

Also curious, what size aquarium is needed for an adult Axolot.

I am oddly kind of creeped out by some of the fat looking axolots with tiny little skinny legs. I am really hoping to find one with some meaty legs, and not such a fat hump like hump on its back.

I think the color I am most attracted to is the pink, with the pink eyes.

Thanks.
 
Hi Jen and welcome to the Forum!

Axolotls do well with other axolotls. Personally, I would strongly recommend keeping axolotls of the same sex, because otherwise you might need to separate the males from the females to prevent overbreeding the female (producing eggs is hard work for her little body), which would require a second aquarium.

Young axolotls tend to be more active than adults (just like us!) and might accidentally bite each other if they are too close together. Axolotls of all ages also appreciate caves where they can hide if they want a respite.

I am not sure of the dimensions of a 20 gallon tank. Unlike aquariums with fish, people here mainly talk about length/width/height. I found the following text at this link:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/waterquality.shtml

"6. Do not keep too many animals in one tank.
Overcrowding puts the lives of all your animals in danger by degrading water quality and putting the animals at greater risk of illness. Even when a tank doesn’t look crowded, it may have more animals than the carrying capacity of the water allows. As an example, a 10-gallon tank can support about 12 inches of animal (three 4-inch newts, for example), and a 15-20 gallon tank can easily support about 16 inches of animal. These figures assume that the tank is at least 2/3rds full of water. Any fish or other animals in the tank also count toward the total. Any animals beyond this could result in overcrowding.
Don't take what you see in pet stores as a good example! Pet stores often have overcrowded tanks. They are able to get away with this because (1) the situation is often temporary - crowding decreases as the animals are sold, and (2) they are able to do much more massive water changes than what you would want to do at home."

The "fat" axolotls would be female, I guess. Their bellies swell when they are full of eggs. If you prefer a sleeker look, go with males (and don't overfeed them :rolleyes: ). There is no problem with keeping two males together.

Axolotls with pink eyes are albino.

Hope this gets you started?

-Eva
 
Thanks for the info...How will I be able to tell if I get a male though if I am to order a juvenile from someone offering on the site, because this is the only place I have seen them available.

OR...Am I just going to have to go with a full fledged adult then to be extra sure? I would really like to go with a male then, white albino with pink eyes.

You say they do well together, but is there anything wrong with just keeping one and hoping he grows to a big size and just spoiling him with a big tank, or would he get lonely and inactive?

And are they like fish, will they keep growing as long as their enviroment permits, and isn't too small or dirty and cause a stunt?

Thanks, it may be a while before I can actually get one, but I want to learn as much as I can about them first anyhow.;)
 
A_mexicanum1LITTLE.jpg



Are these guys males? They are very good looking, and I am actually more interested in finding a gold one like the guy sandwiched there in the middle.
 
Hi Jenn

If you send me a private message I have 2 sources here in the states where you can get them. One of the places you can get them after they have sexually matured, so you can pick the sex of your axolotl.
 
Jen1215 said:
Thanks for the info...How will I be able to tell if I get a male ... OR...Am I just going to have to go with a full fledged adult then to be extra sure? I would really like to go with a male then, white albino with pink eyes.

You say they do well together, but is there anything wrong with just keeping one and hoping he grows to a big size and just spoiling him with a big tank, or would he get lonely and inactive?
Click to expand...

Hi Jen,

I honestly don't know how to tell the sex before they are visibly differentiated (you know, when the boy has more back there). In the picture you provided, for example, I wouldn' thave a clue which is what. As Terri wrote, though, you can just buy an adult. That's what I did.

Surely you can keep them alone and spoil them, just like you can have only one dog or only one cat or only one bird. I just think that any creature would like to have one of its own breed around and so I always get my pets in twos, but that's only my opinion and certainly not based on any real knowledge beyond the fact (interpretation of facts?) that I've always had more physical or psychological problems with single pets than with pets in pairs. Really nothing to support this theory.

Axolotls are not like fish that grow to meet their environment. Temperature and diet can affect their growth rate, but at some point they will reach their maximum length - you can't keep 'em smaller and you can't make 'em bigger.

I think it's really neat how you are learning all about these animals and you don't even have one yet. Shows a lively interest in the world around you, learning just for the sake of knowing. Cool.
 
blueberlin said:
I think it's really neat how you are learning all about these animals and you don't even have one yet. Shows a lively interest in the world around you, learning just for the sake of knowing. Cool.
Click to expand...

Although it'll be a while before I can get one, probably a couple of months, I think half the fun of owning a certain kind of pet is the research and anticipation of getting one, I love researching and learning about future pets to ensure their happiness!;)

​
 
blueberlin said:
I honestly don't know how to tell the sex before they are visibly differentiated (you know, when the boy has more back there).
Click to expand...

*looks behind me* We do not have big butts! :(

Jen1215 said:


Although it'll be a while before I can get one, probably a couple of months, I think half the fun of owning a certain kind of pet is the research and anticipation of getting one, I love researching and learning about future pets to ensure their happiness!;)

​
Click to expand...

That will give you plenty of time to cycle the tank if you don't have one set up already. :)
 
Terri9967 said:
Hi Jenn

If you send me a private message I have 2 sources here in the states where you can get them. One of the places you can get them after they have sexually matured, so you can pick the sex of your axolotl.
Click to expand...

I pmed you :D
 
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