Question: Axolot or water dog

[Michellemire25]

What's the difference between a axolot and a water dog?

 

[Boomsloth]

Many places label axolotls as "water dogs" but most members on here will agree that water dog refers to larval tiger salamanders. I have read here Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander that axolotl comes from the aztec word that translates to water dog. Some places around the world will also use axolotl to refer to larval salamanders. Pet stores are notorious for using "water dog/water dragon/dinosaur fish/axolotl" to refer to both axolotls and tiger salamander larva

 

[ladygodiva35]

I don't get them listed as "water dragon" when there is already a reptile called that and it looks nothing like an axolotl! I took care of a beautiful water dragon for a few days and when I get my own apartment I am going to get one for sure! Lovely creature.

 

[Boomsloth]

I don't get them listed as "water dragon" when there is already a reptile called that and it looks nothing like an axolotl! I took care of a beautiful water dragon for a few days and when I get my own apartment I am going to get one for sure! Lovely creature.

Pet stores often get shipments of animals and want to market them in a way that makes them sound interesting. Personally I would love if all pet stores were required to use the scientific names so that you know you are getting Ambystoma mexicanum rather than another species. But then you get those people who come in and see "OOO LOOK! is a dinosaur fish!" some pet stores also have employees that are not that experienced who then get a shipment go online and use any name of an animal that resembles the one they got. Water dragons are pretty beautiful lizards and I think because of them that term being used for axolotls became less popular.

 

[bugdozer]

You know what grinds my gears? "Mexican Walking Fish". It makes me reach for the shotgun. It's such a brainless description, like "Horseless Carriage" or "Flying Boat". :nono:

 

[Boomsloth]

You know what grinds my gears? "Mexican Walking Fish". It makes me reach for the shotgun. It's such a brainless description, like "Horseless Carriage" or "Flying Boat". :nono:

Haha the funny thing is in my dormitory we are only allowed to keep "fish" so if i told them I had axolotl salamanders they might make me get rid of them. I use "mexican walking fish" just to protect my axolotls.

 

[sde]

"Mexican walking fish" always makes me crazy too.

To answer the OP's question, I think it is a "Water dog", which is actually a larval tiger salamander.
It is a bit hard to tell from that picture, but judging by these thing makes me think its a tiger salamander larva.
1. Head shape, it looks too flat, and really nothing like an axolotls head.
2. Toes, axolotls have long toes, tiger salamanders toes aren't so long.
3. Color, it has spots only on its tail, and its color is right for a tiger sal larva. Though it could be like that with axolotls, the added first two is enough to convince me that it is a tiger sal larva.

Whats the difference? The difference is that axolotls and "water dogs" are different species. Axolotls are only in one lake in Mexico, well, they may be extinct now though, in the wild.
"Water dogs" are actually larval tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma Tigrinum ) which are widespread throughout the U.S.. There are many subspecies of tiger salamanders within the U.S. as well.

Larval tiger salamanders will either metamorphose into terrestrial adults or stay aquatic and become reproductively mature. This is called neoteny or pedogenesis. So the difference is that they are difference species and tiger salamanders could metamorphose, but axolotls rarely do.

Hope this helps! -Seth

 

[mikeg]

You know what grinds my gears? "Mexican Walking Fish". It makes me reach for the shotgun. It's such a brainless description, like "Horseless Carriage" or "Flying Boat". :nono:

Haha the "You know what grinds my gears?" reminds me of that family guy episode when peter gets hired in the news station.

Off topic i know but just had to mention it

( was going to post a link to the you tube video but not sure how everyone feels to the comedy in family guy)

 

[Boomsloth]

"Mexican walking fish" always makes me crazy too.

To answer the OP's question, I think it is a "Water dog", which is actually a larval tiger salamander.
It is a bit hard to tell from that picture, but judging by these thing makes me think its a tiger salamander larva.
1. Head shape, it looks too flat, and really nothing like an axolotls head.
2. Toes, axolotls have long toes, tiger salamanders toes aren't so long.
3. Color, it has spots only on its tail, and its color is right for a tiger sal larva. Though it could be like that with axolotls, the added first two is enough to convince me that it is a tiger sal larva.

Whats the difference? The difference is that axolotls and "water dogs" are different species. Axolotls are only in one lake in Mexico, well, they may be extinct now though, in the wild.
"Water dogs" are actually larval tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma Tigrinum ) which are widespread throughout the U.S.. There are many subspecies of tiger salamanders within the U.S. as well.

Larval tiger salamanders will either metamorphose into terrestrial adults or stay aquatic and become reproductively mature. This is called neoteny or pedogenesis. So the difference is that they are difference species and tiger salamanders could metamorphose, but axolotls rarely do.

Hope this helps! -Seth

I agree with what he's saying although I'm not an expert on being able to tell tiger from axolotl. If its a tiger it will change into a terrestrial salamander and then you will have to make sure you have the right setup. Until it changes it will need basically the same requirements as an axolotl.

 

[HayleyK]

If that's your little guy I suggest removing the pebbles as it is an impaction risk.

 

[Skudo09]

Mexican Walking Fish drives me crazy! Even on the licence I require to keep axolotls refers to them as Mexican Walking Fish! This term causes so much confusion and misleads people into believing they are fish with legs...