Question: Biting Axolotl

[GemzD26]

Can anyone give me some advice please?

I have seven axolots in three diffrent tanks.

I have one adult female lecustic & one wild type older Juv which i have now sussed Male (was told female) in a three foot tank.

One golden albino that i am nursing back to health (pet shop abused) in a two foot tank.

And 4 Young Juv lecustics 3 male and one female im sure they are in a 2 1/2 foot tank.

I though everything was rosy until i saw my wild type attack my female lecustic nipping at her leg and ripped a piece of skin from it, i removed her from the tank
and looked at her leg it was slightly red but nothing bad,so left her in a carry tank for a few hours to relax.

Put her back in a few hours later and sat and watched them for two hours and the male was nuzzling at her and sitting next to her like everything was fine.

Was watching them tonight and he tried to bite her again and she tucked her leg under her body and he walked away.

I had more than enough by that point and filled a tub wich tap safe water and removed him from the tank and placed him in the fridge whare he is just now.

I cant move me golden yet and im pretty sure that is a male too so he cant have that tank.

I can move my female Juv into lexi's tank its about half an inch shorter than the wildtype and move the wildtypre in with the males but i dont want it attacking my males either!!!!!

Im just not sure what to do now???, Or why he is doing this can it be cause of hormones cause hes getting older???,or is this some starnge courting thing???

Please help cause i dont really want to get rid of him ive waited months to get him and am quite attached

 

[melfly]

Hiya
I think you did the best thing removing him.
I dont think he needs to be in the fridge though he'll be fine in a tub for a little while, while you decide what to do with him. Just make sure you change the water regularly.
I have 3, 8 month olds I had together but my gold is forever attacking my wild. He's broke her leg, bit her tail etc.
I now keep him seperate in a two foot tank by himself. I will try them together again before i decide he must be solitary!
I also am attached to mine or i would have found him a new home.
Does he do it all the time or around feeding time?

Mel

 

[GemzD26]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply,

Both times i have caught the biting its been hours after they have been fed,and there is no remaining food around as i remove it after feeding to keep water fresher.

Could i put him in with the other males,as he may just like not like her in paticular??? :wacko:

 

[Jacquie]

Wildtypes tend to be the most aggressive of the colour types (there are exceptions to his rule as Melfly has pointed out).

If your wildtype has a history of biting tankmates it's likely he will continue this behaviour. This may put your other axolotls at risk of being seriously damaged.

Some options:

OPTION A:
- You could put a tank divider in the three foot tank so he cannot attack his tankmate.

Or...

OPTION B:
- Swap some axies around:

1. Move the gold axolotl that you are nursing back to health into the plastic tub (this will help you monitor that axolotl's situation better in my view), and put 'Mr Aggressive' into the gold's now vacated two foot tank.

2. Then, move the four juveniles into the three foot tank (they will be growing quickly and will need the space).

3. Finally, move the leucistic into the juvenile's vacated two and a half foot tank.

If it were me, I would go for option B (as I don't really like the aesthetics when it comes to using tank dividers - but that's just me).

 

[GemzD26]

Hi Jacquie,

Thanks for your reply,

I would go for option B but i have a few Questions, My long term goal is to get an other bigger tank im looking for a five to house all the males and put the two females in the three foot.

But with Phantom (Renamed previously beauty but not now,lol) has thrown a spanner in the works,does this mean with his bitey ways he can never be housed with the remaining males?

As for the golden he/she not sure again look like a little small bump has appered tonight? seems to be recovering very rapidly and eating very well,i dont really want to fridge him,but i take it it will help hos recovery better in the long run?

Heres a pic of the golden & Phantom what do you think??

 

[Spartacus]

I hope you can get it sorted!
I found when I first put a younger axie in with my wildtype, they nipped at each other a few times, usually it was the wee one picking on the larger wild type. I seperated them for a week or two, variating between who was in a tub and who was in a tank, then when I finally tested putting them together, they were fine. They now like to sit together and curl up (well, to the extent that axies can).
I doubt axies have territorial issues, but maybe a bit of seperation in the same territory will help? You just have to keep a keen eye on them if you put him back with anyone.

 

[Bellabelloo]

The only thing I can add is to make sure you have loads of hiding spaces/ plants .