Housing axolotls together

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lisapie

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Lisa
Hi, I've kept axies for 6 years, had them separated into three tanks. I'm in the process of moving and setting up a new 6ft divided tank. I was planning on having my 25cm boy on his own, my 30cm female on her own and two 25cm females together. Which was the arrangement when they were in separate tanks.
I'm wondering what everyones opinion is on not dividing up the three females. The 30cm girl is 6 years old and very placid. I don't think I would have to worry about her nipping at the others. The other two smaller girls are both 4 years old and have been housed together the whole time, they don't have any issues with nipping at each other either, as long as I keep my wildtype well fed (she's a bit of a nutbag at times).
Anyway, they'll have a 4ft x 2ft area, so plently of room to not get in each others way, plus lots of rocks and hiding places. I have the guide for the divider to slot into siliconed in place, I was thinking I might just leave the divider out and keep a close eye on them, and if there is any problems then I can just slot it into place.
Or am I just playing with fire here, best to keep them divided rather than finding out that they don't get on...
 
Hi Lisa,

I think you have given the situation a great deal of thought and preparation beforehand which is most commendable.

1) In terms of space, as you mentioned you are setting up a new 6 foot tank which i think is plenty of space for 3 female adults. In that aspect, i don't feel there is a concern for overcrowding, which is of course one of the potential stressors.

2) You have also mentioned having hiding places, rocks and such environmental 'enrichment' which would benefit the axolotls, having a secure place to retreat and chill.

3) The three adult females are of similar sizes and is not a case of housing lets say juveniles with adults etc., which may result in cannabalistic activity. So in that aspect, i think its quite safe to attempt to house the 3 adult females together.

4) You are very aware of their individual 'personality and character', and thus you can monitor their behaviour if you house them together, and can thus quickly rectify any problems if you witness acts of bullying, cannabalism etc.

5) You are also trying to keep them well-fed and thus not hungry to chew on each other!

6) You have taken up safety Plan B precautions of having dividers on standby.

In my opinion, you have already taken all factors into consideration. Personally i would attempt to house the three together and watch carefully over a period of time. However, the ultimate decision is still yours. If you feel safer to leave them separated, it might be more comforting for yourself and you could sleep more soundly at night.

Cheers
 
Thank you so much for your replies. This built had been an epic ordeal trying to plan and setup (let alone moving the huge tank) but it's ready to go now and I'm just so excited to see all my axies together in one tank with the extra 'leg room'.
Thanks to your input I'll trial the non divided option and just make sure I keep a really close eye on them.
 
A 6-ft tank!? Lucky you (and your axolotls)! Do we get pictures? :D

-Eva
 
I've just finished setting up the new tank today, 350 litres of water, pump running and everything all ready to go, axies are moving in tomorrow. I'll post some pictures once the sand settles and everything clears up a bit. Still waiting to buy a new fluro light to put in my fitting which arrived broken, therefor also still waiting to plant the tank. But there will be lots of in progress pictures in the mean time.
 
Aww i am so excited for you Lisa. For me, interior designing a tank is the most fun bit. Its like creating this fairytale kingdom for your axolotls. I have my old tank with a greek olympus gods theme, but am going to set up a new 6 foot tank which i intend to have a mexican theme. I saw these adorable plastic cactuses and got inspired lol.

Do you have any particular idea in mind on how to decorate your tank?
 
Ok, the tank is finally finished and the axies have settled in. I've done a little bit of planting, but still working on filling the tank out a bit more.

The three girls are getting along great together, they are often found all stacked on top of each other in the corner. My little boy is also doing well, although he's not a big fan of the lighting, I'm saving up for more plants for him to hide under.

I've tried to get some good photos, but because the room is so small and the tank is so big I can't get back far enough to get a full shot. But there's one that almost fits it all in. These pictures don't do the tank justice, the tank is monstrous. I runs across an entire wall of my home office, so plenty of leg room for my girls and boy.


Top view of the feature driftwood. There's an anubius growing in the centre of the wood and an amazon sword and anubius nana planted beside it. The plants on the driftwood are various species of air plant (tillandsia).
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Top view of Phil hiding underneath the plants.
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Wide view of the new tank. Still has a box filter in it while the tank establishes. Bob, Alan and Gary are all stacked in a pile in the far back corner.
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Wide view of the new tank. Phil is hiding in the plants on the left hand side.
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Oh my god! Your tank is fantastic! I envy you, I can't have a tank that size(I don't have the space), although I would really, really love one. You have done a great job! Well done:D

I love the idea of having some plants growing out of the water on the driftwood. Are they air plants?

Oh, I love the girls names too, but why do they have boys names??
 
Thanks heaps for the comment. I specifically wanted to create a half and half tank. Much more than a foot of water height is wasted on axies (in my opinion) since they mostly sit at the bottom, plus I had fears of the tank falling through the floor due to weight, so it's filled to 1ft, and the idea was to create a sort of jungle/tropical feel with branches sticking up with air plants attached. I think it creates a nice contrast between the leafy river bed look underneath. I plan on adding a small bromilliad or two when I can find some more big driftwood pieces.

Yes, the plants growing on the driftwood over the tank are air plants (various tillandsia species) I've just tied them on for now, but will glue them on later, once I'm sure of the positions (and that they survive). I'm trying to track down a few more tall pieces of driftwood for the sides to attach more air plants to. I'm glad I work at a nursery and can order them in as individual plants, most places charge heaps and have them attached to rocks.

The names of my axies actually have a funny story behind them. My first two axies I called Johnny and Bob. They were both girls, unfortunately over a long hot summer a few years later I lost Johnny. I then aquired three more tanks and five more axies. Only having had girls before I still didn't know how to sex them, so just continued giving them the most obnoxious silly boys names I could think of. So now I have a Bob, Gary, Alan and Phil (actually a boy) and have lost a Johnny, Steve and Lance (also a boy).
 
um not trying to be rude here but how much did that gigantic tank cost???
 
The tank and stand cost me $300 all up. Bought it second hand from a girl who was moving and had to get rid of it quickly. The silicone was pretty dodgy in some spots though so had to reseal it, and as an added precaution it's never getting filled more than half way up, plus I also have worries about it falling through the floor. Lol!
They buying an external filter (jebo 819) cost about another $300 and the light (super win [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4x39w t5 [/FONT]tubes) was about $220 online (arrived with a smashed tube in it thanks to the couriers neglect) I had everything else I needed from pulling apart my other 4 smaller tanks.
Just trying to find a reasonably priced chiller now...
 
Hi Lisa,

Now i know who to call when i want to renovate my axolotl's home! Your tank setup is exquisite!

Cheers
 
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