Morphing Axolotl

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deanna

Guest
I had two axolotls in a half wine barrel outside as they were too smelly inside. They have been outside for about 6-9 months I guess. Well I decided to get them out and give them to my son's kindy, as we weren't getting to see them, as they were always hiding in the plants.

So got them out and they looked fine except that the black one looked way different.

Take a look!!!

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They are now both inside with a nice filter, but still very smelly, but have only been inside for about a week. (The kindy do not want them - too much work they say!)

The black one is often seen basking on the floating board, so he is happy, but just worried about him eating. May take him a while to settle down I guess. But the white one who is normal eats quite good.

Just wondered about any comments you experts might have!!

cheers
 
Hi Deanna,

I think the black one's a Salamander, but not a axolotl! I think he/she prefer to lives on ground rather than water type!
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Hi Morrissey

Thanks for the reply.

Yes it does look like a salamander and the fact that he is not dead yet, also leads me to think that it is a salamander. But I did get them together and they were both axolotls, ie they both had gills etc. I think that I would have noticed if one was different. But again having said that, how come only one has changed?

I wish that I have taken photos of them when they were small.

The black one still has a small set of gills ie 2-3mm long on either side, and has not really changed since I got him back inside.

Strange indeed, will just wait and see what happens next.
 
Hi Deanna,

Yes! And base on it's look, it's the look of a salamander, and I think axolotl will never like to get on the ground.
Do you have a picture of the white too?
 
I will get a photo of the white one, but it is the same as your photo but white. My water is still cloudy so have to wait to get a good shot. So weird, I am trying to track down the person I got them from to see if in fact I got given a salamander instead of an axolotl as they are just so different, but were perhaps the same when I got them as babies? But that is what might have been the case - wrong identity!!!
 
Deanna, they both were probably axolotls when you got them. Your one looks like it may have morphed. If it has morphed it has different needs compared to an axolotl. See: http://www.axolotl.org/tiger_salamander.htm

(Message edited by kapo on October 24, 2006)

Also, did you cycle your tank b4 putting your white (leucistic) axolotl and the "morphed" one in?

And, if you really don't want them there is a section in the main part caudata forum; where you can let people know they are available. There are a few kiwi members that surf this site.

(Message edited by kapo on October 24, 2006)
 
Smelly axies? mine don't smell... i don't think
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Just a thought did you cycle your tank b4 putting them in the tank or just fill the tank and put them in? The cloudiness of your tank may be due to your water cycling. If that is the case you have to keep a watch on the water parameters thru testing the tankwater (take a sample to petshop to test for ammonia and nitrite - if no.s are above 0, you will need to do a waterchange 20%=30% to make water safer for your leuc. See: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
 
Some lines of axolotls in captivity seem to be able to come on land. We could get into a big discussion about if it is truely an axolotl or not if it can morph and go around in a big circle. Wether it morphs or not it is still a salamander. I've found that in the U.S. their are not many stories about axolotls morphing. It seems the genetics of axolotls in New Zealand is such that some of them do come to land.
 
If you take good care of your animals, their tank should not smell....
Also, water dogs, tiger salaander larvae resemble axolotls as well, perhaps you were sold one of those by mistake...it can happen! If you arent interested in keeping the, find someone who will, that is a beatiful animal you have there!
 
Thanks for all of you comments. My axolot looks exactly like the one for sale in the Netherlands which has morphed naturally, (in the For Sale forum), so it is nice to see another one the same.

As for the smelly water, I have been doing 20-30% water changes for the last 2-3 days, using water from the outside fish pond, which has been cycling for about 2 weeks or so. The filter has only been in the tank of the axolots for about a week but the actual axolots for about 2 weeks.

I was hoping the smell might go with the filter etc and the water changes. I am thinking that I maybe should rinse the stones again with fish pond water and the other items in the tank etc and put fish pond water back in with some original axolotl water to help the process. Would this be a good idea, or would I be messing the bacteria around!!!

As for the morphed on, he is on his own now, with a rock to climb onto and a tunnel to hide in with a small amount of water. He still has small gills, so when they are gone I will put him into a prober terrestrial tank with compost etc. I will try to advertise them/him, I would like the morphed one to go to someone who knows much more than I, as I would hate to mistreat him through lack of knowledge, but it would have to be someone local.
 
If i lived in new zealand I would pick up that treasure for sure!!
Good luck!
 
Hi there, he looks totally awesome!! Too bad you live up North, as my husband would love to get a morphed axie to add to our growing family.
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Hey, another tip you might not know about, those fish tank stones you are using are dangerous for axolotls, as they can be swallowed and get stuck,

Maybe you could consider using either a bare tank floor, large stones bigger than their head, or sand on the bottom? Just a suggestion...
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Thanks for the suggestion Ang, I will probably change them if we go away and somebody else has to feed them, until then I hand feed them and pick up any left over food.

Just a quick update. The morphed axie is doing fine, I have made a basic terrestrial set up for him with compost and water. I will post a picture. He is eating better, now. Had a piece of ox heart yesterday and I left him a bit and he ate that overnight. So that is good news.

The cloudy water in the white axie tank is now clean as clean due to using pond water and turkey baster cleaning etc. Also the smell has gone. Now I just have to get a glass cleaner as there is some algae on the glass, but other than that all is fine with both of them.

Oh last night the morphed (axie) ate 5 pieces of ox heart!!!
 
Wow :0 - I like it. If you are ever looking for a home for Mr Morph then let me know. I have just the thing for such a fine specimen.
I am from ChCh but can sort out a we ride for him, no problem
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