My new babies!!

[bitenomnom]

...well, sort of. Just wanted to show off the two axies I got today, a few hours after they were put into the tank. Still haven't thought of names for 'em...but aren't they cuties?! (Not that I'm biased.) Any suggestions for names? I was thinking Sir Mixolotl would be a silly name, haha...but...

This little guy is in hiding...

 

[Kerry1968]

Awww, lovely, can't wait to see more photos once they've settled in. Congratulations!

 

[bitenomnom]

Later last night mister shy over there decided to go out exploring and someone bit off more than he could chew... (*cough* or maybe I cut the worm too big, haha). Thought I'd post the pictures since they're a bit better.

 

[Fumi]

Wow. You got yourself a handsome pair. The pic of the wild type hiding is sweet. Do you know what sex they are?

 

[bitenomnom]

Haha, I thought so too. Actually, it's a melanoid. I don't think they can be sexed yet as they're only about 3" long. The albino seems a bit "rounder," but I think that's mostly because (s)he's been eating more. (I am a little bit concerned, because the melanoid hasn't been eating a whole lot and has been flicking his gills a bit more frequently than I think is normal -- but I suspect it's because he's only been in the tank for about a day and isn't adjusting quite as well as the other. The water stats seem fine...)

 

[Fumi]

Really? They are that tiny? You must have a very good camera then. My axie is about 5" and I really struggle to get a close up shot of her that's any good.

Fumi took a few days to settle into her new surroundings too. I think that's expectable really. I was advised by someone yesterday that when your axie isn't happy you've got quite a while to sort out any problems. For instance, if the water quality isn't right, then you have a few weeks to sort it out. They wont just roll over and go belly up... do axies go belly up? Hmmm.... Anyway, I should think your little guy is okay. Apparently they can go weeks without eating. Although it's not ideal and can become a problem after a couple of weeks. Just keep an eye on him/her. Unfortunately when I brought Fumi home there was a lot going on for me (I had to get her then as the store had already been holding her for me for a week). One of my brothers had been in a terrible car crash. He's okay now, but it was touch and go for a while. And so Fumi's homecoming was quite over shadowed and I didn't have time to fuss over her. This probably turned out for the best though as I left her to settle in without me disturbing her too much. She'd settled in by the time I could concentrate on her.

 

[bitenomnom]

I just got the camera -- it's nice (though it was a hand-me-down). It's a bit tough to get it to focus, though. My brother's an amazing photographer, so he's going to take his super-awesome camera and snap some even better shots for me, once he gets back from vacation.

Yeah, they seem to be calming down a bit. I tried feeding my melanoid (I really need to think of some names!!) some bloodworms today from an infant medicine dispenser (or something...eye-dropper-like) and he really took to that. Of course, the other guy is such a pig -- he got impatient and tried to eat the dropper! I'm not sure if they get the idea of eating them off the ground yet, but...it's a start.

Yeah, I ended up getting my axies just as my family was going on vacation, and right when my two summer math classes started. But I'm really enjoying taking care of them. I wanted some companions for when I go to the dorm next year (the dorms my past year didn't allow pets -- the ones I'm moving into allow aquariums) but wanted something with a bit more...personality. My boyfriend mentioned he'd heard of a kind of salamander that doesn't go terrestrial...and here I am!

 

[Kiowa]

Thank you for sharing your photos of your wonderful axolotls.

 

[melfly]

Wow they are beautiful
I especially love the melanoid!! I want one just like him!

Mel

 

[bitenomnom]

I managed a few more shots today just after feeding. I was surprised to see the melanoid swallow up an entire quarter of a rather long worm! His mouth seems so small! Of course I was expecting that of my albino; he seems to be pretty adept at gulping down anything (or at least trying, very hard). I love seeing their gills get bright red with all the excitement.

For that reason, I'm thinking of calling the albino Saffron (red = the color of the threads, which look a lot like his/her gills, and yellow = the color saffron threads dye things, and the color of his/her skin). And (it popped into my head out of nowhere this evening) I'm thinking of calling the melanoid Black Velvet, or just Velvet. Especially once I realized that that song (Black Velvet) is about Elvis (I never really listened to the lyrics), since despite his initial shyness, he seems to have that charismatic aura about him.

 

[Fumi]

Great names! I can see why you chose them. They suit them really well. :happy:

 

[bitenomnom]

Thanks! I was a little unsure. Glad you like them!

 

[Zolotl]

Your golden albino looks like a reindeer with gold antlers, you should call him after a reindeer :happy:

 

[Kerry1968]

I love the third and fourth pictures, they make Saffron's gills look as though they're made of pure gold!

 

[SludgeMunkey]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I think this makes you and I the only active axolotl hobbyists in Nebraska!


(Lets see some wide shots of the whole set up....it looks like you have a winner there too!)

 

[Jacquie]

Such poise...such elegance...such refinement... A great shot, this one!

You have some lovely axolotls.

 

[bitenomnom]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I think this makes you and I the only active axolotl hobbyists in Nebraska!


(Lets see some wide shots of the whole set up....it looks like you have a winner there too!)

Haha, I guess so! (Although maybe not for long once my friends come and see these cuties!)

All right, here are some shots of the setup. It's a 10 gallon for now, and I'll upgrade once these guys get bigger. (Really hoping to find a good deal at a garage sale on a 20 gal!) The water level was lower, but I decided to add more to keep the temperature more stable, and to further reduce the splashing from the filter. (Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but I have a floating fake lilypad sitting right under the filter output.) I'm trust they won't have a problem coming to the surface for a gulp if they must even with the deeper water. I did see Saffron chomp a bubble or two from the air stone the other day. Awww.

Of course the only real plant in there is the java moss, haha. But they're in a really low-light area, so I figure that's just about perfect.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Haha, I guess so! (Although maybe not for long once my friends come and see these cuties!)

All right, here are some shots of the setup. It's a 10 gallon for now, and I'll upgrade once these guys get bigger. (Really hoping to find a good deal at a garage sale on a 20 gal!) The water level was lower, but I decided to add more to keep the temperature more stable, and to further reduce the splashing from the filter. (Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but I have a floating fake lilypad sitting right under the filter output.) I'm trust they won't have a problem coming to the surface for a gulp if they must even with the deeper water. I did see Saffron chomp a bubble or two from the air stone the other day. Awww.

Of course the only real plant in there is the java moss, haha. But they're in a really low-light area, so I figure that's just about perfect.

Looks like a good set up to me! I agree, especially with smaller tanks, more water is better for axolotls. I fill mine right up to the top. Just make sure you have a cover for it, occasionally they get frisky and make a break for it!

 

[bitenomnom]

Yup, I've got a cover. (One night I almost forgot to put it back after feeding them -- I got in bed and then leapt back up a few minutes later to run back downstairs and replace the lid!) It's a screen lid...haha, though if the tank is too full there ends up being some water buildup on the wire over where the airstone is. I need to think of some way to fix this because otherwise the mesh may eventually rust through! (Not that the lid was that expensive, but still...)

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Yup, I've got a cover. (One night I almost forgot to put it back after feeding them -- I got in bed and then leapt back up a few minutes later to run back downstairs and replace the lid!) It's a screen lid...haha, though if the tank is too full there ends up being some water buildup on the wire over where the airstone is. I need to think of some way to fix this because otherwise the mesh may eventually rust through! (Not that the lid was that expensive, but still...)

I cut a square of plastic from one of those disposable ziploc dishes, and stick it to the underside of the screen cover to act as a droplet deflector. This keeps your cover from rusting, and from getting that annoying Nebraska Hard Water residue on your wall, and tank, and tank stand and floor....