Want to make sure I have it right...

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russachalyn

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Hi all,

I'm new to the site and to axolotls in general, but for the past couple weeks have been reading about them and am very interested in possibly getting a couple! Before I start, though, I want to make sure I understand how to care for them properly, so I have a couple questions...

First, when I've seen newts and such in the wild, while they're often underwater they sometimes are crawling around on the rocks or sand near the water. Are axolotls like this too? Meaning - should I have some raised area in my tank that's out of the water for them to crawl on, or are they happy being in the water all the time? (probably a stupid question, but I just want to make sure!)

Also, I've read that axolotls are cannibalistic when young. Since I'm hoping to get two of them for one aquarium, at what age do they stop eating (or trying to eat) each other?

Thanks so much in advance! I'm sure I'll have more questions down the line, but that's all I can think of for now...

Gretchen
 
They dont need a space to "walk", they are entirley aquatic,

as for the canibalistic traits.... guess it would depend on how well fed they were along with size of the tank and what qualities aswell
 
b00f said:
they are not salamanders.
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Of course they are, or they wouldn't be on the CAUDATA.org website. They're salamanders just like all the other salamanders.

Axolotls will 'walk' along the ground more than they'll swim. Mine only swim rarely. They prefer walking. But they will never leave the water voluntarily. They are gilled, and do not need to be in the air.

Usually once they're a couple of inches, they're less likely to chew on each other. If you keep them well-fed, and have lots of hiding places, you can easily keep juveniles together.
 
"should I have some raised area in my tank that's out of the water for them to crawl on,"


b00f: i was talking about them needing a "terrestrial" part in their tank... which is not needed

Kaysie: "Axolotls will 'walk' along the ground more than they'll swim. Mine only swim rarely. They prefer walking. But they will never leave the water voluntarily. They are gilled, and do not need to be in the air. "

im pretty sure we just hit the same nail.... you provided alot more detail
 
Boof, I think Kaysie was more concerned with calling them by the correct name than by anything else you said, she wasn't disputing that they are aquatic... and if there's more information to add, I don't see why it shouldn't be added...
 
Oh dear, didn't mean to start an argument!

Thanks so much for the help, that was what I figured about them being aquatic, but just wanted to be completely on the safe side (and probably sounded like a total idiot in the process... sorry!).

I'm relieved to hear that they won't try to eat each other when they're a few inches long. I'll make sure to give them plenty of hiding places, but wouldn't want really small ones anyway... as a first-time owner, I'd be more comfortable getting slightly older ones anyway, as I assume the babies are more fragile.

Anyway, thanks again for the help! I'm sure I'll be back soon with more questions. :)
 
(and probably sounded like a total idiot in the process... sorry!)
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Of course you didn't sound like an idiot, it's much better to get the right information and to look after them properly :happy: Ask as many questions as you can think of, and hopefully somebody will have an answer. If you want to know something simple, try using the search function on the forums as well - theres masses of information stored away in there.

Oh dear, didn't mean to start an argument!
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I hope that wasn't directed at me! By no means was I trying to argue , I'm sorry if I came across as rude, Boof! :happy: I'm finished uni for the year, so I promise I'll turn my laptop off for a while and leave you poor people alone ^.^

[Edit] I forgot to say, the babies are more fragile... but they're the cutest things in the whole world!
 
You don't sound like an idiot at all. I've heard much dumber questions. But I'd rather people ask first than doing things wrong (like letting their axolotl climb on their shirt, or any number of completely irresponsible things I've seen).

Ask all the questions you want. We don't judge around here.
 
Thanks, I appreciate all the help! That was my thinking too, I'd rather sound like an idiot than do something that might hurt the axolotls!

Anyway, nothing is definite yet (my boyfriend isn't quite as enthusiastic as I am about the idea, and I already have a ball python that he also wasn't all that enthusiastic about -- don't want to force too many pets on him!), but I'm still hoping...

Thanks again, I'm sure I'll be back soon...
 
Oh he'll get used to it. My boyfriend has. We're up to 2 ball pythons, 2 rat snakes, a herd of axolotls, etc. Just don't ask. Once they're already in the house, they're much harder to get rid of. :D
 
Ha, I was SO CLOSE to doing it that way the other day! And on the bright side, I've shown him a lot of pictures and he thinks they're "just about the cutest animals ever." He's been hinting about Christmas for the past couple days, but if we don't get them then I may just have to take that advice and have them just appear in the house one day...
 
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