Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys, I just got myself 3 axololts (1 male 2 female, i think) housing in a 2ft by 1ft by 1ft tank, their size abt 3.5-4.5in, gonna upgrade their tank when they reach 5.5in, using black water, some plants and some gravels, feeding them bloodworms and some sinking pellets... I just wanna find out if any of u whom have kept axololts before or are keeping them now, what kinda tankmates are suitable for them, like maybe plecos to clean up the algae and leftover food? Pls advice n take a look at my tank setup from the URL... thanks...
Link

Pretty much the only thing that most people agree are safe are zebra danios, white cloud minnows, ghost shrimp and snails. Everything else will require much warmer temperatures then the axolotls. Also note that anything that can be eaten probably will be eaten eventually. Typically most people do not keep other animals with their axolotls.

>>Hi guys, I just got myself 3 axololts (1 male 2 female, i think) housing in a 2ft by 1ft by 1ft tank, their size abt 3.5-4.5in, gonna upgrade their tank when they reach 5.5in, using black water, some plants and some gravels, feeding them bloodworms and some sinking pellets... I just wanna find out if any of u whom have kept axololts before or are keeping them now, what kinda tankmates are suitable for them, like maybe plecos to clean up the algae and leftover food? Pls advice n take a look at my tank setup from the URL... thanks...
>>Link
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Hope my opinions help,
Rob

Here's the link

http://arofanatics.com/members/dkk08/axololts

and thanks for the advice... will go source for some suitable tankmates soon... would like to hear other opinions though =)

Assuming that you actually have an Axolotl and not a larvae Tiger Salamander or Mudpuppy, the best tankmates for them are themselves as long as they are well fed. Otherwise, you will end up with one Axolotl and two shreded pieces of the other two former Axolotls. Heed this warning well!!!

Er thanks for the warning... have gotten the warning from some other forums, but there are folks whom have actually kept them with other axololts and even other tankmates... so I guess the tank size plays a major part and yes I do agree that as long as they're well fed they shld be fine... what do u guys feed your axololts? I'm feeding mine sinking pellets and bloodworms but they seem very slow to eat their food...

I have one axolotl and I keep two plecos and two goldfish with it. The goldfish require cold waters like the axolotl. And the fish dont even seem to mind the axolotl, the only confrontation ive seen was one of my goldfish stealing a tubifex block from the axolotl. Also, note that gravel can be ingested by the ax and cause some problems, like tearing the gut or causing impactions, i use gravel too because there is beneficial bacteria in there, BUT i cover up all the gravel with larger rocks. I just went outside, grabbed rocks and boiled them for 30-60 minutes. Works well. good luck with the axolotl.

For food im using freeze dried tubifex BUT im in the process of ordering some axolotl food from Indiana University. They have a huge axolotl colony and they breed and do gene testing on these guys, and supply other educational things. You can find it by typing in axolotl colony in a search engine, and they sell axolotl sinking pellets which IU says the axolotls grow faster and larger and live longer when fed this food. The food is only 5 bucks for a 1 lb back and they give feeding instructions also.

they shouldn't have any other species in with them, including other caudates. one or the other will get eaten. and if there's a large size disparity between the axolotls, they may attempt to cannibalize each other, especially if they are younger.
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marla
currently: 0.1.0 axolotls, 0.0.9 catfish, 0.1 ferrets, 1.6 leopard geckoes, 0.0.20 oriental fire-bellied toads, and 0.2.0 sugar gliders