can i put a axolotl with fish and if so, what size tank is required for one. ive been looking at them. They are so cute!
axolotl and fish?
- Thread starter austinpetemo
- Start date
if kept by them selves what size tank do they need. and if they are kep with guppies(saw this on youtube) will they nip them even though they are fast fish
I belive it could be done with lots of hiding places and a large tank. Like upwards of 125g. Also use a large starting population of guppies and see if they can outproduce the predetation. Same thing people with turtles do in their ponds.
I would be more concerned that the fish would nip the axolotl, especially those bushy gills. I would still try it, just watch them closely. I think you would need at least a 20 gallon long to keep one in. I have had a couple, it was years ago, mine turned into tiger salamanders. I never bought anymore, of course I didn't pay a lot for them. I think the true axolotl was derived from the tiger salamander and the tiger salamander babies look just like the axolotl. I would be really really upset if I paid $50-60 for one and it turned into a tiger salamander, lol.
Pam- The axolotl and tiger salamander are related species. There are neotenic populations of tigers in the southwest; you may have been sold one of these instead of a true axolotl. Axolotls can also transform, but less readily.
Austin- I haven't kept axolotls, but I have kept sirens and neotenic mole salamanders. My experience is that these big sallies can be kept with small, fast, peaceful fish; my sirens live with a group of bluefin killifish, and they leave one another alone. Sallies will eat fish they can catch, but they have poor vision and only try to eat what's right in front of their nose. Healthy guppies should have no trouble staying out of the axolotl's reach; you might lose a sickly or sleeping fish now and again, but I doubt the axolotl could wipe out a whole colony.
Like Pam said, there can be issues with the fish nipping the salamanders, but I don't think guppies would be a problem in that regard. I had a Seminole killifish in with my sirens for a while who tried to eat the salamanders' gills, possibly because they looked like bloodworms.
Another issue is with small, slow, but dangerous fish. One of my coworkers decided to put a tiny freshwater puffer in with my neotenic mole salamander; the salamander ate the puffer, killing them both. Cories and other spiny fishes could pose similar problems.
Austin- I haven't kept axolotls, but I have kept sirens and neotenic mole salamanders. My experience is that these big sallies can be kept with small, fast, peaceful fish; my sirens live with a group of bluefin killifish, and they leave one another alone. Sallies will eat fish they can catch, but they have poor vision and only try to eat what's right in front of their nose. Healthy guppies should have no trouble staying out of the axolotl's reach; you might lose a sickly or sleeping fish now and again, but I doubt the axolotl could wipe out a whole colony.
Like Pam said, there can be issues with the fish nipping the salamanders, but I don't think guppies would be a problem in that regard. I had a Seminole killifish in with my sirens for a while who tried to eat the salamanders' gills, possibly because they looked like bloodworms.
Another issue is with small, slow, but dangerous fish. One of my coworkers decided to put a tiny freshwater puffer in with my neotenic mole salamander; the salamander ate the puffer, killing them both. Cories and other spiny fishes could pose similar problems.
I keep mine by itself in a 20G Long. From what I've read tankmates generally aren't recomended as they'll usually either be eaten or find the axolotl's gills irresistable