I just bought on impulse 2 waterdogs...Don't berate me...I know this is horribly wrong...but I have no idea what they eat, tank size, filtration, anything...all info is needed thank you so much!
Urgent: Help with New Waterdogs. Info Needed!!!
- Thread starter farli
- Start date
First thing is to identify the buggers. Most water dogs sold in the states are neotenic tiger salamanders (a juvenile form of tiger salamander that didn't morph like they normally do). If this is the case, then they may at some time morph into the adult specimen, and require a large terrestrial tank, with only a small amount of water. They get big--up to a foot--and will eat anything they can catch. The neotenic form will eat aquatic fish, insects, worms, etc, so they are not appropriate for a community tank. They will tolerate a wide range of water conditions (pH, GH, KH) and temperatures, but are very sensitive to poor water, so must be in a cycled tank that is maintained regularly.
The true axolotyl from Mexico is rarely seen in the LFS. The axolotyl are unique from other 'water dogs' in that they are sexually mature in the neotenic form. Many salamanders will fail to morph in one season, so will over winter in water and morph the following spring. The axolotyl can live it's entire life in the juvenile form, and it's young will be a split of individuals who morph normally and those who do not.
Cool critters, but definitely need a species only tank.
The true axolotyl from Mexico is rarely seen in the LFS. The axolotyl are unique from other 'water dogs' in that they are sexually mature in the neotenic form. Many salamanders will fail to morph in one season, so will over winter in water and morph the following spring. The axolotyl can live it's entire life in the juvenile form, and it's young will be a split of individuals who morph normally and those who do not.
Cool critters, but definitely need a species only tank.
axolotls vs. waterdogs vs. tiger salamander larvae
you definitely need to figure out which it is. LPS are usually pretty clueless as to what they're really selling. axolotls, like oriongirl said, are neotonic and should remain in their larval state their entire lives and actually breed in that state (that's like tadpoles of a frog remaining tadpoles their entires lives and breeding in that state). i actually have a pair of axolotls that morphed--which is extremely rare. true axolotls really aren't supposed to morph except for hormones being introduced from other tiger sals or bad water quality or other situations like those (mine was because of hormones introduced by other tigers...).
tiger salamander larvae can get pretty big in their larval state and might not morph for awhile--but they eventually will, and then they'll need a completely terrestrial setup. they actually look quite a bit like axolotls, but they are different. john claire has some sites that are pretty helpful in distinguishing what you have. do a search for axolotls or tiger salamanders or john claire on google and you should find some good stuff.
waterdogs are techinically a different species, which actually looks quite a bit different. they are completely aquatic (as are axolotls) so they don't require any land. you could fill up a 10 g to the top (just like a fish tank) and have a regular filter and everything and that'd be fine. you should pry create caves out of rocks or whatever to give them places to hide, tho. make sure it's sturdy!
the setup should be pretty simple for eithe rone of these, unless you have a true larval tiger salamander. in that case, you should fill up the tank halfway and have a big rock or some type of land thing that the "waterdog" can climb onto when it's beginning to morph. if that happens, then you'll need to be informed on how to deal with that (go to a kingsnake.com forum and ask them about it, or do research from google or something). but with the fully aquatic setup, you could use a regular back filter or even a sponge filter...but fluvals work pretty well. you don't need to heat because room temp temps are fine. you should feed them bloodworms, beefheart, or the like...but not too much brine shrimp, cuz they're really salty.
anyway, you should definitely do more research or post a pic of what you have. i actually bought my two axolotls on impulse and had no idea what they were or how to take care of them. 5 years later, i'm glad i did it
but i've definitely learned my lesson. keep me posted on how stuff goes and what they really are.
-chip
you definitely need to figure out which it is. LPS are usually pretty clueless as to what they're really selling. axolotls, like oriongirl said, are neotonic and should remain in their larval state their entire lives and actually breed in that state (that's like tadpoles of a frog remaining tadpoles their entires lives and breeding in that state). i actually have a pair of axolotls that morphed--which is extremely rare. true axolotls really aren't supposed to morph except for hormones being introduced from other tiger sals or bad water quality or other situations like those (mine was because of hormones introduced by other tigers...).
tiger salamander larvae can get pretty big in their larval state and might not morph for awhile--but they eventually will, and then they'll need a completely terrestrial setup. they actually look quite a bit like axolotls, but they are different. john claire has some sites that are pretty helpful in distinguishing what you have. do a search for axolotls or tiger salamanders or john claire on google and you should find some good stuff.
waterdogs are techinically a different species, which actually looks quite a bit different. they are completely aquatic (as are axolotls) so they don't require any land. you could fill up a 10 g to the top (just like a fish tank) and have a regular filter and everything and that'd be fine. you should pry create caves out of rocks or whatever to give them places to hide, tho. make sure it's sturdy!
the setup should be pretty simple for eithe rone of these, unless you have a true larval tiger salamander. in that case, you should fill up the tank halfway and have a big rock or some type of land thing that the "waterdog" can climb onto when it's beginning to morph. if that happens, then you'll need to be informed on how to deal with that (go to a kingsnake.com forum and ask them about it, or do research from google or something). but with the fully aquatic setup, you could use a regular back filter or even a sponge filter...but fluvals work pretty well. you don't need to heat because room temp temps are fine. you should feed them bloodworms, beefheart, or the like...but not too much brine shrimp, cuz they're really salty.
anyway, you should definitely do more research or post a pic of what you have. i actually bought my two axolotls on impulse and had no idea what they were or how to take care of them. 5 years later, i'm glad i did it
but i've definitely learned my lesson. keep me posted on how stuff goes and what they really are. -chip
mines been eating jumbo sized cichlid pellets and whatever guppies it can catch. one would think a good pet store who has a good supplier would know true axlotls when they get them. my waterdog came from a bait store for $2. a true axlotl would be much higher due to import fees and such. but not all pet stores are so honest.
one thing i read lately was dont feed them everyday. every 2-3 days is fine.
one thing i read lately was dont feed them everyday. every 2-3 days is fine.
My "waterdogs" look just like andruboz's pic!!! That is what they look like...I got them at a bait store for $1...it was 12 for $10 or $1 each. They had one, who gave the bait shop it's name...Willy, who was in a 10 gal tank with no filter, no rocks, nothing...What kind of stuff, aside from fish and pellets, do they eat??? I have however named them. Thier names are Gimpy (he has a foot missing, the poor guy) and Speckles. they are too cute!
Gimpy will likely regrow his foot. One of the neat traits of amphibians.
Axolotyl are actually raised here in the states and used extensively in labs for research into their ability to regrow limbs as wel as neoteny. They don't often make it into the aquarium hobby, however, but are traded back in forth amongst labs regularly. It is illegal to import them as they are considered endangered in native Mexican waters.
Axolotyl are actually raised here in the states and used extensively in labs for research into their ability to regrow limbs as wel as neoteny. They don't often make it into the aquarium hobby, however, but are traded back in forth amongst labs regularly. It is illegal to import them as they are considered endangered in native Mexican waters.
i don't think that it will regrow anything if it's not an axolotl. axolotls are known for their regeneration abilities as well as neoteny, but not larval tigers or "waterdogs." you definitely don't have a waterdog if it looks like andruboz's pic. that one could be a larval tiger sal or an axolotl. here's a really helpful, informative site: http://www.caudata.org/axolotl/. hope this can help you out somemore
-chip
-chip
Amphibians as a group can regrow lost limbs. This includes frogs and salamanders and newts. Axolotl are best known for this ability, but it is common to all amphibians, and studied in several other species beside the axolotl.