gazz2005uk

Ive just recently bought a 10gallon tank and I already have another 10gallon ive had for about 6-7 weeks with some fish in. I am still toing and froing over what to get in the new tank.
I was going to get some more tropical fish, but at my LFS they sell these mexican salamanders which I've had my eye on for quite a while. I know this is a tropical forum but if anyone owns a mexican salamander could you tell me what they are like as pets? Or if fish would be better.

Lucy

MeGustaUnaPez926 recently wrote a profile for axolotls.
Here it is:
Axolotl - Ambystoma mexicanum

gazz2005uk

hmm thats sort of put me in doubt a bit

i dont suppose you know anybody whos got tropical fish and axolotl do you?

Nick G

Hi Gazz, I keep both tropical fish and an Axoloytl. ( Not in the same tank )

gazz2005uk

1st of all..youve got a lot of tanks!
2nd..i know not to keep them in the same tank lol..i have an empty 10g which i am waiting till its cycled before i put something in it (unlike my 1st tank, noob mistake lol)
Its a long tank which im guessing would be better for axolotl, would a 10g be ok? Dont forget gallons are different in the U.K to what they are in USA.
On the profile i just read about them it said they are sensitive to water movement, my filter is just above the water so its rippling the water, would it be best to move it under the water?
Also, it says darker gravel is better, mine is white, would that still be ok?
As you can probably tell I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I love the fish I have at the minute in the other tank and I would like more in the new tank, but not too sure if i want an axolotl more lol. Can you swing my mind either way?

Roxy_Nie

Here ya go....


http://www.axolotl.org/housing.htm

Nick G

A 10gal long tank will be fine for an Axolotyl for a while. They need a bit of a bigger tank when they're fully grown, mine lives in a 20gal. They don't need huge tanks as they don't really move much. Good filtration as they get bigger is more important, as is water quality. Heres a couple of pics of my Axolotyl tank, plus him sticking his head out of his log!

Attached Images

	Axo Tank.jpg (356.5 KB, 57 views)
	aXO 2.jpg (359.1 KB, 56 views)

gazz2005uk

that website is very helpful, and nick, your tank looks very full (of plants and things i mean) looks very good.
It says they are sensitive to sudden light changes..my tank is in my bedroom so on nights when i am not here and i come home i will turn the room light on (would this be bad?)
Also, the tank light is an over head light but is extremely bright again would this be bad?

Nick G

They have terrible eyesight so I'm not sure if bright light would bother them or not. They do like somewhere to hide though, mine spends all day in his log, and tends to come out more at night.

gazz2005uk

are they good as a pet then or would i not see it very often? i dont really want something im never going to see lol

Nick G

No, they're really good pets. Mine eats from my hand, and usually comes out of his log when he hears me walk into the room.

Lucy

Nick, you better stop, now I want one. lol

gazz2005uk

im guessing tank mates like a couple of gold fish would be a bad idea?
I also have one of them things where you can plug it in to ornaments and air bubbles come out the top (not sure what they are called lol), would this be alright with one? It came with the tank so im not really wasting money if i have to take it out.

Nick G

goldfish aren't a good idea with Axolotyls, Either the fish will nip at the Axolotyls frills, or when bigger the Axolotyl will eat the fish. I know Axolotyls don't like a lot current in the tank, but i'm not sure how they'd be with a bubblewand.

gazz2005uk

would it show signs of it not liking it? I was planning on buying an ornament that is quite tall so there wouldnt be much of a gap between the top of the ornament and the water line, and it would be turned off at night as they can be quite noisy.

Nick G

If they are stressed they will hide all the time and refuse to feed. I think a strong current would stress them more than bubbles would.

coffeebean

i want an axolotl so badly. cant find them here

btate617

Check with Ewing I am pretty sure he had some about 1-2 months ago. I am sure he can order some more.

Brian

eiginh

Axolotls are cool but how the heck do you maintain the water temp. to 60-6 F* Do you guys use chillers? My tanks never go under 70 and I read on that site they are susceptible to diseases/death if given higher temps. That's just too bad for me they look really cool! Can you pet them?

gazz2005uk

I was just coming onto here to ask that, at the moment my tank is 69-70, how do you get them lower? I'm edging towards the axolotl rather than some more tropicals ..but it would be a waste of money if they die because temp is too hot.

eiginh

A chiller? that's really expensive though

Gouramiguy17

How much does a salamnder cost?

gazz2005uk

From my lfs they are £20 so about $30-35, they might be cheaper in the US though, or more expensive.

eiginh

They're about 20 bucks here but then they are hard to find so they need to be shipped and shipping cost a ton!

gazz2005uk

Bad times ..Forunatley for me the shop is only 10 minutes drive away

iloveengl

To keep the water cool, can you keep a few frozen water bottles on hand and then exchange them as they melt (not sure how long they would last)? That might become a big hassle if you have to exchange the bottle more than one or twice a day and I'm not sure if that water temp would be stable enough. Never tried it, but just a thought.

gazz2005uk

Ive finally got one ..its awesome!..Was hiding abit the first couple of days but now its swimming about all over the tank. The water temp has been around 22-23 which is not ideal but it drops overnight and I am putting some water in a tub and freezing it, that drops it down to about 20.