Axolotl

[Full3R]

I know its not a fish
Its a larval stage of some type of newt
But
i was just curious, what would be a good guide to keeping them in groups like
how many per xx gallon/s

[Nick_Pavlovski]

They grow to over a foot long if they can, so it'd be big.
The best idea of numbers in a tank I've seen in the LFS's is 2 axy's of approximately 6 inches in a four foot tank.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

My old Axoltyl book from 1981 says:
"Tank should have a depth of at least 25cm. Length 100cm, width 50cm.
6 axoltyls can be housed comfortably in such a tank"

[Fishguy2727]

Tank size depends on how many you want. As with fish, bigger is always better. There can be problems with them in groups though because they can end up biting eachother and ripping gills, arms, and chunks of tail off (but these will all grow back). My three are in a 20 long for now. At up to a foot they can get quite large though. They naturally stay larval their whole life, so they aren't just a larval form of a newt, they just are larval. Very rarely one will metamorphosize, but it is still an axolotl. Are you thinking about getting some?

[Full3R]

I currently have one with my mother bought me he is about 20cm lonh, but i was hoping to build an outdoor pond for them under my window and i have a restricting of 60cm deep and 210cm long of digging space for a pond and about oh say 30cm - 40cm high i plan to make a cement pond for them, and since they rather like cold weather they should be fine outside in the shade where it doesnt get too hot and not too cold

[Fishguy2727]

How hot will the water get out there? They really shouldn't be above 72F.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

My book really advocates giving them swimming room.
And amazingly yes, damaged bits of axylotl will grow back!

[Full3R]

ummm im not entirely sure
I mean i keep mu current one inside but where the pong would be
no direct son hits it but theyre is light there if u know what i mean
I can do a test to see what tempreture the water varies between then give u the results?

[Fishguy2727]

That would be best. What are the summer highs in your area?

[Full3R]

urmm im basing this NOT on water tempreture but regular air tempreture high 30's celsius

[Fishguy2727]

Way too high. Keep them inside without a doubt.

[Full3R]

rightio then simple enough, just get a big inside tank for them

[Full3R]

Latley there has abeen a demand at the local fish stores for Axolotls
People, only teenagers i know of
Have found a way to metamorphis Axolotls without the injection of drugs
Apprently

The way to do it is:

get a tank with a large surface mass,

lower the water till its just above the axolotl's "dorsal fin" (the fin type thing that connects to the tail ontop)

lay the gravel in, You create some area above water so they may go on land, and others so they may be completely submersed only just though

you feed them as you would normally, only adding crickets to roam on the above land

have no airation in the water,

it takes a few weeks apprently, but they do metamorphis i have only seen one fully metamorphosed axolotl in real life so far, But apprently, the low water oxygen, and food available on land tricks the axolotls into metamorphising to adapt to live in the better aobve water conditions
but yes, thought i should let you know

[troy]

When it metamorphasizes it is known as the Mexican Salamander and only lives several years.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Full3R, that's exactly what my old 1981 book describes as a way to get them to metamorphosise (if you want them to).

[Fishguy2727]

For a species that is supposed to never metamorphosize, I doubt it is good for them. If you want a large terrestrial salamander, get a fire.

[Full3R]

Hmmm the only salamanders I have ever seen available in aus are a black colour with very few yellow spots

[Fishguy2727]

Might be fire salamanders. Spotted salamanders are native around me, but they do not seem to be as popular in the hobby as fire salamanders.