Hi from Ireland

Hi there. I just joined the site. I live in Co. Wicklow, Ireland and own an axylotl called Axle Rose. Before I bought him, I had never seen one of these; I have a 60 gallon aquarium and was intrigued when I was buying fish. So, the fish seller showed him to me and told me briefly how to feed him, and also told me he'd be fine in my aquarium with my 6 large adult tinfoil barbs, and medium sized white convicts (all bought from him), as long as he had hiding places. So, Yes I said, I have lots of hiding places.

That evening, about 2 hrs after I put him in my tank I see him stuck behing the water flow tubing. Poor Axle, I think, He got stuck. So I go to free him. The barbs all started nipping at him. AAAGGGGHHHH. Big Bullies!!!!

I took him out straight away and put him in a seperate bucket. I was almost crying. Poor Axle. They had bitten off most of one of his gills, and 2 legs completely. Bad man selling axylotls who doesn't know anything about them! I really didn't think he was going to make it. The next day, thank God he was still alive, but not moving too much. He must have been scared out of his wits. I was able to get another tank for him - its about 20 gallons so plenty of room.

This all happened about 3 weeks ago. He eats about 2-3 worms a day and is showing growth on his gills. But his legs are still stumpy. The temp in the tank is 18 Celcius and I have given him a salt bath. (thank God for this site in desperate times).

He seems ok, but doesn't move around too much. I think he has been through a lot and is shell shocked. He stares at his reflection in the corner all day and stays at one end of the tank. I have a piece of bog wood in with him, but will set up the rest of the tank properly soon.

Long intro, but hey, a lot has happened to poor Axle Rose!

Pleased to be a member on the site

Hi AxleRose,

Welcome to the site.

Sounds like you've been thrown into the deep end head first into the wonderful world of axolotls.

If you haven't already found this page, it tells you everything you need to know about your new friend: http://www.axolotl.org/

If you need any help with Axle, please join us on the forum - there is nearly always someone around willing and able to help. :happy:

Cheers Jacq.

Welcome to the forum. I hope he gets better. Which fish shop was it that sold him to you?

I bought him from a fish dealer in Newtownmountkennedy. They supply a lot of the pet shops in the south Dublin area, but I havn't gone back to him since then. They are mostly an online pet supplier - www.pet-bliss.com Not impressed.

Anyway, Axle Rose is still alive. He has grown back all his gills and feet - his toes are getting longer. I started giving him bloodworms and he is really growing in size. Thriving.

He puts on a great show for the kids at meal time, and is much happier with sand in the tank for him to move around.

He doesn't like the lights on though. Is that normal? He is pinkish white with black eyes, so I assume he is not albino. In that sense I thought he would not be too sensitive to light. Anyway, I keep the light off most of the time as he hides when it is on.

axlerose said:

He doesn't like the lights on though. Is that normal? He is pinkish white with black eyes, so I assume he is not albino. In that sense I thought he would not be too sensitive to light. Anyway, I keep the light off most of the time as he hides when it is on.

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All axolotl types don't care for light. If you have some hidey holes where Axel can get away from the light when it is bugging him then a light is fine for display purposes - you just turn it off if you are not going to be in the room.

His lovely black eyes identify him as a leucistic.

If you post to the Axolotl section of the forum, you will get a faster response to your queries.

Cheers Jacq.