At last...my own axies

[nixx1985]

After a year looking for them and an extra 3 months waiting for stock to arrive, I finally got my 2 axies! I picked up 2 leucistic due to my black substrate. When i went to the store, they were in a tank with like 20 of them as a result, they are not in the best conditions. Both of my axies gills are mid size but I think its due to age and both have all their limbs minus the fingers looks like an amputee..

When I purchased it, the guy told me that it will eat turtle food just fine. What a coincidence, I have 4 yr old turtle so its great to only need to buy 1 food for both pets. So my question is that is it ok to eat turtle food? Based on ingredients, it looks like just some shrimp n yeast. I was told that some people feed them beef so this morning i gave em pork. Are they ok for axie too???

 

[Kaysie]

I wouldn't feed them turtle food. Axolotls are really fond of earthworms, waxworms, bloodworms, and carnivore pellets (Hikari is a commonly sold brand, but there are special 'axolotl pellets' made by Rangen that are awesome too).

As for meat, mammalian meat is especially dense in calories, and should not be offered regularly.

Good luck with your new guys!

 

[nixx1985]

This one is the sinking pellet i assume?
Hikari Aquatic Diets - Aquatic diets for tropical & marine fish

Can i get these dried freeze worm also as an alternative?
Hikari Aquatic Diets - Aquatic diets for tropical & marine fish

 

[Kaysie]

Freeze-dried food isn't a good choice. The process of freeze-drying usually destroys most of the nutrients in it. You're best going with live food in combination with the pellets (the sinking carnivore pellets).

 

[Shizeric]

Frozen bloodworms are also an option if combined with earthworms or pellets.

 

[Kaysie]

Just keep in mind that bloodworms don't have an adequate amount of calcium so they shouldn't make up the majority of the diet.

 

[nixx1985]

Yeah i have frozen bloodworm. I also have shrimp pellet. how come my axie spits it out. do they not like it?

 

[Kaysie]

Yeah. They probably find the texture unappealing. Pellets are not similar to any food they would eat in the wild, so they may spit them out. Keep trying though, sometimes they change their mind once the pellets seem familiar.

 

[nixx1985]

what if they are not eating? should i keep starving em till they eat d pellets?

 

[Kaysie]

No. Try offering live foods. Then gradually try to switch them to pellets.

 

[nixx1985]

How long does it take roughly for limb to grow back? precisely just the fingers

 

[Kaysie]

It depends on a lot of factors: age of the animal, size, diet, water quality, etc. Anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

 

[mekkha]

Congratulations! Do you have pictures?

 

[nixx1985]

How do i post a pic exactly? when I click insert pic, it gives me website address, do i have to upload it to an album 1st?

 

[nixx1985]

Here it goes! i figured it out

 

[XeryusTC]

Those stumps look so terribly sad I hope that they will get good care now they're with you and that we don't have to see such heart breaking pictures anymore soon

 

[Rhysmachine101]

Someone else will eventually ask, so I thought I would get in first

How big are those gravel stones there? They look possibly a tad too big to be sand and definitely nowhere near big enough to be safe for axolotls - I think you might have an impaction risk here, I'm sorry to say.
I am not sure however.

Someone else with more experience might help us out here?

 

[Rhysmachine101]

If it is ok though, I'm getting some! It looks awesome! :happy:

 

[Shizeric]

How big are those gravel stones there? They look possibly a tad too big to be sand and definitely nowhere near big enough to be safe for axolotls

I looked through the pictures several times trying to find what gravel you are referring to, but didn't see what you may be worried about.

The tank looks amazing, you did a great job in preparing for your animals. They are lucky to have such a thoughtful and caring owner.

 

[iChris]

Great looking setup there.

But as for those injuries, it angers me to know that there are "suppliers" of animals, including lotls that don't meet the requirements of the animal they are supplying.

My axolotl came from a aquarist, luckily mine was kept well, and came home with me in top shape.