Axolotl attacking the other PLEASE help

[MyLittleComet]

I have two axolotls in a 30 gallon tank. I've had one for over a year and I got a second one thinking my tank was big enough. The first one (Comet) is 8 inches and the second one I've just gotten is 7.5ish inches (Meteor) and recently he's been attacking Comet. One of his gill stalks is missing, his hand has been bitten, and the tip of his tail nipped, and im beyond stressed. I dont know what to do. Is there anywhere I can send Meteor for him to be taken care of/resold (the place i got him doesnt accept returns) or will a bigger tank fix the issue???
I feel horrible that this is happening to him.

 

[JM29]

Hi,

Some individuals are more agressive than others.

The best, immediate, solution is to separate them :
- either in separate tanks,
- or placing a divider in the tank.

The one which has been bitten has injuries which must heal in the best possible conditions.

 

[MyLittleComet]

Hi,

Some individuals are more agressive than others.

The best, immediate, solution is to separate them :
- either in separate tanks,
- or placing a divider in the tank.

The one which has been bitten has injuries which must heal in the best possible conditions.

Thank you. I have Meteor in a tub right now so Comet has the tank all to himself. I'm considering if I should find a way to have another tank or ask if anyone I know wants an axolotl I feel they'd have too little room if I used a tank divider

 

[wolfen]

I have two axolotls in a 30 gallon tank. I've had one for over a year and I got a second one thinking my tank was big enough. The first one (Comet) is 8 inches and the second one I've just gotten is 7.5ish inches (Meteor) and recently he's been attacking Comet. One of his gill stalks is missing, his hand has been bitten, and the tip of his tail nipped, and im beyond stressed. I dont know what to do. Is there anywhere I can send Meteor for him to be taken care of/resold (the place i got him doesnt accept returns) or will a bigger tank fix the issue???
I feel horrible that this is happening to him.

sounds like like meteor is a aggressive juvenile, axolotls grow at different rates the greedy more aggressive ones growing faster, so although meteor might look like it is an young adult it could be a fast growing juvenile.
this means that although comet may be happy feeding every two days meteor will need feeding daily.
if meteor is actively hunting comet then meteor would have to be removed, if it is just greed then a increased feeding routine with plenty of hides/caves should settle him/her down.

 

[MyLittleComet]

sounds like like meteor is a aggressive juvenile, axolotls grow at different rates the greedy more aggressive ones growing faster, so although meteor might look like it is an young adult it could be a fast growing juvenile.
this means that although comet may be happy feeding every two days meteor will need feeding daily.
if meteor is actively hunting comet then meteor would have to be removed, if it is just greed then a increased feeding routine with plenty of hides/caves should settle him/her down.

Ive tried feeding him every day, but he's been rejecting the worms a lot. Refusing them outright or taking them and spitting them out and he won't eat pellets... I got him to take a worm yesterday, but he isn't consistant with it. I'm going to be buying another tank to keep them separate now

 

[wolfen]

Ive tried feeding him every day, but he's been rejecting the worms a lot. Refusing them outright or taking them and spitting them out and he won't eat pellets... I got him to take a worm yesterday, but he isn't consistant with it. I'm going to be buying another tank to keep them separate now

try frozen food bloodworm/mysis/krill/mussel/cockles/beefheart/brine, some are fussy eaters but there is plenty of different food types to try so you'll get there eventually. also you might want to try live shrimp and small live bearing fish like guppies. juveniles are very movement orientated so live might be best. might be best to separate them until they adults and have calmed down a bit.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

I agree with wolfen here.

Put yourself in the Axolotl's position. If you were only being fed spaghetti and meat sauce every single day...you might like it if you were hungry and there was nothing else to eat, but you'd get bored pretty fast. Try a more mixed up diet for the little guy.