Axolotl eating java moss!

[melfly]

I have a small axolotl he's about 6-7 months old but is a bit deformed and is only about 3 inch big. I recently moved him to a 2 foot tank by himself as he wont be bein bred due to his kinky back. I put some java moss in with some very large pebbles (bigger than him so not gonna go in his mouth,) but he's started eating the java moss. i'm sure this is not the worst thing he could be eating but is it harmful.? Should i remove it? Could he just be tasting it and not swallowing it? I feed him on mainly frozen bloodworm and the odd bit of earthworm. Mel

 

[Shizeric]

I have java moss in with my axies, and they have never paid any attention to it, I would say it's probably not terribly harmful, but better remove it as it is clearly not part of their diet. He is probably not doing it on purpose, and is being sucked up by accident. You don't want to have any negative impacts on his health for some sillly reason like accidental ingestion of some cheap moss. I say be safe, remove it, and if you need some plants buy some morimo balls or java ferns.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

It shouldn't be harmful. Chances are he is just spitting it out anyways. If it is swallowed, axolotls lack the proper methods to digest plant matter but it should pass pretty easily.

 

[melfly]

Thanks guys. I'll probably remove it then. I also have a bigger gold who decided to rip up a moss ball and eat bits of that! Anyone would think i dont feed them! Glad to know it wont harm them. Mel

 

[jclee]

I'm glad to hear that, too. Another way to get around the eating possibility is to bind the moss to stones. I've done that, but I still had an accidental ingestion scare with a stray scrap (Artie actually spat it back out right way), so I'm glad you asked, Melfly, before I forgot to.

(If you do anchor your moss to rocks, keep an eye on the thread, and remove it at the first sign of loosening or deterioration. I learned that one with a fish tank when an ADF managed to get caught up in some thread I'd long since forgotten to check on. I was able to get to her before she drowned, but I'm pretty vigilant now as a result.)