Axolotl size difference? New purchase?

[dipsydoodle]

As axolotls can be cannibalistic towards smaller animals would a size difference of 2” make a difference.

I can either get 2 melanoid ones at 4” each or a melanoid at 4” and a black one at about 6”. I’d rather the melanoid and black; so would it make a difference for 2”? I’d be happy with either decision – I just REALLY want a melanoid one lol.

 

[xxianxx]

Your right to be concerned about the size difference, the larger axolotl is not just two inchs bigger its 50% bigger, if you put them together there may not be a problem but do you really want to risk it?. Im a bit confused about the colours you describe as melanoid axolotls are black.

 

[cml]

They are still quite small so I would think the size difference might be to big.
When I was trying to get my 2 lotls to live together the problem was the other way around though, 4.5" Ragnar wouldnt stop hunting the 6" long Uriel. I had to keep them divided for many months before I tried again (both are 7.5" now), and they now absolutely adore each other.

I think its very much down to the individual axolotl, usually its the bigger one hunting the smaller. It might work, but then again it might not and you must be prepared to accomodate for this. If you are giving it a go, be sure to add lots of hides and visual barriers like plants. Rather one more than one less.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[dipsydoodle]

Your right to be concerned about the size difference, the larger axolotl is not just two inchs bigger its 50% bigger, if you put them together there may not be a problem but do you really want to risk it?. Im a bit confused about the colours you describe as melanoid axolotls are black.

lol by black I meant wild type. I realised once I'd typed it, but colours are irrelevant to the question so I didn't change it.

Ok so try and get two the same

 

[xxianxx]

lol by black I meant wild type. I realised once I'd typed it, but colours are irrelevant to the question so I didn't change it.

Colours are not irrelevant, melanoids appear to have a slower growth rate, axthantic axolotls have a high baby mortality rate and wildtypes have a preference for attacking albinos, check out threads concerning colours/morphs etc, if the melanoid is smaller than the wild-type now there is a possibility the size difference may increase until they both hit maturity. You may not have a problem, all the examples i mentioned are generalities and may not effect your pets, you just need to keep them in mind.

 

[dipsydoodle]

They are still quite small so I would think the size difference might be to big.
When I was trying to get my 2 lotls to live together the problem was the other way around though, 4.5" Ragnar wouldnt stop hunting the 6" long Uriel. I had to keep them divided for many months before I tried again (both are 7.5" now), and they now absolutely adore each other.

I think its very much down to the individual axolotl, usually its the bigger one hunting the smaller. It might work, but then again it might not and you must be prepared to accomodate for this. If you are giving it a go, be sure to add lots of hides and visual barriers like plants. Rather one more than one less.

Good luck with your decision!

That is absolutely fine.

There are a shop selling them so I will just get two from there - both will be the same size and both will have lived together so I guess that helps.

The tank has LOADS of plants in it so there are plenty visual barriers. I have a couple of temporary hides but I'm going to add some slate caves and pipes/plant pots for them as a more long term plan.

 

[dipsydoodle]

lol by black I meant wild type. I realised once I'd typed it, but colours are irrelevant to the question so I didn't change it.

Colours are not irrelevant, melanoids appear to have a slower growth rate, axthantic axolotls have a high baby mortality rate and wildtypes have a preference for attacking albinos, check out threads concerning colours/morphs etc, if the melanoid is smaller than the wild-type now there is a possibility the size difference may increase until they both hit maturity. You may not have a problem, all the examples i mentioned are generalities and may not effect your pets, you just need to keep them in mind.

I actually typed the wrong thing anyway. By black I meant wild type and melanoid I meant leucstic - god knows what I was thinking at the time.

My plan was either a wild type and a leucstic (but probably not a good idea) or 2 leucstics or 1 leucstic and 1 albino. Swaying to 2 leucstics anyway.

I do apologise, as I've said I'd be interested to know what I was thinkig at the time lol.

EDIT: I can't actually edit the first post to change the colours, never mind

 

[xxianxx]

An option you may wish to pursue is buying the morphs you want and keeping them separated with a tank divider or in different tanks until they hit maturity and/or a similar size, then put them together. I hope you haven't misunderstood my statement about wild-types having a preference attacking leucistics, you can keep them together happily its just that it's an observed phenomena. Also my juvenile melanoid was the biggest of 150 babies in the pet shop but it was cannibalizing its siblings and getting a protein boost lol. The statements i made are not true in 100% of cases, just bear them in mind.

 

[dipsydoodle]

An option you may wish to pursue is buying the morphs you want and keeping them separated with a tank divider or in different tanks until they hit maturity and/or a similar size, then put them together. I hope you haven't misunderstood my statement about wild-types having a preference attacking leucistics, you can keep them together happily its just that it's an observed phenomena. Also my juvenile melanoid was the biggest of 150 babies in the pet shop but it was cannibalizing its siblings and getting a protein boost lol. The statements i made are not true in 100% of cases, just bear them in mind.

Oh no that's absolutely fine. I didn't really help myself by writing the wrong things down,.it was one if those moments (i also phoned an lfs to check if they had some fish in stock.and could I remember the name of these fish!).

I definitely want a leucstic. Due to size differences.I'll probably end up with 2 leucstic.

 

[xxianxx]

I spent weeks trying to source leucistics/albinos, what shop is it? thanks

 

[dipsydoodle]

My local shops ONLY sell albino. I'm in Newcastle so quite far away from you. I can still tell you the names if relevant .

They occasionally get wild types and golds in but mainly albino and I've only found one shop doing leucstic - as many phone calls have gone "what colours do you have?" - Albino - "is that albino with red or black eyes". I know albino is red but the shops don't lol.

One shop advertise delivery of them but they are REALLY expensive (although I don't know their size); the local shops range from £9 - 12 for a young axolotl and this other shop charges £25!

 

[xxianxx]

Leucistics are white with black eyes, albinos have pink eyes. I have noticed that colour availability varies from region to region and time to time, depending on what the local breeders have got. We used to get only leucistic/albinos down here and now i cant find any , in fact axolotls are quite hard to track down full stop and they tend to be quite expensive.

 

[coral2reef]

i've paid £25 each for my last 2 axies, as I bought the 3rd from the same place I offered them £20 as it was so skinny. I wouldn't think twice about paying that for a tropical fish so quite happy to pay that for an axie. One of the others near me sells them for £30 each and they advertise them as mexican walking fish haha.

I've currently got a golden housed with a black (grey) one and they didn't get on at first when I removed the divider and the grey one had the end of its tailed chomped, separated them with a divider again for a further month or so and now they tolerate each other perfectly, at first they mostly sat at opposite ends but now they get on so well in fact tonight they were sitting ontop of each other.

Recently bought a wild type, very small and active at the moment but not sure it's ever going to be calm enough to go with the other 2!

 

[dipsydoodle]

i've paid £25 each for my last 2 axies, as I bought the 3rd from the same place I offered them £20 as it was so skinny. I wouldn't think twice about paying that for a tropical fish so quite happy to pay that for an axie. One of the others near me sells them for £30 each and they advertise them as mexican walking fish haha.

I've currently got a golden housed with a black (grey) one and they didn't get on at first when I removed the divider and the grey one had the end of its tailed chomped, separated them with a divider again for a further month or so and now they tolerate each other perfectly, at first they mostly sat at opposite ends but now they get on so well in fact tonight they were sitting ontop of each other.

Recently bought a wild type, very small and active at the moment but not sure it's ever going to be calm enough to go with the other 2!

I got two for £12 and one for £9.95, another shop do them for £8.99 but they didn't have the colours I wanted. I got a golden albino, an albino and a leucstic . None of the local shops I phoned had the wild type in.

I've never paid that much for a fish (I paid £20 ONCE but that was it - but that included £8.99 postage hehe) - he is a solid white plakat male betta .