Axolotl vs Tiger

[Light of Dae]

Ok so How do you tell an Axolotl from a Tiger Salamander?

I have two axolotls (I think, was pretty sure) Everything I have read points to them being Axolotls, long thin toes white tips on their toes when sexually mature around 6months old.
However I willing to very much so admit I am NO expert! However I am not an idiot and do not appreciate being treated as such. I am just having a hard time finding true information about the differences in these .. cousins.
One of my babies is morphing. Now because of this people on here have told me I more then likely have a Tiger n not an Axolotl, the other one is not changing at all. I am very curious to hear from you all (that are knowledgeable) what are the differences?

I will be changing my tank around today as I have picked up some coco husk and plantation soil and will be doing a half n half tank seeing as one still needs full water n the other needs land.

Your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

 

[kiathepooch]

If you're sure one is morphing you're better giving it a complete seperate tank from the other,rather than half and half,as you're going to have to use seperate tanks when it morphs-tiger sals aren't the best swimmers and can drown.

As for how to tell the difference,colour,head shape,body shape all play a part.if you look up pictures of tiger sal larvae and compare to pictures of axolotls you might find it helpful.
I'd post links for you but am on my phone,best bet is looking Caudata culture,tiger sal 101 and do a search on the forums for morphing axolotls and tiger sals.


Sent,using the power of my mind.....

 

[Kaysie]

Pictures are quite helpful. It's hard to really describe the differences. Tiger heads tend to be flatter and wider than axolotls, and their toes are a bit stubby and wider.

 

[hacelepues]

Well if your baby's toes are pointy I think it's safe to say that it's definitely an axolotl. Tiger salamanders' have sausage toes, like so:

Now, why do you think he's morphing?

 

[yellowpebble]

delicious sausage toes...

 

[JessKB]

After reading your other thread and seeing the pictures you posted, I really think you have tigers. They never morph out at the same time, so your smaller one could stay in the water for a long time more, or could make the transition to land anytime.

You definitely want to set up two different enclosures for them. Otherwise, the morphed one is going to track substrate into the water part and foul it. Adult tigers aren't the best swimmers either, and you don't want him to drown. After the other one has morphed you could put them back together in a fully terrestrial setup.

 

[axokicker]

geat pic.

 

[kiathepooch]

this is a picture of Tiger larvae,there are some more on the gallery....

Caudata.org - Member Galleries - Ambystoma tigrinum larvae

 

[hacelepues]

delicious sausage toes...

So fat omnomnomnomnom

 

[Light of Dae]

Hmm ok. It's good thing the caulking gun broke last night when I was about to make a 50/50 tank... I'll just make a divider to completely separate the tank in half, instead of the slope half way.
I'm really quite sad if they are indeed tigers, I like tigers, I just was so excited about Axolotls... Their fingers are more like pointy claws then sausages... but looking at the pictures of tiger larva they look like pointy toes too... Darned. The lady I got them off of hasn't gotten back to me, and now I'm just flustered like a snake with a knot in its tail! Grr.

At least I got a large enough tank to split in half. This should be fun. Here's to hoping the caulking gun doesn't break a rivet again... I hate changing those out.

 

[Light of Dae]

Now, why do you think he's morphing?

I'll take some recent photos. Her gills are almost full adsorbed, thickening legs, standing on back feet with head out of water breathing air, fins on back n tail are pretty well gone... Morphing. Undeniable.

 

[Jenste]

how big is your tank? how big will each side be?

 

[kiathepooch]

I saw your pictures,does indeed look morphed/ing and very much like a tiger sal.
If I were you I'd scrap the idea of 50/50 and lower the water a little(still giving the none morphing one plenty of swim space) and stick a big rock and/or some cork bark or wood for the morphing one to haul out on....when its done morphing I'd just put it in a big plastic tub setup with a water dish until you know if the other is going to morph also.
Depends how big your tank is if you do want to seperate it,I'd just be wary of drowning and the substrate going in the water,as my tigers always fill the water bowl with dirt.


Sent,using the power of my mind.....

 

[Light of Dae]

Here is my morphing girl, the last one is the other guy, he's almost turning transparent.

 

[Kaysie]

Those are definitely tigers. Axolotls retain the long, thin toes after morphing.

Won't be long before your morpher will need a terrestrial tank. Once the gill-nubs are gone, you can move it to a terrestrial setup.

 

[hacelepues]

Here is my morphing girl, the last one is the other guy, he's almost turning transparent.

Yeah, those are some fat sausage toes! Sorry the animals you bought weren't what you thought they were Let's just hope that the person who sold them to you didn't know better... and that you will teach them the difference so it doesn't happen again!

 

[GazerOfStars]

Look at the bright side, you get to witness the entire transformation process

I Iove my axies, but if it didn't lower their lifespan I wouldn't mind having a leucistic Axomorph. They're so darn handsome

 

[Light of Dae]

If I were you I'd scrap the idea of 50/50 and lower the water a little(still giving the none morphing one plenty of swim space) and stick a big rock and/or some cork bark or wood for the morphing one to haul out on....when its done morphing I'd just put it in a big plastic tub setup with a water dish until you know if the other is going to morph also.
Depends how big your tank is if you do want to seperate it,I'd just be wary of drowning and the substrate going in the water,as my tigers always fill the water bowl with dirt.

I had lowered the water and added rocks so that one side of the tank had about 4mm of water over the slate rocks, however Yin preferred to float with the plastic plants. I did divide the tank as each side is big enough for now (about 1'7" x 2' x 2' each) both these ... tigers are currently only about 2-3" so until the other one morphs this will work. When Yang morphs I will cut out the divider and make it all terrestrial.

I've attached a picture of the new divider with the test run of water... Got a small leak that is now patched, waiting on fish safe silicone to dry to add water again.

 

[Light of Dae]

Those are definitely tigers. Axolotls retain the long, thin toes after morphing.

Won't be long before your morpher will need a terrestrial tank. Once the gill-nubs are gone, you can move it to a terrestrial setup.

Could I move her into the terrestrial tank before the nubs are all gone? Or would she not do so good? There is maybe 1/8" of gill nub right now... She still sits underwater..

Yeah, those are some fat sausage toes! Sorry the animals you bought weren't what you thought they were Let's just hope that the person who sold them to you didn't know better... and that you will teach them the difference so it doesn't happen again!

Its all good I got them for free cause the lady didn't have too big of a clue about them. So no harm no foul.

 

[kiathepooch]

I had lowered the water and added rocks so that one side of the tank had about 4mm of water over the slate rocks, however Yin preferred to float with the plastic plants. I did divide the tank as each side is big enough for now (about 1'7" x 2' x 2' each) both these ... tigers are currently only about 2-3" so until the other one morphs this will work. When Yang morphs I will cut out the divider and make it all terrestrial.

I've attached a picture of the new divider with the test run of water... Got a small leak that is now patched, waiting on fish safe silicone to dry to add water again.

Lol-not at you,at me!i was imagining my tigers in a split tank rather than morphing ones!
The tank looks good,as long as the morphing one can haul out it should be ok,though I didn't get mine till they were fully terrestrial.....
If you look on Caudata culture there's a tiger sal sheet that gives loads of info!



Sent,using the power of my mind.....