Question: Can I keep these two together/

[arenaboy007]

I decided to put two of my leucistics together since they are about the same size, around
3.5 inches, and my question is, will they be fine, or will they eat each other?
Here are pictures of them, sorry about the excess poop and food, I don't have my new
turkey baster yet. Hopefully you can see them fine with the pictures I took, the water
isn't crystal clear. Aquarium size is 15gallons, I'm planning to pick up my neighbors
50gallon, but I haven't heard from him yet. I also have a bigger melanoid around 4 inches
that is not pictured in the photos, can I put him as well or should he remain separated for now?

 

[Star]

You just reminded me I was meant to get a new turkey baster earlier as the dog ate mine, oops! They should be fine at that size together, if the other is only half an inch bigger then personally I would try them because it should be OK. Some axies are just grumps though, one of mine can't abide tank mates! Although if the melanoid is a lot broader I'd skip it for now If you are a bit nervous just do some axie watching with them all together for about an hour or two

 

[LeFarge]

I agree with everything above!

 

[JessKB]

Keep them well fed though! They're less likely to harm each other if they're always full.

 

[arenaboy007]

Right now, I'm trying to figure out how I can take a picture of them together for sizing
comparison, but I can say the melanoid is fatter and broader than the two leucistics,
Will his growth slow down if I keep him in a small container, or will he still grow
at his current rate?

 

[xxianxx]

Right now, I'm trying to figure out how I can take a picture of them together for sizing
comparison, but I can say the melanoid is fatter and broader than the two leucistics,
Will his growth slow down if I keep him in a small container, or will he still grow
at his current rate?

I would advise against trying to retard the melanoids growth with a small container, you may have problems keeping the water clean and the smaller water volume may be more prone to temperature fluctuations . If you want to keep them seperate invest in a tank divider until they are of a more similar size.

 

[Kaysie]

They don't stay small when kept in smaller tanks. That's only applicable to certain species of fish.

 

[arenaboy007]

So the melanoid jumped from his isolated tank into the display tank, and I took the chance to take some pictures of them together. So is he too big for them?

And my two leucistics looks like they have a small scratch on the side of their mouth,
I was thinking where did they get that, by bumping into my aquatic furniture?

 

[LeFarge]

they should be fine - they might nip at each other, axies do that, but your melanoid won't eat the others!

 

[Kaysie]

I agree. The size difference is practically nil.

 

[arenaboy007]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll just make sure they're full all the time to avoid nipping each other,
and get a bigger tank.

 

[xxianxx]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'll just make sure they're full all the time to avoid nipping each other,
and get a bigger tank.

Providing plenty of hiding spaces will help.

 

[arenaboy007]

Unfortunately the tank is small for lots of hiding places, and I don't have good lighting to
keep live plants alive. Once I get the bigger tank I'll be able to work on that.
Do you guys know a lamp that does not come with a hood? Because I have a fan unit,
and I can't install it with hooded lamps.

 

[xxianxx]

I dont use the lights over my axolotl tanks , i let them get by with indirect sunlight, one of them only has a clear perspex sheet over it to stop them jumping out. You could remove the hood if you want to fit a fan. The downside to this is that plant growth would be lower , though you could research plants which require low light levels.

 

[ACEPHONECHIC]

Hi I have three young axies of various sizes that live in harmony. I was nervous at first with the largest and middle size one but you need to just watch things.
In my experience they tend to be quite ameanable with each other as long as feeding time there is enough for all.
I do not use lighting as they do not like it bright. Plastic plants are a good second if you can not use real ones. They do like to hide even if it not a large option as long as they have their head in or under something they think they are hidden.