Goldfish with Axolotl

[licerbob]

Hello everyone :happy:
I had a medium-large (about 3 in, 5 in w/tail) black moor goldfish in my tank with a Melanoid Axolotl. Those two essentially grew up together and did perfectly fine.

I while ago a got another axolotl, a leucistic, and added him to the tank. He was growing bigger and generally doing fine; until recently, I noticed his gills looked very small compared to the melanoids.

I was freaking out because I was so worried that he was metamorphasising... BUT then when I was watching the tank I noticed the leucosis was VERY skittish around the goldfish. I figured it was just because the fish was big or something. THAN I SAW THE GOLDFISH BITE MY AXOLOTLS GILLS!!!!! D:

Luckily I have many tanks so I was able to move out the goldfish.

The weird thing though is that the melanoid is just fine? The melanoid is a little bigger than the leucosis but I think maybe it has to do with the color of the gills? The melanoid is essentially black on black were as the leucosis is bright red/pink on white. They obviously stick out more on the leucosis...

Dose this make sense at all? I'm a little sad that I had to move the fish but I WILL NOT have him attacking my axolotls.

 

[auntiejude]

Did you not read the basic rule that the only suitable tank mate for an axolotl is another axolotl? Goldfish are one of the biggest no-nos as they prduce a lot of waste and if eaten can cause problems (thiamine deficiency). Not only that, but fish mistake red axie gills for bloodworm, and try and eat them.

So, in answer to your question, yes it was probably the red gills that attracted the fish.

And you have done the right thing in removing the fish.

 

[HazeyJane]

That was what happened to my axie.. it's part of the reason he lives with me now.

He used to live with a friend of mine.. with goldfish.

For 18 months no problems at all.

He was very shy so she only used to see his tail sticking out of the hides.

Then one day he popped out to say hello.. then she rang me in a panic "The fish have been eating him!!" and I became an axie owner.

I think he may have lost more than half of his gills. But I think they are re-growing.

He's not shy anymore either so I think he may have been hiding from the fish - poor little guy.

 

[Skudo09]

Some very good, valuable points have been raised to why goldfish should not be kept with axolotls. It seems like a common excuse people use to validate why it is ok to keep them together - nothing has happened yet... Never say never and it is just a matter of time or by sheer luck that nothing happens. Why gamble with the lives/welfare of these beautiful creatures?

 

[emilyw]

Second the notion that it's not a great idea. I tried and it didn't go so well. Lots of frill munches. Good luck with the tank!

 

[TallTree01]

I don't think goldfish should be kept with axolotls or any fish for that matter. There is a far greater chance of someone ending up grievously hurt than there is of a happy harmonious relationship.
Axolotls eat pretty much anything that moves and that they can catch. Goldfish eat everything they can find that isn't a rock. The axolotl and the goldfish are almost certain to eat one another.

Why anyone would want to risk it just for the sake of a ' cool looking fish-lizard thing ' or a ' bit more activity ' in their aquarium is beyond me. I think that both axolotls and goldfish should not be kept with anything else but their own kind.