Hi

[dot]

Hi - I'm new to this forum. A little info about me before the questions: My name is Dot, I live in the CT in the US. After years of searching and researching, I recently acquired what I was informed was an axolotl, though I've come to realize she's not an axy, as she's morphing now into a Tiger Salamander. She (Ash) is situated in a 10 gallon tank with two goldfish. There's only 2 gallons of water with a little platform for her to sit on should she decide to come out of the water. (I was/am very unprepared to take care of a Tiger at the moment.)
Today, I received, as an early birthday present, two small, 3" axolotls. They're currently housed with a mid-sized plecostemus in a 10 gallon tank with a few plants and no gravel.
Questions:
- Should I remove the pleco until the axies are a little bigger? (Pleco is about twice the size of the axies.)
- Is it OK to feed them frozen brine shrimp? In your opinions, what is the best food?
Thanks

 

[katy]

the pleco is a fish right? if it's what i'm thinking, definitely remove it. regardless of what it is, axolotls should best be housed only with other axolotls of the same size, because their prone to having gills and limbs nibbled off - even by other, bigger axolotls.

brine shrimp are fine for small axolotls, but be careful to keep the water clean because they will foul the water really quickly. bloodworms and small earthworms are also very nutritious.

 

[dot]

Thanks for your help. I'd read that plecos/algae eaters and axolotls are OK together, but was uncertain, since my two axolotls are still tiny.

 

[paris]

ive had bad experiences with plecos attacking other fish in a community tank at work-i have never had them in with caudates but i did have some of the smaller 'harmless' generic algae eaters (a 2-3 inch longish fish) - i thought they were truely harmless till i found they had taken a liking to sucking the skin off my larval tigers. they went back to the shop the next day!

 

[dot]

When they were together, my pleco never bothered my larval tiger, but now that my tiger's going through metamorphosis, they've been separated. I guess I'll be sticking the pleco in the tub I've got my goldfish in ...

Thanks!

PS - Love the 'hawk!