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rheann
Guest
I just filled out the order form for the pellets from the Indiana University Axolotl Colony web page, and I will mail it off tomorrow, and I will also pick up the worms tomorrow. Thanks again so much guys
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Axolotls are illegal in California. Please read this thread for detailed information and links to the actual laws: https://www.caudata.org/threads/axolotls-are-illegal-in-california-here-are-the-relevant-laws.30779/
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joan
Guest
freeze dried foods are nutritionally void. Don't buy them. Most axolotls refuse them anyway. Bloodworms are good, earthworms are best. If he's really small, try to find blackworms (these are live and all squirmy, but they're a good food, and aquatic, so they'll live in his tank without fouling the water). Red wigglers are okay, but do release a chemical to their skin when harassed that make them taste bad (and smell bad!). I suggest teaching him to eat from a bowl or something as early as possible, as mine are now adults, and having been hand-fed their whole life refuse to hunt for their own food.
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rheann
Guest
Thanks Joan! I will stay away from freeze dried foods, as for blackworms......eww i'll just have to face them
lol. I'll look at local pet stores for them. The earth worms I will look at walmart for, but will the worms at walmart carry chemicals or harm my axie in anyway? I have been looking over the net for worm farms in Sacramento and don't seem to have much luck, so walmart is my best bet. There is a tackle shop here that has them, will these be safe? My husband dropped the mail form off in the mail this morning, so hopefully I will have my pellets soon. My little guy seems to be doing pretty good today
he was free hanging at the surface for a bit, then swam his usual laps, as they may seem 
When I went up to the tank, he swam right up next to the glass to look at me and just stared at me, it was so cute! Seeing them in pictures is one thing, and cute, having them in person is a whole different experience and it's really something pretty neat
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When I went up to the tank, he swam right up next to the glass to look at me and just stared at me, it was so cute! Seeing them in pictures is one thing, and cute, having them in person is a whole different experience and it's really something pretty neat
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grant
Guest
Walmarts worms should be fine they are from a wormfarm and are sold for fishing bait but they work. I tried frozen food with my axie and he refuses it. And I wouldn't try brine shrimp because they are to small for juvenile axies. How big is your axie? Mine is 5 inches and can't see brine shrimp (or at least he doesn't eat them).
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joan
Guest
The best way to find out if worms are safe is to just ask. Sometimes the farms will use soap to harvest their worms. Spray on soap, worms come to surface. I get mine from the gas station. I've never had a problem.
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rheann
Guest
Thank you Grant, thank you Joan, I think My axie is around 4 inches, can't get him to hold still to measure him properly, he loves to walk around on the bottom and swim. I am excited to get the worms
I am going out in a few minutes and get them. If anyone has anymore advise, I'm all ears! Looking forward to getting his new food
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rheann
Guest
My axie loves the earth worms! I purchased the small ones at Walmart, and cut the tail off one and chopped it up, and fed it in two pieces to him, and he just gobbled it up! I placed the first piece in front of his face with my hands, and I didn't hardly have time to place it there and he gobbled it up! the second piece I placed on the sand near to the front of him and he smelled it, and scrambled forward and snapped it up, but both peices were rather difficult for him to grip as they kept trying to squirm from his mouth and he has to snap them up quickly. Is once a day feeding ok, or should I feed him twice a day? so far, I am feeding him twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the early evening.
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joan
Guest
Congrats! Isn't it awesome? They're like little slimy sharks! Once a day is fine for a 4" baby. I remember when mine were that small... It seems like only yesterday... They grow up so fast!
On a side note: I'd suggest that you put the food on the sand and let him find it instead of handfeeding. I wish I'd have done this in the first place. Mine are spoiled and won't hunt for their food. That way if you ever have to go on vacation or something, and have a neighbor/friend feed them, they can just drop the worm in instead of having to hand-feed it.
On a side note: I'd suggest that you put the food on the sand and let him find it instead of handfeeding. I wish I'd have done this in the first place. Mine are spoiled and won't hunt for their food. That way if you ever have to go on vacation or something, and have a neighbor/friend feed them, they can just drop the worm in instead of having to hand-feed it.
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rheann
Guest
Thanks Joan
I will drop the worm on the sand more often so he can find it on his own, and I'll feed him once a day in the mornings. Thanks also everyone for all your help!
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cynthia
Guest
I think it depends on how much you feed them. I still feed my 5" axolotls twice day.
They have finally mastered eating a small worm whole so I don't have to cut them up anymore (yea!).
I give them each a small worm in the morning and at night they get another small worm or the soft salmon pellets.
They are growing so fast at this age I don't think feeding them twice a day is bad as long as you don't over feed them at each feeding.
They have finally mastered eating a small worm whole so I don't have to cut them up anymore (yea!).
I give them each a small worm in the morning and at night they get another small worm or the soft salmon pellets.
They are growing so fast at this age I don't think feeding them twice a day is bad as long as you don't over feed them at each feeding.
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rheann
Guest
Thanks Cynthia
I am now just feeding her once in the morning, and once in the evening, she is very hungry at both feedings. I drop the worm pieces in the tank near her but not in front of her, to give her an opportunity to find it herself, and she quickly finds them
Yesterday night I watch her slowly sneak up the piece as it was still wriggling, caught it in her mouth, spat it out and head butted it a couple of times, sat on it, head butted it again, then ate it. Do Axies play with their food, or is she trying to tenderize it? Lol, she doesn't always do this I have seen him do it once and its funny. I am starting to think actually that my axie is a female, because she is more round than long, and stubby and she has grown. I am happy to say she seems to always be hungry and active and likes to watch us a lot.
at what age months/year(s) should she be full grown and how fast on average do axies grow? I haven't had her that long, and it would seem to me that she is bigger! I love her to bits
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joan
Guest
I couldn't tell the sex of mine until they were over 6" long. The roundness doesn't come into consideration until they're adults carrying eggs. Around 7 or 8" is usually adult. They'll stop growing and you'll notice either the male cloaca develop, or the female get plumper with eggs. They grow fast. Mine grew an inch a month for a few months.
The worm thing's pretty funny. She was probably just testing it out, making sure it was food.
The worm thing's pretty funny. She was probably just testing it out, making sure it was food.
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rheann
Guest
lol thank you Joan
When I first got her, she was fed by the store regularly, but she looked a little thin, so since I brought her home, perhaps its me that made her fat lol. I love her so much, the worm thing was sooo funny! It was so cute! I wish that I had a video camera, I would have taped it and tried to post it if I was able to, or emailed it to everyone if I was able to. I've gotten into the habbit of calling her a HER, and still haven't given a name perminently yet. She swims a LOT, and swims laps it would seem. is this normal? My water seems fine, and a lot of the time she just lays at the bottom staring at us (probably wondering if we're going to feed her lol)she looks very healthy, no signs of any problems, i did notice that she has a lot of gold specks on her gills and a few on her sides, its really pretty, and she's gotten darker, and her spots got darker. She doesn't want to hide either, she wants to be out so she can watch us and swim. I can't wait to get some little friends for her so they all can interact and not be lonely. Thanks again!
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joan
Guest
My one wildtype looks like someone rolled him in gold leaf when the light hits him right. It's very beautiful. Mine swam a lot up until 5 or 6", when they started settling down. But occasionally they'll still go for a leisurely lap around the tank. They're amazing animals. I love watching mine. That's why I have them right next to my bed. Maybe when I move this fall, I can talk my boyfriend into making them the headboard although... this will make water changes awkward...
although... this will make water changes awkward...
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grant
Guest
Hey if you are wondering about sexes, you might want to check this out really quick. On the bottom of the page they have a picture of an adult male/female. Well here it is: http://www.axolotl.org/biology.htm
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rheann
Guest
Thank you grant
I hope soon to tell for sure.
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grant
Guest
Okay and let me know if you can't get the axies you want from the guy I told you to talk to, because I will go in and talk to him and get em for you. Oh and the way they order you don't have to buy it if you don't want to, but if you end up not taking it I will lol. But they will be about 25-30 dollars each.
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rheann
Guest
Lol Thank you so much grant
I am looking forward to calling them on Tuesday. But for now, I am hoping the worm problem thingy I am having gets settled. I posted in the Axie Sick Forum.