Question: New axies, and mystery snail need help :)

[ThatNewGuy]

Ok so I just received my first two axies one albino and the other wildtype, they're still small (bout 2in) and I have some blood worms I was planning on feeding them, would that be ok? Also I have a mystery snail in my tank already (just one) he's big for a snail and I was wondering should I take him out or let him be? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong section!

 

[tammyaxie]

Blood worms are ok at this stage but start thinking of chopped earthworms soon. I would remove the snail because I'm anal like that....

 

[ThatNewGuy]

Haha haha thanks and where should I get earthworms from?? Also seriously bout the snail if it's gona be trouble for them then I'll remove it but if he isn't then I'd like to keep him as he has helped me with my tank cycle

 

[tammyaxie]

They are tiny now but grow quickly. When snail becomes snack sized, remove it. I don't know about how they affect the water quality and that's why I'd remove it. I buy my earthworms from the fishing section in Walmart. U can also buy them online or start your own farm. I have a tub of 74 live worms in my fridge right now. I wish I didn't live in an apartment so I could cultivate my farm away from food I actually have to eat
....

 

[ThatNewGuy]

Well the snail has been in there since I started my cycle, today I tested my water and everything is perfect so I don't think he'll do any damage but I guess it'll be better to remove him sooner, as for the earthworms how do you start a farm? I currently have a house gecko in a 10 gall and I dump bugs in there, pretty sure they rot in there, I aslo dump a small fruit in there for the bugs and for her, could I put earthworms in here?

 

[Sweetie]

Your problem with lotls is that anything that fits in their mouth will probably end up in their mouth. Hence the snail could be in trouble. And may not go down well with the axie. So caution is the best approach. Remove the snail. And find the earthworms. Your lotls will love you for it (and watching them wrestle the live worms may be the best entertainment you'll get all day). Enjoy.

 

[GalLuvsAxolotls]

One of the main reasons is already stated, the axoltol will try to eat the snail at some point. Go down to the third row of images and you will see one such incident!

Caudata Culture Articles - Species Mixing Disasters

 

[xxianxx]

That link is probably the only bit of proof online which "proves" snails are bad. Its a one off occurance and probably means apple snails should be avoided rather than snails in general. Axolotls eat snails, they are designed by nature to do so. I have raised hundreds of axolotls with hundreds of snails and have had zero problems. Check the link out, make your own mind up on this issue
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...general-discussion/87586-snails-axolotls.html

 

[ThatNewGuy]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I've read both links and I am happy to say that my mystery snail is too big for my axies and that my axies head is to big for it to fit in a snail hole (the opening to the shell) so I will be leaving him till my axies are big enough to eat him, once I see their head bigger or just as big as the snail I'll make sure to remove him and take him back I can't express how much help both links where, thank you so much