Pet store

[nickolas]

at my local pet store they have two axies held in a really small tank with no plants or anything, they have really short gills and they have white spots all down there tails, i overheared the owner saying that the axies dont like to have plants with them in the tank. is that correct or have these people got it all wrong.

 

[andrew]

This petshop clearly has no idea.

DO NOT LISTEN TO A WORD THE PETSHOPS HAVE TO SAY.

If you have any questions about axies this is the place to be. It has been a hot debate topic lately as to how much damage pet stores can do with their misleading information. I myself was a victim once!

So please if you intend to buy an axolotl, read up on some of the old posts particularly the ones on substrate, medications and water quality/cyling. If you do this you cant go wrong.

 

[joan]

I also recommend not buying their axolotls, especially if they have white spots all over. That's probably not a good sign. Most people make the mistake of doing 'pet shop rescue' (I've done this myself a time or two), thinking they can bring an animal home and rehabilitate it. This is detrimental to both you (money, time spent rehabilitating it), and to the axolotls, as when you buy one, the pet shop gets more to replace it, throwing them in the cruddy conditions. It's really kind of harsh, but to save the others, you have to sacrifice the one.

 

[rheann]

Nickolas, welcome to the forum

Please take time to visit www.axolotls.org if you haven't had a chance to yet. There is heaps of information as this site about axolotls.

Plants are totally safe to keep with axolotls! But some plants also may end up getting shredded by the axolotls if they are delicate. Others can stand abuse. Axolotls do not like a lot of light, but if they are used to some light, they can tolerate it if you put some floating plants at the top like duckweed or crystal wart to shield out large portions of light.

My tank has lots of duckweed covering the top. I have a nice big cave for my Axolotls to hide in, and also a shady tree root, but my Axolotls tend to most of the time hang out in the open as pictured even with my lights on. My guess is the duckweed really helps

And I also agree I wouldn’t get a sick Axolotl from the pet shop. I rescued the gold one pictured, and she had anchor worms and gravel in her stomach. She would bleed trying to push the gravel rocks through his system, and he would rarely eat. After a few weeks she dramatically improved so much that she eats very well, loves to swim and is very active now

Where abouts do you live? If you live in the united states, Michael Shrom visits the forum, and he usually has Axolotls for sale, or you can try to order some from http://www.wardsci.com/Product.asp_Q_cm_E_1_A_pn_E_878252

They should still have some in stock from the axolotl colony, but I am not sure on that. Good luck!

 

[nickolas]

my axolotl is doing good but it's just sad to see the ones in the pet store, my tank has a cave to hide in and some plants just randolmy around the place.

 

[sharn]

it could have been a golden albino? the white spots would have been natural pigementation though.