Pining for its friend

[stevenwignet]

I rescued these two a few months ago http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...otls-been-poorly-looked-after.html#post438556

I was planning on getting them new homes, I separated the two and the white one started getting frustrated and staning up and looking out the side of the tub it was in, then started to get stressed and tail curled.

I placed the two back together and it nussled upto its friend and they went into the cave together all happy and his stress went away.

It seems like they are best of friends and cannot bear to be parted, it was quite sad to see it pining for his friend.

 

[officerPuckles]

Well they say that Axolotls like having friends and do better around tank mates! I have my Lotls separated currently because Brent has a swollen cloaca and I don't want him impregnating Puckles since she just laid a clutch two weeks ago. Brent misses her very dearly and has been in the same spot since I put him in the different tank. Puckles on the other hand is LOVING having the tank to herself and has been more active than I have seen her in months. I am going to have to invest in a clear tank divider so he can look at her up close until the babies are big enough so I can place a male in to live with him.

Very very cute how they are like people and long for company!

 

[Asevernnnn]

I don't really think that they have emotion like that, a well cared for axolotl that lives alone will do just as fine as one raised with others in the same tank, they're not like schooling fish

 

[LSuzuki]

Aaron, you are correct in that we really can't accurately determine their emotional state. Just because they cuddle together (mine do too) does not mean that they do it for company - maybe they just feel safer in a hiding-space made smaller by a companion's presence. Maybe they are more active with a companion because the companion is annoying them or because it is safer to move if other things are moving. But they definitely trigger our nurturing instincts when they do these things.

In fact, I wonder if we are selecting for these behaviors, since we are more likely to pay attention to (and give good care to) axolotls that trigger positive emotions?