Question for Axolotls and prior tankmates?

[Oceanpup]

Hi! I recently received a 55 gal aquarium with two lotls in it (Both about a year old) a couple days ago from a previous owner who couldn’t take care of them any longer. However, last night I saw some sort of spiny eel (I think a half-banded eel) coming into view last night in the substrate. After seeing the unexpected addition, I reached out to the owner to inquire about it and he said it’s been in there for 6 months with no issues and that he’s placed several critters in there (snails, betta fish, and guppies) throughout the year as well (I got the feeling that the prior owner did it as part of an experiment for finding potential tank mates).

However, as I’m a huge nerd when it comes to animal husbandry, literature and common sense are telling me that the current tank mates for the lotls are a huge no no for a multitude of reasons (spiny eels have venomous spines and are nocturnal, directly competing with the lotl’s eating habits?) on this forum and others alike, what do I do with this unintended addition? I get the feeling that it’s still there, being elusive as an accident waiting to happen or is that my paranoia? The last owner said it’s fine, but I don’t want to end up with a dead or injured lotl in the future. Attached below are the two the lotls (I believe one is a Lucy the male, and the other is a melanoid a female) and the weird skinny fish in question. Any advice on how to remove the skinny eel from the tank would be greatly appreciated as well! Thank you!

 

[ellarose]

You’re definitely correct that you need to remove the tank mate. I’m not sure what the previous owner was thinking pairing betta fish (prefer 78° water) with an axolotl. Very bizarre. If I were you I would set up a temporary, separate tank for the other fish. If you end up able and willing to care for him, great! But he definitely needs to get out of the axie tank ASAP.

 

[Oceanpup]

I’m closing this thread as everything has been situated now Thank you!

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

I’m closing this thread as everything has been situated now Thank you!

Okay! But before u go, what r u doing with the eel?

 

[Oceanpup]

Okay! But before u go, what r u doing with the eel?

I gave it away to my younger (he’s in college) brother . He’s been having a hard time due to family drama and since the half-banded spiny eel was super social during feedings in a smaller tank I thought it’d be a perfect match!

 

[Binditheaxolotl]

I gave it away to my younger (he’s in college) brother . He’s been having a hard time due to family drama and since the half-banded spiny eel was super social during feedings in a smaller tank I thought it’d be a perfect match!

Good idea! Seems like a perfect match as you said!