Recomended newts/salamanders?

[lungfish]

Hi, I'm setting up a 5x2x2 aquarium for my newest and most prized fish, a Queensland Lungfish http://www.lungfishbreeders.com/
At the moment I'm trying to decide which way to go with this tank, i.e. full Australian river set-up or maybe a prehistoric/evolution themed tank and team the lungfish with things like hoplo http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/callicht/megalech/321_f.php and maybe a salamander.
I was wondering if any of you guys could suggest any large aquatic newts/salamanders that can live at temps above 20 degrees C. It would also need to be legally available to Australia. I don't want to get anything too small as lungfish have been known to eat small frogs when fully grown (15years old mine is now 2years). If I end up going the salamander route the tank will have half submerged driftwood and rocks. Floating plants are also planned. In 3-5years I will be moving the guys to a BIGGER tank.
Thanks in advance

 

[paris]

as far as i know the only legal salamanders in australia are axolotls. i would not recommend keeping them with the fish though-as you say the fish are known to eat other animals and the feet and gills of even a large adult axolotl will look like food.if this fish is small to start then the axolotl will probably try to eat it too.

 

[lungfish]

Thanks for the info. It would be a shame if the only legal ones were axolotls. The lungfish is still relatively small and VERY peaceful. This fish are well suited to community aquariums. I highly doubt that the fish I choose will bite of any limbs. As long as the salamander is larger than the fish’s mouth the fish won't even think about eating it. I've never had any missing fins on any of my fish in my 4 community tanks. I love setting up community aquariums, observing the interaction of different species. Thanks again.

 

[clarence]

lungfish might do well in community setups, but Axos don't. They's try to eat things bigger than they can possibly tackle (including catfish, rocks, thermometers, and fake plants).

if you want to keep an axolotl, be aware that the tank should be a one-species show (well, except for the occasional treat feederguppy).

 

[lungfish]

I kept axolotls some 15 years ago and found them quite aggressive towards each other. Those regenerating limbs really came in handy! Although I loved them dearly, I'm not all that interested in keeping them again. I'm just after something different and new for me. Having said that, I also want to point out that I only want what’s best for my tanks inhabitants so if there isn't any salamander that will live happily along side my lungfish (or vice versa) I'll just have to forget the idea.

 

[kaysie]

Most salamanders secrete toxins, which i wouldnt want to expose prize fish to anyway. And since you live in Australia, axolotls are your only choice for salamanders, none of which do well in a 'community' setting anyway. Move to the states!

 

[colin]

'I highly doubt that the fish I choose will bite of any limbs.'

Personally having kept South American lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa I cant imagine keeping it with anything at all that it didnt try to eat!!! I'm sure Aussie Lungs will be the same... and i dont imagine that a 5x2x2 will last too long either, can you keep them outside where you live?






Just out of interest.. where does the hoplo fit into things prehistoric/evolution? And most hoplos sold are personata rather than thoracata, well, on this side of the equator anyway

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(Message edited by colin on July 11, 2004)