So I'm new

[Sykres]

Hey! I don't own any reptiles or amphibians, but after seeing axolotls displayed at a local exotic pet store as "water dogs", my girlfriend and I became fascinated and started to do some research. We are now determined to raise our own. We have a tank and the supplies needed, but haven't had luck buying a creature yet (every time I e-mail someone, they are either sold out or don't respond). The store selling them near here has a few issues preventing us from buying from them: they stock irregularly, only sell wilds and didn't seem to know much about axolotls (meaning the animals could be of bad health in their care).

If I can make a good purchase, I'm sure Ill be sticking around the forum for tips and such

 

[Jennewt]

If they "only sell wilds", this makes me suspect that they are actually selling waterdogs, not axolotls. Waterdogs are the larvae of tiger salamanders, and they eventually go through metamorphosis to become land-dwelling salamanders.

Welcome! Hope you get all the tips you need!

 

[Sykres]

Ah, I had also read about tiger salamanders, but I never came across the term Water Dog, so I was never clear on whether or not the ones in the store were axolotls. Thanks for that.