Question: Socialization

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jessicafennen

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I've come to find that many sites will say Axies need friends (after a certain age,) while other sites say Axies are just fine being alone. From your personal experiences, which is more true?
 
From my short experience I think they like me more than each other . One of mine comes to the surface for a head rub but just uses his siblings as couches laying all on top of them and nipping at them when they move . Mine are just youngsters though.
 
I don't think my two care whether they have each other or not... They are more interested in when I am going to feed them haha.
 
My personal opinion (not backed by any scientific fact) is that axolotls are fine as solitary creatures. They obviously feel compelled to breed when the opportunity arises, but I don't think that they feel "lonely" or otherwise in need of social companionship. I have raised one of my axolotls in complete solitude and he still reacts to feeding time the same way as the others and has never shown signs of being overly stressed. Most people who think that axolotls need social interaction are the same people that have problems cutting worms in half before submerging them in water and feeding them to another creature (an axolotl) anyways. In the wild axolotls might live in close proximity to each other but it does not mean that they have feelings for or attachment to one another. On an instinctual level they want to be around their same kind for breeding purposes, but anyone who says that axolotls are "social creatures" or that they "need" to be around others of their own kind are just anthropomorphizing their axolotls and are not basing their opinions on reality. Rant complete :D
 
If a pair are together will one be aggressive or dominant to the other? I ask because in the next few months I have the intention of adding an axolotl to my animal family and I want to make sure I'm not going to make any mistakes.
 
No unless it's for food and they all think there the alpha at feeding time. I heard them quoted as " stomachs with a cute smile" and I'd have to say they are correct. Mine do have a "personality" but it's usually just at feeding time .and as far as anthropomorphism I agree people do that with not just axolotls but with every animal they keep as pets
 
So basically what I've gathered is I would be ok with 1 or 2 in terms of social behavior? Ok thanks :)
 
Yes single or multiple is fine just as long as there roughly the same size
 
I would just like to add that the tank should also be a good size for 2 and that there's at least 1 hide for each and usually people have an extra so they aren't always in each other's space all the time, some may like/need alone time sometimes! :)
 
For one yes I personally prefer a 20long since it has a larger foot print and axolotls need more floor space than height . A perfect axolotl tank would be like 15" high square to maximize foot print but there are very few tanks with these specs.. So the longer and wider the better height is of less importance. Some turtle tanks are similar to these specs.
 
I just purchased a 20 long! I'll probably just get one axolotl since these posts say they're fine on their own. Thanks you guys have been great :)
 
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