Suitable Axolotl Tankmates

Johnjay, why don't you go pick up some frogs from the petstore and put them in the tank with your axolotls. Why ask advice if you're not interested in the answers?
 
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Looking up care sheets on ACF;
*A tank with a secure fitting lid, filter, and sand/large river rock substrate or a bare bottom.
*Make sure there is space between the water surface and the lid - these frogs breath oxygen through respiration!
*When adults - temperatures between 70 -75*F are best.* However, they seem to do well as long as the temperatures stay between 65*F and 80* F.
*They need lots of hiding places!!! Shy by nature, they do become very social in a tank...yet if they become startled they need adequate cover or they can become stressed to the point of death!

I honestly see nothing about the water level needing to be 7"-10" on any of these care sheets. I also see nothing that is all that different from Axolotls except for the temperature, which overlaps.
So where does the non-optimal living arrangement come into play? Again, not doing it but I genuinely want to know more about this, I want to learn more about these creatures and exactly why it's not okay other than the "because I said so" that I've been getting over and over again in this thread.
 
Optimal temp for axolotls is 16-18c, optimal temp for acf is 20-25c. Mixing species carries no benefits to either but does entail certain risks. Acf have claws on their hind legs, they have been recorded cutting fish badly with them, a soft bodied axolotl could potentially be seriously hurt by one. Axolotls will often remove limbs from tank mates, axolotls regenerate, acf do not, the loss of a front limb would potentially effect the feeding of a frog as they shovel food into their mouths, the loss of a back limb would effect swimming. Why risk either of these scenarios plus keep both species in suboptimal conditions ? As I said in my first post, some people keep these species together with no probs, it is how ever a risk I don't choose to take and I have plenty of experience with both species.
 
If you are looking for someone to say that mixing ACF and axolotls would not be risky, you are probably not going to receive that answer here, or on certain frog forums or on the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center site....in fact, you will find the same responses.

There is a general rule of thumb that is followed by most and that is unless documented that it is safe, species mixing of caudates with other animals can and often does result in disastrous results and should be avoided....for the sake of both species. Members have shared their concerns regarding potential gill-nipping, potential pathogen exchange, water temperatures and levels, potential aggressive behaviors, etc.

You have been advised by at least one experienced member who keeps both species that it would not be advisable to mix. This is based on actual experience, not on a care sheet he read.

If you are willing to assume the risk, that is your decision and I wish you well. If you are asking for an endorsement here,,, you are most likely looking in the wrong place.
 
'Evidence and statistics'. In this case, there are no papers on this topic as the answer is obvious (I did a check of the journals I can access through my institution). What evidence exists is based on observations by experts, such as those on this forum.

(BUT feel free to do whatever statistical analysis you wish on your own observations with frogs and axolotls in the same tank.)

What happens if you put a tiger in a cage with a cheetah? No one will study it because the answer is clear and not worth writing about. xxianxx has beautifully highlighted the problems mentioned before, but which you have not been reading in the previous posts. My last contribution to the issue!
 
xxianxx said:
Optimal temp for axolotls is 16-18c, optimal temp for acf is 20-25c. Mixing species carries no benefits to either but does entail certain risks. Acf have claws on their hind legs, they have been recorded cutting fish badly with them, a soft bodied axolotl could potentially be seriously hurt by one. Axolotls will often remove limbs from tank mates, axolotls regenerate, acf do not, the loss of a front limb would potentially effect the feeding of a frog as they shovel food into their mouths, the loss of a back limb would effect swimming. Why risk either of these scenarios plus keep both species in suboptimal conditions ? As I said in my first post, some people keep these species together with no probs, it is how ever a risk I don't choose to take and I have plenty of experience with both species.
Click to expand...

Finally a real answer with some actual logic and thought in it. Thank you, the chance of a lost ACF limb is a serious issue, and good reason to not put them together.

'Evidence and statistics'. In this case, there are no papers on this topic as the answer is obvious (I did a check of the journals I can access through my institution). What evidence exists is based on observations by experts, such as those on this forum.

(BUT feel free to do whatever statistical analysis you wish on your own observations with frogs and axolotls in the same tank.)

What happens if you put a tiger in a cage with a cheetah? No one will study it because the answer is clear and not worth writing about. xxianxx has beautifully highlighted the problems mentioned before, but which you have not been reading in the previous posts. My last contribution to the issue!
Click to expand...

A tiger and a cheetah are not nearly the same scenario as an axolotl and a frog. You have not given any legitimate reasoning or explanations to any of your opinions on the matter, that's not my fault. The person above described precisely why it's not healthy to keep them together and explained the issues involved.
 
Sweetie said:
Well, obviously!! What's your point?
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Somebody said that acf carry chytrid which could kill axolotl tank mates. I merely pointed out that axolotls are potential carriers of the fungus as well. Also its not obvious unless you know, its not innate knowledge, it is learnt, a bit like the number of exclaimation marks which should be used at the end of a sentence.....
 
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