Ask An Expert
Mexican Walking Fish
1st April, 2008
By Jennifer 'The Pet Company'
Mexican walking fish (Axolotls) are fascinating creatures, looking and often acting like miniature prehistoric monsters. They can grow up to 30cm in size. Axolotls are the beginning stage of a salamander and have been known to metamorphosis (similar to a tadpole changing into a frog) and change to an air breathing, land dwelling, salamander, but it seems they have lost the ability to metamorphosise any more and keeping an axolotl out of water for a period of time can actually kill them.
Mexican walking fish come in various colours, including dark brown, black, olive, golden and albino forms, (which have bright pink gills).
The name walking fish refers to the animal's habit of walking whilst under water. They should not be removed from their aquarium and forced to crawl on land, as they cannot breathe out of water and you may damage their skin or gills.
Housing
Axolotls are best housed in conditions similar to goldfish, as their water requirements are very much the same. They prefer a cool environment ranging between 12 - 24o. An aquarium 60 x 30 x 30 will comfortably house a full grown pair of axolotls. The tank should be aerated and filtered. As axolotls extract oxygen from the water through their gills, and the quality and clarity of the water is important for their well being. The PH of their water should be kept about 7.0 and do not run lights for an extended period of time, 6 hours in a 24 hour period is plenty. For any assistance with cleaning your axolotl tank see the acticle on tank cleaning listed under 'Ask an Expert'.
Feeding
In the aquarium, it is important axolotls receive a variety of foods. Frozen foods such as bloodworm, beef heart and liver can be offered, so to can axolotl pellets but make sure you remove them if they don't eat them or they can pollute the water. Meal worms or earthworms are another favourite of these guys. Feeding every second day is usually sufficient. If you find your axolotls are refusing to eat drop the temperature as quickly as possible but do not let the water get below 10o C . They prefer eating at dust and can even be trained to eat from your hand, but always remember to remove uneaten food if not taken after an hour of feeding.
Breeding
Male and female axolotls are not difficult to differentiate when sexually mature, which is at about 12 months of age. The male shows a swelling around the cloaca area (the genital area) between the back legs Males have a longer tail and the head is narrower. The female lays between 300 to 1000 eggs on the leaves of elodea, when she spawns in early spring, Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks at a temperature of 14 - 18o C. Parents should be removed from the tank after spawning and young raised on live food. Newly hatched brine shrimp or sifted water flees (Daphnia) are quite suitable at first. Later they will take live black worms. Be careful other axolotls or fish will eat the eggs if not separated.
Compatibility
Large numbers of axolotls can be kept together providing there is plenty of tank space and it is important to provide plenty of hiding places, rocks, plants and ornaments are suitable, individuals may attach others in the tank if sufficient shelters are not provided. You will find that in the event of a limb or portion of the animal is bitten off, it will regenerate. The damaged individuals are best isolated and given extra food and attention melafix helps heal wounds in axolotls and the regeneration process is sped up by dropping the temperature. Axolotls have a large wide mouth, well adapted for preying on fish, and therefore fish should not be kept in the same aquarium as they may get eaten, in some cases small fish have also been known to pick at the gills on the walking fish and there ability to breathe is minimised so be very careful if you want to mix fish with them.
Life span
Given the right conditions, your axolotls should give you 10 - 15 years of enjoyment. They are certainly one of the world's most interesting creatures.
If you are having problems with your Mexican Walking Fish and need some extra help or advice you can contact the experienced staff at support@theaquariumcompany.com.au .
POSTED BY: Jennifer Hilker
Aquarium Expert
'The Pet Company'