General Discussion

[img]http://orig07.deviantart.net/379e/f/2014/253/d/f/arrow_left_by_drawn_mario-d7yqvjz.gif[/img]W E L C O M E!!! ------- [img]https://orig03.deviantart.net/bf85/f/2017/241/1/2/malachai_and_nova_by_rukawilliams-dbloyhf.jpg[/img] Malachai and Nova [center][u]Quick Axolotl Fact Section:[/u] (Skip ahead if you already know of Axolotls) For those of you who are unaware an Axolotl is a creature that is either extinct or near extinct in the wild, It is known as a Mexican salamander or a Mexican walking fish. They are neotenic salamanders. (Looks like a baby its whole life) Though they are a type of salamander they NEVER leave the water or they die. They live as long as 10 to 15 years! So expect to own them as long as a cat or a dog! You own one you have a commitment to weekly water changes and sometimes MONTHS of special care and treatment when they become sick. (My longest recorded time for a sick Axolotl is 6 months.) Though they are quite the hassle and expensive pet I find them VERY worth while![/center] [u]Now for a few fun facts if you don't already know![/u] [LIST] [*]Axolotls must be in water temperatures of 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit or 15.5-23.8 degrees Celsius [*]They are VERY tricky creatures to own as just stressing them out can KILL them [*]They are very picky eaters, they can refuse to eat if it isn't the usual food (at least mine are picky) [*]They are also very Fragile creatures, the simplest of changes can cause a train wreck of problems [*]They learn to recognize their owners and love to play and interact with you [*]They also require large amounts of space. A minimum of 20 GALLONS PER FISH, while most normal fish tanks the rule is 1 gallon per inch fish. [*]Some Axolotls have been known to grow up to a foot long, 9 inches on average [*]They can lay up to 1000 eggs at once! [*]Some can be born with a GFP gene allowing them to glow under Blacklight! [/LIST] ------- [img]http://orig07.deviantart.net/379e/f/2014/253/d/f/arrow_left_by_drawn_mario-d7yqvjz.gif[/img][u]My Axolotl Story:[/u] I have had a love for axolotls since the moment set my eyes on the cuties. Now you might say I jumped into the wondrous world of Axolotls WAY too quickly. As only 4 months after discovering them my boyfriend and his sister came across a clutch of 150 eggs, after lots of money, time, and effort 47 of the babies came out fine and healthy! As they knew I loved axolotls and aided in their hatching and growing process I got first pick of the hatchlings. The living hatchlings were either Leucistic, Albino, Leucistic GFP, and Albino GFP. I chose one of the smallest GFP albino as he was one of the babies I tended to the most, and I chose this small Leucistic who had gotten her tail stuck in the filter causing it to have a small bend. They had stuck my heart and I had absolutely fallen for the two siblings. They never left each others sides. After a few months all but one baby had been rehomed leading to my third axolotl. Just another normal Leucistic, I reintroduced him to my now flourishing babies making the three of them inseparable. Upon reaching adulthood I found out I had two males and one female, the female being a dirty Luecistic and being the only one of the hatchlings that had come out with such markings. One male being the Albino and the newest member being a male as well. Months later I had adopted a 4th axolotl from a pet store, a black melanoid, she was in much to small of a tank and was very thin and sickly. Getting her back to health was rather easy and it was smooth sailing, until I noticed some unusual behavior from Thorin. [center] . [u]Their names: [/u] Albino-Thorin Dirty Luci- Nova Luci- Malachai Black- Aurora Baby Malachai [img]https://orig11.deviantart.net/2135/f/2017/241/4/1/baby_malachai_by_rukawilliams-dblozcf.jpg[/img] [/center] [u]Albino Dwarf:[/u] (Now for the reason you all came here, the story of my beloved Dwarf Axolotl) Now this is where I started having problems... The biggest fear of a new Axolotl owner... I noticed that one of the siblings didn't eat as much, since they were raised hand fed after I brought them home I could monitor their appetites and it made them bond with me more. But my albino baby had stopped growing, the other two siblings just kept growing in size and having bigger appetites. I noticed Thorin appeared "chubby" or "Stubby" looking. This is when I took pictures and hopped on the internet. After hours of research and asking on axolotl and salamander forums I came across some devastating facts. Remember he was the baby I had been most attached to. This is when I had found out he was a dwarf. He was born with very rare genetic mutation that appears as dwarfism during their most important development stages. Dwarfism is also accompanied by several other health complications such as constipation, weak digestive system, small appetite, a bigger head and smaller body, more prone to fungal infections and sickness, and have a MUCH short life span only going to 3-5 years on average. With him also being albino he has a light sensitivity problem so only one side of the tank can be lit up at a time or it causes him to freak out and hide. Thorin is still my baby, he is still my favorite. He is a one in a billion, the chances of hatching a dwarf and them living through adolescence is 1/1,000,000 with the added albino and GFP gene making him a very special snowflake. I take as best care as I can of him, I struggle to keep healthy gills on the little guy. The longest he has ever spend in quarantine is 6 months when I had almost lost him to a horrible sickness and fungal problem. He had lost both of his front legs and most of his gills. It took 2 water changes a day and salt baths to help fight the infection, that effort for 6 months caused it to become almost routine. After making a full recovery from the infection, fungus, and lost limbs I introduced him back to his siblings who were absolutely ecstaticed to see him, once again not leaving Thorins side the trio had been complete again. However this was one of MANY battles to save his life. Over the course of a year he had gotten sick over a dozen times, from small to sometimes major sicknesses. I know he is a very strong willed little guy. He is always very active and loves being pet, having belly rubs, and doing small tricks for treats. He has quite the personality, one that I haven't seen from anyone else so far. He loves to swim for your attention until he gets it just like aurora and once he has your attention he begs until you put your hand in the tank where he will nip at your finger tips and sit in your hand as long as he can. He used to refuse to eat unless I was the one feeding him. Which made traveling difficult. He gets me very emotional when I think of how much time I have left. I know he doesn't have much longer to be around, a few years max if he can get over his current illness. . [center] Thorin, Nova, Malachai [img]https://orig11.deviantart.net/1fcf/f/2017/241/c/9/nova__thorin__and_malachai_by_rukawilliams-dblozht.jpg[/img] [img]https://orig07.deviantart.net/7e21/f/2017/241/d/c/blood_worms__by_rukawilliams-dbloyxc.jpg[/img][/center] [center]That is why I made this post, I wanted to share this special guys life with my fellow axolotl lovers. The ups, the downs, the happy, the sad, all of it will go here. This is the start of Thorin's journey across Flight Rising and hopefully across several axolotl pages when I have the time. I want to raise awareness and bring attention to those axolotls who fought to break the odds and are still fighting, I will be making continuous and hopefully daily updates on Thorin and this siblings lives. To slowly create his story until his final day. This is only part of his story so far, summed up into something short enough to catch a glimpse of the hardships him and several other dwarves face. If you wish to know more don't be afraid to ask. I'd be more than happy to fill you guys in on more of Thorins backstory and silly behavior as well as supply several photos. This is a safe place for all axolotl lovers to come and talk, ask questions, share their stories, post their pictures, and and most of all connect and create an axolotl corner of the community that we can all enjoy![/center] If you wish to be pinged in future updates please let me know! I would love to get all the support I can and hopefully let this topic blossom into a friendly gathering place. Spreading the word to other fellow axolotl lovers is always welcomed! A few pictures of Aurora since she was left out of the above pictures. [center][img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/3ee4/f/2017/241/d/2/hello_hooman_by_rukawilliams-dbloyxn.jpg[/img] [img]https://img07.deviantart.net/12a8/i/2017/241/1/0/untitled_by_rukawilliams-dbloz5t.jpg[/img] [img]https://img14.deviantart.net/7b1d/i/2017/241/7/1/untitled_by_rukawilliams-dbloz58.jpg[/img][/center] Pinglist: @TheFezonator @Luthyx @Spacebug @Ellapinky @Phloxy

PRECIOUS BOY

@TheFezonator Thank you, I actually just updated it a few seconds ago so more has been added if you wish to check it out.

There's some beautiful axolotls you have there. You must be proud. ^-^

@TheClassCalico Thank you so much

aaaaaah you didn't spell my username right, so I didn't get your ping :P no worries, though, i'd love to be added to a pinglist!! these are Cute Dudes

@TheFezonator sorry about that XD my bad, Ill go ahead and add you to the list!

Don't worry abt it!
I'd love to know though- how much does it cost to take care of these guys? I'd love my own little 'xolo, but I don't want to commit to something that's too expensive :v

cute , cute ,cute

@TheFezonator The cost to start is rather spendy because they are delicate creatures to an extent and certain things can harm them meaning higher quality or different brands are a necessary. Since they need to be in such cold temperatures they require a device called a water chiller which on its own costs anywhere from $200-$1,000 based on how long you want the chiller to last and its quality. Summers get VERY dangerous for those who don't own one. They find them selves with a VERY high power bill to keep the house cold enough for them or purchasing ice and putting it on the tank which isn't too sanitary. With both methods you end up spending the amount for a water chiller over the course of the summer so I find not buying one a waste of money since chillers last years while ice does not. One other thing that effects cost is the fact you cannot under any circumstances put aquarium gravel in the tank or rocks that are the size of 1/3 their body. The Axolotls WILL eat them which can cause blockage that kills several 'lotls a year unless you want to pay an expensive vet bill. (If you can even find a vet that works on exotic pets like hedgehogs, fish, etc.) So you have to buy sand which is MUCH more expensive than gravel. The rule of thumb is the tank has to have the same amount of sand as the tank does in gallons. 40 gallon=40 pounds sand which ads up quick and is a pain to clean. Some people go bare bottom but it doesn't provide a surface for the 'lotls to walk on or grip so they find themselves sitting around because moving becomes more of a hassle. They also are very sensitive to PH balances and mineral content so the rule of thumb are large river rocks/flagstone/concrete based decor if you want actual rocks in your tank because of minerals the bleed from the rock to the water. Then moving on to food and decor, the food isnt too expensive. I purchase Earthworms used for fishing and my axolotls love them. Sometimes I have to cut them if they are too big. But when buying you have to always check for dead worms. They cant be from outside because of parasites and pesticides that kill axi's so always buy them. I pay $4 every 3 weeks for night-crawlers/earthworms and $8 on bloodworms for treats. (Warning BloodWorms make your water SUPER dirty) Hides can be pretty spendy or pretty cheap depending on tank themes. Basically you need a safe place for an axolotl to hide away when it wants to be left alone. I have found 1 hide per 20 gallon in a tank is enough. so 3 for a 55 gallon and 2 for a 40 gallon. Then there is the cost of plants which vary. You also have to think of the cost of filter, what type of filter, the cost of a big enough tank. So on so forth, they are very high maintenance creatures and are for intermediate fish owners who have had a few years experience with fish or have someone who is experienced close at hand. Axolotls can ONLY be placed with other axolotls, they are very friendly and social creatures but can be cannibalistic. (Like my black melanoid Aurora) She was purchased at a pet store where she had to fight for food and be territorial so she has a hard time playing with the others nicely. Thats why she has her own 40 gallon tank. The price of axolotls vary, Aurora cost me $60 but her brother that my boyfriend purchased cost $90 because of his green eyes and toothless like appearance. I've seen some pretty mosaic and harlequin sell for $2000 from breeders. For example one like this: [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d1/48/75/d148759a689e43592461ca11721e7aa9--axolotl-emi.jpg[/img] [img]https://orig15.deviantart.net/b5ef/f/2017/241/e/b/untitled_by_rukawilliams-dblpaad.jpg[/img] ^^^^^ My boyfriend and I had a fight over that one because I almost purchased him...