I just read a very nice looking article from Wired awhile back featuring some geeky pets you might want to put into your home aquariums. Now, I must say that yes, all of them are pretty geeky, weird and funny-looking too, but after imagining them on my own aquarium, I would say that they are very beautiful to behold, and I would pretty much like to have one also.
Anyway, what really gripped me in the post is the presence of the Axolotl or the Mexican Walking Fish. I mean, wow! Well, that’s really an alien-looking amphibian and basing from the pictures, can really look great on well-maintained and well-cared for home aquariums. They don’t need land like some other pet amphibians and can be great attractions even with other fish swimming in your aquarium.
After searching for more information about Axolotls (I’m talking about Wikipedia here). I found out that they are already classified as exotic pets and their natural habitat in Mexico is already endangered of being spoiled by humans. Talk about bad news, right? However, they are still sold as pets for responsible fish owners throughout the whole world, and as a matter of fact, they even got a unique name for themselves in Japan. Just ask for wooper roper and you’ll get one.
Wikipedia and the Wired article also shares a bit of information on how to efficiently take care of an Axolotl. Quoting from the latter, the following is how you can take good care of one for your own home aquariums. Enjoy!
Axolotls live at temperatures of 14 °C (57 °F)-20 °C (68 °F), preferably 17 °C (63 °F)-18 °C (64 °F). Lower temperatures slow down their metabolism, although temperatures around 10 °C (50 °F) are a panacea when it comes to treating disease. Higher temperatures can lead to stress and increased appetite. Chlorine in tapwater is harmful to axolotls. A single typical axolotl typically requires a 10-US-gallon (38 l/8.3 imp gal) tank with around 150 millilitres (5.3 imp fl oz/5.1 US fl oz) of water. Axolotls spend a majority of the time on the bottom of the tank.
In laboratory colonies, adult axolotls are often housed three to a one gallon container, and water changes are performed more regularly. Salts, such as Holtfreter’s solution, are usually added to the water to prevent infection.
In captivity, axolotls eat a variety of readily available foods, including trout and salmon pellets, frozen or live bloodworms, earthworms, and waxworms.
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