What are they?

Where do they come from?

Axolotls are found only in Mexico they are critically endangered due to the pollution from Mexico City into the lakes

‘Morphing’

The Axolotl is a “perennibranchiate” salamander (it never loses its gills). But what happens when an axolotl decides to beat the odds and metamorphose any how?

It happens.

And what about the fact that many hobbyists who are interested in axolotls also keep tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum* and Ambystoma mavortium spp.*) Metamorphosed axolotls (also known as “transformed” or “terrestrial” axolotls), such as the leucistic axolotl in the photo to the right and the wild type axolotl below left, require the same care as tiger salamanders.

Do not attempt to start a metamorphosis on your Anxolotl, you could kill it trying or if it is forced it will only live for two years.

Read more here: http://www.axolotl.org/tiger_salamander.htm

Natural Habitat

Lakes in Mexico, the Wild Axolotl is only found in this country.

Breeding

Axolotls do not communicate at all, even for breeding purposes.

an Axolotl can lay up to 1000 eggs, at any one time, and does not have to wait long to lay again, but the process causes great strain and should be kept away from males for preferably three months.

Axolotls can reach sexual maturity anywhere between 5 months and several years, depending on frequency and quality of food, and the water temperature and conditions in which the animals are kept.

Axolotls generally begin to mature once they have reached about 18 cm (7 inches) in total length. Females tend to take a little longer to mature than males (usually a difference of a month or two). The Biology Page has a great deal of information about sexing axolotls and their sexual maturity.

It is advisable that you don’t attempt to breed axolotls until they reach at least 18 months of age.

This gives them time to reach their full size (greater than 30 cm or 12 inches in many cases) and condition (a female ready to breed will be very round towards the end of the body when viewed from above).

one opinion is, is it is safe to breed males at an earlier stage than females, because they have much less physical output during the mating process than females, and therefore there is less strain on their bodies.

However, females should be prevented from breeding until they reach their full size.

There is a very good reason for not breeding your female axolotl(s) too early.

A female axolotl can lay in excess of 1000 eggs. Producing so many eggs is a strain on the animal’s metabolism, and the body prioritises production of eggs over body growth while the animal is in conditions suitable for breeding. Since females may breed several times each year, as soon as the first batch of eggs are laid, the body attempts to produce new eggs to replace those that have been laid. Female axolotls may fall ill at this point unless due care is taken, and for a female that is still growing in length, the strain is increased. For the same reason, females that have recently bred should be kept away from males for at least a month, preferably two or three, in order for them to recover.

this information was found here

http://www.axolotl.org/breeding.htm

Regeneration

 

Animal Cruelty (including live feeding)

This is just my opinion , I am not a lawyer and it is how I interpret the Act of Parliament.

It is not illegal to live feed.

It is Illegal to cause un-nessercary Suffering.

The morality of live feeding is up to debate by the <sarcasm>”lentil knitting brigade” </sarcasm> so called as we don’t (yet) see them complaining about other animals in the wild being stopped for “live feeding”. The argument will be put that “animals in the wild have a chance to escape” so logically if there are places to hide for the fish, then live feeding is fine.

However, live feeding can also cause injury to the Axolotl. E.g. the fish nibbling at its gills for instance.

So, it is down to morality, by logic if it is wrong to live feed them, surely it is wrong to incarcerate Axolotls in an Aquarium?  the argument cannot be used both ways.

The law – (UK)

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents

Most people cite the following section as their reasoning for saying live feeding is “illegal”.

However, i believe that most people do not read the whole act, (or any information) but skim until they find something that fits their “opinion”.

(i have been guilty in the past of this, but recognise the failure and have corrected (hopefully) this.

Section 4 Unnecessary suffering

(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) an act of his, or a failure of his to act, causes an animal to suffer,

(b) he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the act, or failure to act, would have that effect or be likely to do so,

(c) the animal is a protected animal, and

(d) the suffering is unnecessary.

(2)A person commits an offence if—

(a) he is responsible for an animal,

(b) an act, or failure to act, of another person causes the animal to suffer,

(c)he permitted that to happen or failed to take such steps (whether by way of supervising the other person or otherwise) as were reasonable in all the circumstances to prevent that happening, and

(d)the suffering is unnecessary.

(3)The considerations to which it is relevant to have regard when determining for the purposes of this section whether suffering is unnecessary include—

(a)whether the suffering could reasonably have been avoided or reduced;

(b)whether the conduct which caused the suffering was in compliance with any relevant enactment or any relevant provisions of a licence or code of practice issued under an enactment;

(c)whether the conduct which caused the suffering was for a legitimate purpose, such as—

(i)the purpose of benefiting the animal, or

(ii)the purpose of protecting a person, property or another animal;

(d)whether the suffering was proportionate to the purpose of the conduct concerned;

(e)whether the conduct concerned was in all the circumstances that of a reasonably competent and humane person.

(4)Nothing in this section applies to the destruction of an animal in an appropriate and humane manner.

Section 3 however says:

3 Responsibility for animals (Ed: notice animals not fish?)

(1) In this Act, references to a person responsible for an animal are to a person responsible for an animal whether on a permanent or temporary basis.

(2) In this Act, references to being responsible for an animal include being in charge of it.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, a person who owns an animal shall always be regarded as being a person who is responsible for it.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be treated as responsible for any animal for which a person under the age of 16 years of whom he has actual care and control is responsible.

still not clear? i find it as clear as mud!

Section one however, is a little more clearer… i think…

1 Animals to which the Act applies

(1) In this Act, except subsections (4) and (5), “animal” means a vertebrate other than man.

(2) Nothing in this Act applies to an animal while it is in its foetal or embryonic form.

(3) The appropriate national authority may by regulations for all or any of the purposes of this Act—

(a) extend the definition of “animal” so as to include invertebrates of any description;

(b) make provision in lieu of subsection (2) as respects any invertebrates included in the definition of “animal”;

(c) amend subsection (2) to extend the application of this Act to an animal from such earlier stage of its development as may be specified in the regulations.

(4) The power under subsection (3)(a) or (c) may only be exercised if the appropriate national authority is satisfied, on the basis of scientific evidence, that animals of the kind concerned are capable of experiencing pain or suffering.

(5) In this section, “vertebrate” means any animal of the Sub-phylum Vertebrata of the Phylum Chordata and “invertebrate” means any animal not of that Sub-phylum.

• invertebrates – meaning worms, bugs, bees, flies, spider, crabs etc.
• (4) The power under subsection (3)(a) or (c) may only be exercised if the appropriate national authority is satisfied, on the basis of scientific evidence, that animals of the kind concerned are capable of experiencing pain or suffering. – do fish feel pain, this link to the Smithsonian , dated January 8th 2018, shows that proof has been discovered that fish feel pain, however, questions will they {fish} have the same protections as land animals?
• In this section, “vertebrate” means any animal of the Sub-phylum Vertebrata of the Phylum Chordata – the only information leads to the meaning of  “tetrapod“, teatrpod from what i have seen does not include fish.

– 1/3/2018

I decided to contact the RSPCA to see whether they would comment on whether the animal welfare act covered Fish and other live feeds, however to me it seems it doesn’t cover fish, does cover mice etc.

the question is will it in the future?

I believe that all animals and plants (proven) feel some sort of pain, not necessarily human style pain, but pain none the less.

That said, you are responsible for the suffering of the axolotl (i feel and you need to be aware that “Cruelty can happen in other ways though, such as fish attacking the Axolotl, Axolotls attacking each other, usually due to the fact they are short sighted and hungry… feed your Axis well.”

You do have an obligation to prevent unnecessary suffering.

By not feeding them, that is causing them to suffer.

but, what is covered?

Do not have more than you can look after, and take care of them.

Difficulty to look after (1 = Easy and 10 = hard) – – 8- –

You have to have a routine with Axolotls.  I use spreadsheets to remind me when they need feeding, and when not, what the water test result are, when water changes are done etc.

Although with feeding the Axolotl can be “trained” to ask when to be fed (will take 2-3 days of watching the axolotl).

If you have two (or more) Axolotls together, watch for tail (or other) damage, this could be due to the Axis being hungry and fighting over food. or just trying to eat each other.

Good sites to frequent

• http://www.axolotl.org/
• https://www.caudata.org/

just remember forums are filled with people that KNOW they know everything.

 

Rule of thumb…  if you see it on a site check another three and see what they say. Zoo sites are also good to check out.