It can indeed be very interesting to keep rare aquatic pets like turtles and axolotls but, of course, come the questions of housing the same. For example, can a turtle be kept with an axolotl? Although the former is an unusual creature possessing its own appeal along with the latter, having both together is a highly debatable topic that indeed requires a deep understanding into the needs, behaviors and habitats of the two.
Understanding Axolotls
Axolotls are otherwise known as the "Mexican walking fish," but in the real sense, it is an aquatic salamander. Axolotls are said to be highly sensitive and do best only under especially special conditions: only temperatures lower than cool, relatively dimly lit, and almost deathly silent. They are carnivorous by nature and require some small pieces of live or frozen food to survive. For example, in feeding list: there is worm and brine shrimp.
They possess soft sensitive and porous external skin on the outside accompanied by a pair of branchial external gills. This has made them even prone to the slight change in their environment as well as susceptible to wounds. Axolotls do not have that sense of living in groups, that way they are reclusive, this way the species may become ideal companions with a few others in an aquarium.
Understanding Turtles
Turtles are a species of reptile with hard shells and sharp claws. Much stronger than axolotls, they feed widely depending on the species to which they belong: while some feed on plants and other species are carnivorous; they feed on live animals for food. Turtles can become aggressive when confined but do not have a keen nature of inquisitiveness.
Key Differences in Habitat Requirements
In addition to these, turtles require warmer temperatures in water and basking sites; all of these are very contrasting requirements compared to the cool, fully aquatic one preferred by axolotls.
Habitat Requirements: The primary reasons that make it challenging to have an axolotl together with a turtle are its habitat requirements.
Water Temperature: Axolotls prefer 60°F to 64°F (15°C to 18°C), whereas turtles require warmer water and usually between 75°F to 80°F (24°C to 27°C). So it becomes quite tough to create one environment that would be ideal for both.
Tank Setup: Turtles require some basking spot where they could rest as well as dry themselves while axolotls must be in an entirely aquatic environment with places to hide and slow moving water.
Lighting: Axolotls are extremely sensitive to bright light, whereas turtles thrive under UVB lighting, thus ensuring healthy shells and generally good health.
Behavioral Problems
Even if you theoretically can provide them with everything they need to survive in their environment, their behaviors are mainly incompatible.
Turtles Aggression: Turtles are going to see axolotls as food or be curious enough to nuzzle their fragile limbs or gills.
Axolotls Sensitivity: Axolotls are also very sensitive to stress and injuries. It might be suffering from health issues due to a very active and aggressive tankmate like a turtle.
Health and Safety Risks
Keeping an axolotl in the same tank with a turtle entails a huge quantity of risks:
Harm: Axolotls will most likely die through the axolotl-damage hand-to-hand of a turtle caused by its very powerful jaws in addition to sharp claws.
Diseases: Salmonella-bacteria can be existing on the turtles, this might be harmful to axolotls. However diseases for turtles may kill axolotls since axolotls happen to have extremely weak immunities.
Different diet needs, the feeding characteristics; under-fed axolotls, while turtles are fed for themselves and consequently; axolotls can starve.
Tank Mate Options for Axolotls
Alternative companion if required are tankmates who particularly match the need for companionship of axolotls. The tank mate can be another axolotls which are exactly the same in size, though, even with this the requirement is not to be overlooked with the size of a large tank, sufficient quantity of hide, and an eye on their behavior every now and then to stop prospective stressing or aggression of axolotl
Conclusion
In short, this summarizes that it is not at all apt to house an axolotl and a turtle together since they both have real variable environmental needs, behaviors, and probable health risks. Really, both the species are pretty interesting individually and it should be maintained alone so that they can properly survive and grow for their different suited habitats. This should be treated this way for it to be good in the betterment of the two instead of trying to be compatible with one another.
FAQs
Yes, they can be kept together behind a divider; it is a very hard set-up though, as they will need different environmental conditions.
Can axolotls be housed with turtles?
They cannot be housed together; an axolotl's environment is quite different from that of a turtle.
What happens if an axolotl gets bitten by a turtle?
A turtle will severely injure an axolotl, and they are likely to either die or become infected. Vet treatment must be sought quickly.
Are axolotls stressy?
Yes, axolotls are sensitive animals. Stressed due to a variety of reasons: dirty water, incompatible tank mates, or significant change.
What size should be axolotl tank?
Axolotl alone is the tank size should not less than 20 gallons for each of them. More the better: more axolotls, bigger the tank, that they would have ample space, spots for hiding.