Mudkips / Axolotls

Since I have a "spare" tank now, which I will take some time to clean up (polish the scratches etc) I was wondering if these are an option at all.

Do we even get them in South Africa (Legally) ?

Lifespan?


I'm busy scouring the internet, and will probably find most of the answers soon, but figured I would post and ask anyway.

 

we do get them, a number of lps stocks them

 

Axolotols are illegal. They're endangered and on the CITES list

 

I know they are endangered in the wild from what I've read, but I was under the impression in captivity they are bred freely.

I only know so many LPS's in Cape Town.

Care to share?

 

where are you located?

 

Pity you in CT I am giving mine away

 

How so?

 

Well if you were in JHB you could have mine

 

It's best that you avoid these guys, and for good reasons.

1) They're on the blacklist. I'm not going to say this without purpose though. As mentioned, yes, they're endangered in the wild. One reason that they're on our blacklist is to put less demand on the wild stocks; I do believe our current blacklist was compiled before Axolotls were bred in any signifcant numbers for the hobby.
The second reason that they're illegal is because they have a decent chance of surviving in the wild in South Africa.

2) They're a temperate species, not tropical. This means that you'll need a cooling system of sorts (be it aircon, a chiller, or some other crafty device) to keep the temperature at a below 20C optimum.

 

Are we talking about mudskipper gobies or this ugly pic I saw when I googled axolotls,kinda salamander esque?

 

Yeah I did notice that bit.

My tank has been running throughout summer at 22C without heating.

But it does sound like too much drama.

Mudkip, not mudskipper.


Yes, the Salamander type thing with the reddish gills.

 

O okay man that thing is weird...

 

LOL.

Precisely why I entertained the thought of getting one.

But since they are illegal, it's not going to happen.


Seems plenty of people confused Mudskippers and Mudkips, and it's probably the skippers you see more in shops.

 

I thought maybe you typed the name wrong that's when I checked the scientific name and googled it

 

I have read that some pet shops do sell Albino Axolotl, they are native to Mexico as far as information goes, would they also be on the black list?

 

All Amphibians are on the BL.... If a Pet Shop sells them,they are doing so in contravention of our countries laws... Some claim ignorance,but that is no excuse...

 

@azurekoi, thank you for clearing that up for me, perhaps you have information on red cherry shrimp aswell, as far as I could find out they were illegal for import but it is OK to breed them in captivity, appearently the ban has just recently been lifted\

 

All shrimps are currently still illegal ... It's illegal to own,keep,breed or anything with them...

 

Even a shrimp cocktail azurekoi????

 

OK, So if red cherry shrimp and Axolotls are out what other interesting creatures may we legally add to an aquirium?