Waterdogs?

[Paradise3]

Yes, they are a type of fish in the since they never lose their gills; they just work differently.  They turn into a salamander in mature form but walk around the bottom of your tank.  In the baby stage they have 4 visible toes on each foot, look pretty cool walking around. 
 
Was curious how many gallons per 'waterdog or waterpuppy or mudpuppy' you would calculate?  Also, are they safe in a community tank/planted tank?

 
No they are not safe in a community tank as they are carnivorous and would eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouths. So you may think "Well what about fish too big to be eaten?" and this is also a bad idea as fish can pick at the mudpuppies gills and injure them. 
 
The tank size depends on the species. If you got Necturus maculosus You would need at least a 4x2x2ft tank as they reach 19in long.
If you got something like N. punctatus you would need at least a 2.5x1.5x1.5ft tank as they grow to between 5-7in long.
 
All species of mudpuppy are carnivorous and need live or frozen food as a staple diet with chopped mussell, chopped prawns and chopped lancefish as treats.
 
They are coldwater and need temperatures below 20c year round, they have no eyelids so need dim light and lots of cover. They will uproot plants and much prefer wood and rock coverage like caves and such to hide under rather than plants.
 
Mudpuppies never truly turn into land-dwelling salamanders unless you force them to and, like axolotls, they often die shortly after as they are not supposed to metamorphose.

 

[the_lock_man]

So, what is the difference between a mudpuppy and an axolotl? I thought they were synonymous - they are the non-metamorphosing aquatic larvae of the salamander.

 

[Paradise3]

So, what is the difference between a mudpuppy and an axolotl? I thought they were synonymous - they are the non-metamorphosing aquatic larvae of the salamander.

 
They are different species.
 
Ambystoma mexicanum - Mexican Axolotl.
Necturus sp. - Mudpuppy.
 
There are also differences in the two species. Mudpuppies are more elongated with flatter, longer head and are all mottled brown(no colour morphs as far as I'm aware) with red gills. Axolotl's are chunkier bodied, shorter bodied and with shorter, thicker heads and their gill colour depends on the morph.
 
Another difference is, Mudpuppies are the only Aquatic Salamander Species to only have 4 toes on their feet not 5 like the Axolotl.

 

[draxis]

Mudpuppy's are awesome.  I think my tank will easily support 1.  If he eats some of the tetras I would be surprised, they are fast.

 

[the_lock_man]

 

So, what is the difference between a mudpuppy and an axolotl? I thought they were synonymous - they are the non-metamorphosing aquatic larvae of the salamander.

 
They are different species.
 
Ambystoma mexicanum - Mexican Axolotl.
Necturus sp. - Mudpuppy.
 
There are also differences in the two species. Mudpuppies are more elongated with flatter, longer head and are all mottled brown(no colour morphs as far as I'm aware) with red gills. Axolotl's are chunkier bodied, shorter bodied and with shorter, thicker heads and their gill colour depends on the morph.
 
Another difference is, Mudpuppies are the only Aquatic Salamander Species to only have 4 toes on their feet not 5 like the Axolotl.
 

 
Thank you kindly, Paradise.

Mudpuppy's are awesome.  I think my tank will easily support 1.  If he eats some of the tetras I would be surprised, they are fast.

 
Let us know how you get on.

 

[Paradise3]

Mudpuppies are skilled. They will catch your tetra's when the tetra's are resting at night like other nocturnal predators...

 

[ncguppy830]

yup there better in species only tanks.