Red spots on gills?

I would just like to add that you should definatly not beat yourself up about losing your axolotl. I've heard of people on this forum using ammonia neutralizer. I still wouldn't ever recommend using it, but I'm not sure if I would totally blame the chemicals you added on the death of your axolotl. Sand is fine as substrate. On to cycling, while it is easier to cycle a tank with no animals in it, if you already have an axolotl on the way I don't see why you couldn't just put the axolotl in an uncycled 45 and just watch the parameters closely. A 45 gallon fish tank is more than enough for one axolotl, so if you just monitor the water every day, and do water changes as needed the tank should cycle on it's own. I would just skip the ammonia neutralizer, as I've read that impedes the cycling process, and I've never heard good things about it.
 
Ok, so I did an 85% water change like what iChris suggested. I also scrubbed everything in fresh water. I think I'm going to try to cycle the tank fishless and just use some flakes I still have from fish I owned a while ago.

Anything else I'm missing? :happy:
 
Ok, I'll try to take a picture with my laptop's camera today.
 
Alright, here's a picture of my tank as it is right now. I checked the parameters a few minutes ago and here's what I got:
pH: 7.2
ammonia: 0.5 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 0 ppm

I should also mention that I'm using the drop test kit and that the sand at the bottom of the tank is new as well. I'm also debating over which kind of plants to eventually get to assist with the removal of nitrate once my tank starts producing it. Since my last axolotl tore up the last batch of plants I got I was thinking of getting floating plants that stay on the surface of my tank instead. Is anyone aware of any issues that might have with my new axolotl?

Also for those of you who insisted I shouldn't cycle with an axolotl in the tank, I have two large Tupperware containers sitting next to my tank with dechlorinated water.
 

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Hey,

I would either give him some more hiding places or switch the light off. Not only does the light heat up the water (with is not wanted with an axolotl !), but it stresses him as he's nocturnal and doesn't like light at all.

You may also take the cover off, as a covered tank heats up more easily than an uncovered one. That's the advice I usually give but I usually am in touch with Europeans ;)
 
your setup is looking great.

Java fern is supposed to work, it has tough leaves and you can anchor it to rocks, wood, etc, but I have had no experience keeping it.

floating plants would provide shade and are also a good choice.
 
SwissAxie said:
Hey,

I would either give him some more hiding places or switch the light off. Not only does the light heat up the water (with is not wanted with an axolotl !), but it stresses him as he's nocturnal and doesn't like light at all.

You may also take the cover off, as a covered tank heats up more easily than an uncovered one. That's the advice I usually give but I usually am in touch with Europeans ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, sorry about that. I had to leave the light on because my room is very dark and I didn't get a good picture otherwise. I will take the lid off though. Thanks
 
iChris said:
your setup is looking great.

Java fern is supposed to work, it has tough leaves and you can anchor it to rocks, wood, etc, but I have had no experience keeping it.

floating plants would provide shade and are also a good choice.
Click to expand...

Sweet, I'll go to the pet shop this weekend and get something.
 
Anubis said:
Also for those of you who insisted I shouldn't cycle with an axolotl in the tank, I have two large Tupperware containers sitting next to my tank with dechlorinated water.
Click to expand...
If the tupperware containers are an axolotl holding place until the tank is cycled, the tupperware will not be cycled either. It may be easier to do water changes in a tupperware, but it's going to be the same as putting it in an uncycled tank.
 
I wouldn't risk leaving the tank uncovered. Axolotl can startle, and when they do this they can launch them selves out of the water and tank. A screen lid will prevent this and help keep some air circulating.
 
bellabelloo said:
I wouldn't risk leaving the tank uncovered. Axolotl can startle, and when they do this they can launch them selves out of the water and tank. A screen lid will prevent this and help keep some air circulating.
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Well what if I compromise and leave the broken door on my lid ajar (it's broken so I can always leave the opening cracked)? On top of that, I keep my room at about 60-65 deg F and the water temperature has always been at or 2 deg F below the room temp. Idk if that changes anything.
 
carsona246 said:
If the tupperware containers are an axolotl holding place until the tank is cycled, the tupperware will not be cycled either. It may be easier to do water changes in a tupperware, but it's going to be the same as putting it in an uncycled tank.
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Hm, then what would be the best way to handle the cycling then? I'd still prefer to not put them in an uncycled tank :\.

There's been a change of plans on the new axolotl arrival: USPS unfortunately killed the one I was being sent :( (The poor thing...I'm not having good luck with these guys lately) and the soonest I'd be able to get a new one is towards the end of next week which gives me a bit more time to sort out my tank situation.
 
iChris said:
your setup is looking great.

Java fern is supposed to work, it has tough leaves and you can anchor it to rocks, wood, etc, but I have had no experience keeping it.

floating plants would provide shade and are also a good choice.
Click to expand...

Just one comment on this one :
Do not put wood in an axolotl tank. Wood decays and the Axolotl skin does not take that well at all.
 
carsona246 said:
If the tupperware containers are an axolotl holding place until the tank is cycled, the tupperware will not be cycled either. It may be easier to do water changes in a tupperware, but it's going to be the same as putting it in an uncycled tank.
Click to expand...

The thing about having them in the tupperware : First, the tup needs to be big enough so that the animal can stretch out completely.

Nobody pretends that the tup will or should or even could cycle. When kept in a tup, the water needs to be changed completely, once a day. You also need to clean it each day with a clean cloth and hot water. That is to take away the bacterial "carpet" that grows on the submerged surfaces (within 24 hours, yes...).

My youngsters always grow up in such a setting and I also take care of sick axolotls this way.
 
The thing with the open tank : All my axolotl and ambystoma andersoni tanks are open. I have never had anyone jumping out (ok that doesn't say it will never happen ;) ).
Keep a distance of about 4 inches between the water level and the top of the tank, that should prevent them from jumping out even if startled, I have never heard of an axo or soni jumping that far out of the water.
You sure can use a screen lid, too. Howeverm, depending on where the hypothetic jumpig axie bounces off of the lid, it could (the lid) fall into the water (at least partialle) or worse, the axolotl could jet trapped between the screen and the top of the tank...
 
To the OP, if you're looking for a good dechlorinator that also neutralises ammonia, nitrates and nitrites and chloramines as well as a bunch of other nasty stuff, and is safe for axolotls, I can suggest a product called Prime from Seachem. I use it with no problems at all. There's another product called Stress Coat - it has Aloe Vera in it which apparently regenerates the slime coat, stay away from that stuff, it'll cover everything in your tank with white slime, yuck!

FYI, I also have wood in my tanks without issue, several of my plants are attached and growing on pieces of wood.

You technically can keep an axolotl in a cycling tank as long as you change at least 20 - 50% of the water every day until the ammonia and nitrite spikes have passed. I cycled my big tank with a couple of feeder goldfish. Hardy little things.
 
Manifest said:
To the OP, if you're looking for a good dechlorinator that also neutralises ammonia, nitrates and nitrites and chloramines as well as a bunch of other nasty stuff, and is safe for axolotls, I can suggest a product called Prime from Seachem. .
Click to expand...

Completely, absolutely, 100% agree with this. I use Prime myself, and it's absolutely amazing stuff. You get a great, effective dechlorinator that's well worth your money. The largest bottle I've seen treats 2,500 gallons, and at PetSmart is only 9.99. Considering that you only need 2 DROPS per gallon of water you're changing, the bottle lasts you practically forever.

The only qualm I have about it, is that 90% of the time, Prime will give you a false ammonia reading. This is because Prime breaks ammonia down into ammonium, which is completely harmless to your axies, but still shows up on test kits as ammonia. The only way you can test ammonia accurately when using Prime is to get a test kit that tests ONLY for ammonia and not ammonium.

But, otherwise, it's great stuff! I use it for both my axolotls and my fishtanks.
 
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