Question: About axy tank cleaning

[axolotlmilky]

Hi everyone,

My axy tank is due for a water change, and up until now, I have been following the advice of my locally reptile store and scooping my axy into a tub, then changing the water. I was wondering if it is more stressful for her to be scooped out of the tank all the time or should I just leave her. I use a manual siaphon so it makes no noise or water disturbance. I am just curious as to how other axy owners change the water and clean the tank.

Thanks again for reading:happy:

Ryan

 

[blueberlin]

Hi Ryan,

I never remove my axolotls when cleaning. They get used to the siphon really quickly, too -assuming you don't whack them with it, of course.

-Eva

 

[Zolotl]

Ive whacked mine unintentionally a couple of times and some times I have to push them out of the way gently if there in the way, not that good but better than taking them out of the water or taking them in and out of different water conditions

 

[big a little a]

Hi Ryan

I leave my axie in his tank - he generally never notices me cleaning - unless the syphon goes too near him - because the syphon looks similar to his turkey baster, whenever he notices it, he assumes it means there are earthwomrs on the way and so ends up chasing the syphon round the tank - very cute, so normally I have to award his greedy athleticism with a treat (generally a nice slug, as it's only a weekly treat!).

Zoe x

 

[philbaker76]

...me too, I just siphon the dirt off the bottom - with a bit of hose - and top up with water (that's been stood) at least once a week.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Ive whacked mine unintentionally a couple of times and some times I have to push them out of the way gently if there in the way, not that good but better than taking them out of the water or taking them in and out of different water conditions

Mine always try to eat the end of the siphon hose. I solved this hilariously annoying issue by cutting the bottom out of a water bottle . The bottomless bottle serves as a "Shark cage" to protect my axolotls from their own instincts and allows me to do a proper cleaning job.


As a general rule, you should NEVER handle your axolotls. If you need to move them, it is better for all involved if you scoop them up with a container of some sort. I use a two liter soda bottle with the bottom cut out and the cap on in these instances.

 

[axolotlmilky]

As i said before i use a tub for my fish net

 

[cvarney]

How often does water have to be changed? And is it 50% water change? I'm completely new and researching getting an axolotyl
​

 

[oregon newt]

The number of water changes depends on the water quality. Do you know about cycling? If not check out this link http://caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
And this one http://caudata.org/cc/articles/waterquality.shtml