Question: Aeration

[sneakysnake]

About a week ago I was at a pet store talking to an employee that seemed knowledgeable about axolotls and aquariums in general. He made a comment that less aeration in the tank is actually good for axolotls as it makes their gills stronger or something.
Can anyone confirm if this is true or dangerous?

 

[yellowpebble]

It might not make the gills stronger, but apparently it is meant to make them bigger... more gills to soak up as much oxygen as possible in a depleted environment. A low oxygen environment will not kill the axolotl, (it can always come up for gulps of air and breathe through its skin) but why keep it like that when you don't have to? Why make the axolotl uncomfortable. It is is ideal to have airation in the tank, low oxygen can lead to floating behavior, with the axie hanging out at the top of the water where the most oxygen is, trying to breathe from the surface. The gills will not be 'weak' with an airstone, just natural. It probably will not be dangerous, but not recommended. I wouldn't like to be starved of oxygen in any way. Even if i had more than one method of breathing!

 

[Kaysie]

I agree with yellow pebble. I have a sponge filter in my tank that bubbles away.

That being said, if you have a normal filter that breaks the surface of the water, you won't need an additional air stone, unless you have a rather large tank with the filter at one end and stagnant water at the other. The filter will provide enough overturn in the water to aerate it adequately.

 

[mewsie]

+1 for what Yellowpebble and Kaysie said!

(My lot just seem to like the bubbles tickling their tummies. Hours happily spent in the axie jacuzzi ^_^)

 

[Aaran]

Mine are only little at the moment, one lives in a 5litre goldfish bowl the other a 3 litre tub i dont have any filter or airstone as i clean them out every 2 days, and i constantly get the baster out!

But, mine seem to be thriving and their gills look amazing, really long and fluffy

When they are bigger, they get a sponge filter, that was of course on recommendation from mewsie

 

[sneakysnake]

This seems to go in line with what I was thinking. Thanks for all the advice =D

 

[Vivern]

The filter will provide enough overturn in the water to aerate it adequately.

I use underwater filter but it is located on the bottom of tank and doesn't produce air bubbles at all, but good flow (400 l/h for 80l tank). Is it enough for aerating water or it is better to set also airstone? The tank is covered and water level is 1-2cm below cover.
Thanks in advance :happy:

 

[helobed]

lack of available oxygen will stimulate gill growth as previously mentioned. I wouldn't, however, intentionally submit them to this as having to resort to using their rudimentary lungs may lead to avoidable levels of stress, which in extreme circumstances may lead to death or disease.

Sponge filters are good for axies as they fulfill this requirement as well as providing minimum water flow.