Australian Axolotl Lovers Lets compare notes

T

tara

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}<font face="arial,helvetica"><font color="aa00aa"> HI guys,
I was just looking through some other threads and notice Mary Rose and Katy are two regular contributors from Australia. I live in Far North Queensland and at the moment it is very hot up here, (most days average 30-40C) and will be for months to come, I'm wondering how the axies over here go with this, do they become fairly accustomed? I'm just finding my feet with my second axie and am extremely keen to get another mate and have a go at breeding, but havent heard of breeding up here. I really am interested as to how many of you actually keep your temp in the 15 to 20C range.
any comments or pics I'll be more thankfull than you'll ever know.
Cheers
Tara</font></font>
 
Hey Tara, I'm in Gladstone, and I keep my 3 axies cool via two means.

If I'm away in town, or at work, I let the air con run all day in the study room (which can be closed off, so it doesn't cost too much on the power bill to cool one room rather than the whole house.

If I'm home, and its not 32+ degs (which is when I turn the air con on anyway), I use the ol' frozen bottle swap-around regime.

All three of my axies are happy and fine and eating like pigs.
 
G´day everyone,

I am a high school student in Caloundra, near Brisbane. I have been browsing this forum for quite a while but this is my first post. In a 2 foot tank I house my two axolotls. (I am hoping for a much larger tank so I am looking forward to some new additions) They are both wildtypes and are healthy and active. The first, Chalac, was purchased one year ago and Diablo, 4 months ago. Chalac is definitely a male and is 19cm in length while Diablo´s gender is still unknown as s/he is still young and 13cm long.

Chalac was purchased at the beginning of the hot summer months we have here but he thrived and seemed totally unaffected. Although, in hindsight, he was probably a little stressed. Now when it is hot I freeze bottles of water and put them in the aquarium. However, you need to monitor the temperature to make sure it doesnçt fluctuate too quickly because I have heard it causes stress to the axolotls. I was wondering if there was a more consistent way of cooling the water as it would be much more efficient and give me a greater sense of security about my little guys.

Also, I would like to thank everyone who has posted information or pictures on the axolotl forum. You all have really helped me better care for Chalac and Diablo.

Thanks again,

Jarred.

P.S I have an account but need to check my username and password.
 
Hi my name is Paul I live in Sydney & my brother lives in Port Douglas. We both love & have 3 axls. Theyre all happy & eating well. I never adjust my water temp...its always at 16-18 C Just for fun their names are Aristotle, Black Wattle & Milky (short for Milk bottle as he's white) Happy Breeding.
 
Hi
thanks guys for your contributions.
Swiftrat the idea about the air con is a really good one, but i don't have one yet, however I am looking to buy one. But it'll be going in the bedroom. Not to mention i work all day as well and I'd be ify about leaving it running all day and our electricity bill is huge already (I really don't why) so i dunno if i can afford to run one. And like Jarrad I keep coming back to the water bottle regime, but again I am not home all day to monitor the temp.
sick.gif


Sadly my axy died the other day from the rock he swallowed, so i'll be having a break from axies for awhile as it is so hot and we may be moving house soon so I'm going to wait untill it cools down again and i settle the dogs and boyfriend first. I'm also considering getting a bigger tank that i can decorate better and use the smaller one for egg hatching when i get going. But again if anyone knows a better way to cool them down thats economical please please share! I enquired about a "chiller" that would be like the opposite of a heater and my local pet store lady said they retail for around $600!!! does anyone know if this is correct and if they come smaller/cheaper?
Thanks heaps
Tara
 
Hi Tara- sorry to hear you lost him
sad.gif
Don't give up on them, you've come to the right place for help!

As for chillers, I've wanted to try building my own ever since I came across this link:

http://www.aloha.net/~hqf/indexdonschiller.htm

If you're at all mechanically minded, it could be a good option.

The woman at your local store is absolutely right on the price of aquarium chillers, maybe even a little on the cheap side of things. I've seen them retail at around 1000$ US back home (I'm originally from Canada.)

Check through the classifieds in your local papers, trading post, pawn shops and online for second hand portable air-conditioners. I've seen several for sale here for under 100$- the evaporative types that are suitable for a single small room. I bought one on ebay for about 40$ including postage, and it's doing a good job keeping my tank cool. Apart from that, the bigger your tank is, the more stable your temperatures should be, as it will take longer to heat up. Fans blowing on the surface of the water can also help lower the temp a couple degrees. Hope that helps a little!
 
Hey guys. I live in Sydney, and have just set-up my 180ltr tank for my single golden albino. Im currently having heaps of trouble keeping the temperature below 25degC. The ice bottles don't seem to be dropping the temp enough. Any tips?? the only air-con in the house is the dining room and there's no space to keep the large tank there. Also, because the tank is so big, should i get another tank mate? She seems to be chasing her reflection in the glass. Any comments would be great!! Cheers guys!
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Hey, im only guessing but i could be right.

I notice your tank is surrounded on 4 sides but the walls and that could cause heat maybe? like the walls acting as an insulator to the tank. Maybre you could get a small fan and sit it omn that shelf and aim it down soit blows air on the water surface.

Also i i think that the tank lighting may heat the tank a little so limit the time u have the light on. + axies dont like alot of light.

I live in Newcastle and my water temp averages around 24-25. i can get it to 21 by using the ducted air con in my house and ice bottles.

Hope everything works out... Cheers mate.

(Message edited by brendan on January 16, 2005)
 
G'day,

My name is Dave, I'm from Perth. This is my first post, I've been meaning to join for some time now, however, I am an active member on the Yahoo! groups Axolotls mail list. I currently have 2 adult golden albinos and 25 of their offspring in various colours. Anyone in Perth looking for an axie of their own?

As for tank cooling, I have relocated my tanks to the floor of one of the cooler rooms in the house. I also have a fan blowing over the top of the tanks and I can manage to get them down to 19 degrees. The axies don't seem too bothered by this, their metabolism has slowed down a little, so they eat once every 2 days rather than every day, and they are a little less active - but thats about it.

Brad - try using a fan, as Brendan has suggested. I find that it lowers the temperature by up to 4 degrees. Try to get your hands on a CPU fan, I have heard they are good; I just use a regular fan we have lying around the house.

I support Brendan's theory about the walls acting like an insulator.



Dave
 
Hey, I am also in Perth, interested to know Dave how you cool the tank to 19 degrees with just a fan?? we have a closed off room with our tank and an air con running and the lowest the tank temp gets is 22 in the summer. How do you get it down so low?
 
Hi Tash,

Good to hear from you
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I think the main reason my tank can be kept at such a low temperature is really due to the design of my house, which I really should have mentioned in my previous post. We have ceilings high enough to slot in a second story. When our house was built, it was built without aircon in mind, so the really high ceilings keep the temperature down. In addition, we also now have aircon, so the whole house is very cool.

Apart from this, I keep my tank on the floor, which takes out a few degrees out- hot air rises. It is my opinion that this is the most influental factor in temperature. Having a fan constantly blowing over the top of the water also brings it down a few more degrees. Add the cool design of my house into the equation and you have the tanks down to 19 degrees at best.

I am very cautious to use the frozen water bottle technique that some have talked about here. As it takes lots of practice to make sure you can keep the temperature down all the time to the same level and not have it fluctuating between cooler and warmer levels, which will stress out the axies.

All the best for the warmer tempertures to come in Feb! I think all axie owner in Perth will be in strife! I know I will be!



Dave

P.S. Where abouts are you? North or South of the River? I'm north of the river, basically in Dianella.
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Hi, we are in Sydney, and have had our Axolotl for only a few weeks. Our tank seems to keep at about 24. Our little axolotl doesn't seem to mind. She is quite active, and eats once or twice a day. We don't do anything to help maintain the temperature aside from on very hot days - when we place a fan nearby to blow over her tank. Then that keeps it at 24. We would also love to hear of any suggestions to bring the temp down though!!! (That won't cost us a grand)
 
If your tank stays at 24C for more than a few days your axolotl could get stressed. If you can get it below 24C than do it. Try the ice bottle technique. For really hot days I combine the fan and ice bottle together and it works really well. You can also relocate the tank to the floor and reduce the amount of sunlight directed on the tank.

Brad, you could try a fan blowing across the surface of the water. I wouldn't advise getting another axolotl if you can't keep the tank temp down. Your axolotl will be fine on its own. (BUT NOT IF YOU CAN'T KEEP THE TEMP DOWN) Your size tank could house quite a few axies but just be patient and wait.
 
I have gotten my tank to a stable 21-22 degrees.

Ice bottles work wonders but be sure to monitor so that the temp doesnt lower/raise to much to quickly.

Also having a fan blowing onto the water is another method.

Like everyone says these methods work best other than a buying a cooler which is far to expensive.
 
I was thinking of buying a chiller just before next summer because it is impossible to keep the temperature below 24C when I am away during the hot months. I will get the cheapest one I can find that is of decent quality. What do you guys reckon?
 
Hi guys,

does anyone know where you can get live earthworms for axies in Sydney?
I have bought blood worms but they are so small and they end up floating all over the tank.

peter
 
Hi Peter,

Try a gardening store, you should be able to get a 'worm farm' so you can keep a readily available supply for you axie(s). I got one for $20 and it was loaded with 45 to 50 worms and within 3 weeks they were multiplying big time. They are the easiest things to look after, almost no maintenance. Alternatively, go to a bait shop or your local aquarium store for small portions.

Hope this helps.


Dave
 
Lots of stores sell earth worm farms. I have even seen them in K-Mart.
 
Oh and it had live earthworms with it in case you are wondering.
 
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