Axl in his huge tank :)

[deliriah]

Please do change your substrate! There are oh so many threads on this forum that describe in detail the dangers of impactation from gravel. If you take some time to search and read a few, especially Kuphie's, you'll see why we advise against gravel. I'm sure you do know your axie well enough to believe he is incapable of swallowing his gravel, but I don't recomend taking the risk.

 

[Joy]

Hi, if you don't mind, I'd like to add my 2 cents in as well on the gravel. I just got my little guy Scotti from my neighbors and they had gravel on the bottom and had Scottie for 7 years. Granted, she didn't die from ingesting all of the gravel, but as you can see in the first pic, she looks hugely pregnant. I read on the site that gravel is bad so I took it all out and left her on bare bottom for a week or so till I got these large river rocks and she vomited up 28 pebbles. I kept saying before that there's no way she has pebbles in her belly but sure enough, look how skinny she looks now in the 2nd pic. And your axie looks like she has a belly on her too I must say (I'm not sure about the sex thing but I was told that the boy axies have dangly bits hanging off them..) Remove the pebs and see what happens! She's beautiful by the way

 

[toxictart]

i thought the same as you my poor axolotl died from eating the gravel i was very upset about it get some rocks for him instead i puther in the fridge before she died she had swallowed around 4 pieces

 

[sek]

Gravel is not a good idea, I thankfully changed mine as soon as I got it

 

[daremo]

I have a friend who has had his axolotl for over a year, with gravel, I insisted to remove it and he insisted that the axolotl does not eat the gravel! however, last week he confessed seeing him eating it!!

he lived eating gravel for over a year, but at some point it will cause trouble, and besides, I don't think its good for them to eat it, even if they can get rid of it when they poop, it's not good.

You can keep a bare bottom, I do since I cannot find suitable sand for a tank and the axie seems fine with it

 

[dazkeirle]

So far I've collected 48 pieces from Fred. Some still passing 3 month since being anywhere near gravel.

IMHO if you keep an Axie with gravel you are as bad as somebody who beats a dog.

 

[morphyrichards]

I run heavily planted tanks with muddy bottoms and a thick layer of gunk at the bottom with lots of gas pockets. The water quality usually remains good without any filtration.

I really like the sound of that! Can you post a pic and an explanation of how that works by any chance please?

Also - to avoid hijacking this post - I find bits of plant in my axies poo all the time, and my plants are usually strong and sturdy and attached... if that can find its way into their bellies then so can gravel!

 

[ted22]

So far I've collected 48 pieces from Fred. Some still passing 3 month since being anywhere near gravel.

IMHO if you keep an Axie with gravel you are as bad as somebody who beats a dog.

I hear ya daz! If you use gravel you might as well be using shards of glass, both will surely kill your axie! I really dont see what your issue is with sand? I have 2 tanks with gravel (only for fish) and one with sand (axies) and the gravel is a nightmare (soo much waste gets trapped)! the sand is a dream, if your axie ends up digging it up why not let it?! (axies love rummaging about and digging through sand) all the waste particles will sit ontop of the sand (even if not ontop it will work its way to the surface when agitated) ready to be removed with a turkey baster! Food and waste can get stuck between large stones (they do look nice tho) and foul the water, id really consider giving sand another go otherwise you may have your work cut out for you, lifting stones to clean etc. Sand all the way! and im sure 90% of the people who have axies will agree, the other 10% would probably suggest large stones but sand is absolutely hassle free and highly reccommended or nigh on essential!

Sorry if it sounds like im havin a dig but you have to realise why this gravel is totally innapropriate there are soo many horror stories on here and the few axies that have been extremely lucky have been pooping out stones ever since!

Thats my view anyways


lets us know what you plan to do, get us some pics when its done too!

Take it easy!

 

[JWERNER]

It contained poisonous gas bubbles that required the sand to be shifted completely every few days, and for all dirt and waste to be cleaned off of the sand before then, otherwise be left to rot forever.

I find this odd. You say you don't have any problems with using the churn on the gravel vac to get the gravel turned up releasing detritus and gas but you have problems doing it with sand?

Even with 2" of sand you wont have gas problems but if you do all it takes is a churning of the sand during vaccuming and your fine. However if you keep less sand you wont have to do it so often and the waste just sits on top eliminating the need for one of your practices in the maintenance routine and thats churning the sand cause all the waste can be sucked up as you just graze over the sand. Its really not a matter of what works best for you its what works best for the animal. He can not make these decisions.

 

[MaddogJones]

Been away from this site for a long time, and sorry to bump an old thread, but he is now living in a pretty identical tank - but with river rocks instead