Question: Axolotl & Dirt?

[FoolsDance]

Question for you all - hoping someone knows.

I have 5 tanks, just starting to prep the axy tank for an order I have placed. Only 1 of my other 4 tanks does not have dirt capped with gravel or sand because live plants thrive in soil.

The non-dirt tank is for my diggers - loaches and gobies and such, make a horrible mess of the tank if there's dirt in there.

I am building an elaborate paludarium for the axies and want lots of plants - so the question is: if they have sand to walk on and lots of caves and holes to hide in, will they still dig down into the substrate?

If so, I won't use dirt though I would much prefer to for optimum growth in the low light conditions an axie requires.

I don't like fake plants.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge with me!

 

[Swag]

I've never used dirt with axolotls but I have seen people say that they make a mess with it.

One thing to note is that there are plants that can easily live without dirt and in low lights. You don't need to use fake plants, crypts, java fern, anubias, java moss, hornwort, wysteria, and amazon swords are all plants that can easily live in an axolotl environment.

One question I have is why a paludarium? I'm not telling you not to or anything just wondering why you want a paludarium for axolotls, there are many newt species that would be a lot happier in a paludarium but axolotls will never leave the water.

 

[SnotOtter]

I'd also be worried about anaerobic pockets if you were to do sand over soil. Gravel allows for gas escape, sand doesnt very well at all. Potting is a fair alternative as well.