Axolotl tank plannings

[tigmades]

So let me see if I have this right... feel free to offer suggestions/improvements!

A month from now I'll have 5 adorable axies at ~2" long. I will either be keeping them all in the 29g until I find another tank or have 2 in one and 3 in another, or find homes for some.

Tank(s) will start out bare bottomed (or can I have very fine mesh to tie plants down?), until they reach ~5" long, and then I will put down pool filter sand. The tank temperature will be kept steady at about 71°F during day, 69°F at night. They'll be fed bloodworms in a small dish daily until ~5" long and then be switched over to tong-fed earthworms every other day, with the occasional guppy fish to hopefully add stimulation and enrichment. They'll have several hides, and I plan on keeping anubias (I currently have a strip of them ~30" long and 5" wide) and a java fern in their tank(s). Tank(s) will have ~25% water changed weekly. They will have HOB filters with sponges covering the intake, as well as something to greatly lessen the flow of the water (currently have aquaclear 70).

I want these guys to feel like they're at a 5-star hotel, so please, if you have any suggestions/changes/opinions, please let me know!

 

[Olivia97]

I think you've got it all worked out! Be prepared to make some changes to your feeding depending on the condition of the axolotls. I wouldn't be putting mesh down, you can try a large river rock covered in the mesh then tie your plants to that.

 

[Tephra]

I think you've got it all worked out! Be prepared to make some changes to your feeding depending on the condition of the axolotls. I wouldn't be putting mesh down, you can try a large river rock covered in the mesh then tie your plants to that.

Or you can use driftwood too

 

[tigmades]

Thanks for the responses so far - glad to hear I'll be doing it right! I currently have 1 piece of driftwood in the tank, however it's definitely not big enough to have all the anubias tied to it, haha! I never thought of mesh covering a rock.. hmmm. I guess I could just tie it to the rock instead, too. Any ideas where I could get a long but thin with round edges stone? Or I guess I could tie them to other decorations that will be placed in their 'hotel'.

As for feeding, those numbers were going on other forum posts I've read - that juvies should be fed daily or near that, and adults 2-3x a week. Can anyone tell me how many inches of worm they feed their axies in a week? And their axie's length?

I plan on posting an "axie growth journal" as I haven't seen anything of that sort on here yet. I'd put things like size, amount and type of food eaten, etc over time so that other owners/people interested have some sort of idea of what's to come.

 

[Olivia97]

hmm well it's not really that well documented down to inches etc. most people just go by how healthy their axies are looking, if they're adults then 3 worms 3 times a week should be fine, juvies do need t be fed daily too, it's usually what they will eat in 15 minutes. A good indication is that the widest part of their tummy should be as wide as their head.

 

[Tephra]

Yup, that's pretty much how I do it. I just go by how wide their tummy looks. And I prefer it to look a bit chubbier rather than a bit skinnier. Chubby is healthier

And on the note of food, my axies love the new pellets I bought (only fed them earthworms till now, but buying tons of earthworms in my living area is a challenge... and they don't breed fast enough)

 

[FX1C]

Thanks for the responses so far - glad to hear I'll be doing it right! I currently have 1 piece of driftwood in the tank, however it's definitely not big enough to have all the anubias tied to it, haha! I never thought of mesh covering a rock.. hmmm. I guess I could just tie it to the rock instead, too. Any ideas where I could get a long but thin with round edges stone? Or I guess I could tie them to other decorations that will be placed in their 'hotel'.

•personally I'd be avoiding any kind of mesh that may have sharp edges & wrapping it around a rock could be slightly difficult & leave sharp hazards.
I've tied java fern to a rock with butchers string it gives the roots something to bite into first the they can take over the rock, cotton was too fine & fishing line crushed the rhizomes.

I plan on posting an "axie growth journal" as I haven't seen anything of that sort on here yet. I'd put things like size, amount and type of food eaten, etc over time so that other owners/people interested have some sort of idea of what's to come.

A journal / guide is always handy to reference - but just ask any mother who's read the 1,000's of books for child rearing, things don't ever seem to go by a book & nothing beats observation & intuition - things need to be tweaked for every individual & from what I've read on here, every batch has its own issues & most take it day by day sticking to a fail safe routine concentrating on water quality, an abundance of live foods & checking the condition & growth rates of each juvie. The range of size difference in one batch is amazing - which one would be considered 'normal'?

I'd say enjoy the experience of raising them & take lots of pics




<3 >o_o< <3

 

[cxp845]

If you are keeping a growth journal it would be really useful to log the water temperature regularly too as this has a big impact on growth rates

 

[tigmades]

Nikki I most definitely plan on enjoying watching them grow! It would be interesting to gather more "scientific facts/evidence" about their rate of growth, etc... I enjoy biology

The water temperature would be kept fairly costant. Our house is kept at ~71F during day, and 69F at night. I only have a "temperature sticker" so it's not accurate to the decimal place... are there any cheap temperature digital gauges that people use? I'm really hoping I can squeak by without needed to buy a chiller, but I will if I must.

 

[FX1C]

Nikki I most definitely plan on enjoying watching them grow! It would be interesting to gather more "scientific facts/evidence" about their rate of growth, etc... I enjoy biology

The water temperature would be kept fairly costant. Our house is kept at ~71F during day, and 69F at night. I only have a "temperature sticker" so it's not accurate to the decimal place... are there any cheap temperature digital gauges that people use? I'm really hoping I can squeak by without needed to buy a chiller, but I will if I must.

I've found AquaOne digital thermometers here in Australia for $13.50 (they're a worldwide brand so should be at your local store or online) I've found them to be very accurate & easy to read - the bonus is you can place the temp sensor in an exact part of the tank away from air bubbles, then thanks to a long wire you can place the temp so you can see it easily.

Here's a shot where I had 2 temp readings one in tank & 1 in fridge container being brought back to tank temp.


I highly recommend the digital



<3 >o_o< <3