Question: Can I use these for a substrate?

[Vicious Puffer]

I just got a nice octagonal coffee table aquarium that I plan to move them to, once I've cycled it. It's quite a lovely tank - I'm sure I'll be putting a lot of time in to making it gorgeous.
The florescent light sits inside the base, lighting the water from beneath, so I don't have any desire to use sand in it. My axies are only juveniles now, still only about 4" (9 cm or so?) but I'm just a tad worried about all those gravel impaction horror stories.... Anywho, I was thinking of using those wide flat glass stones (like mancala beads) they're about an inch in diameter. Would these be an issue for full grown axies? I don't feel like they could be injested with much ease, if at all. I've posted a picture as well.
-Thanks

 

[saided]

I'm positive they will be fine because they are used in mosaics a lot of the time and don't deteriorate in water, so I dont think they could leech any harmful substances. Also, if they are bigger than a quarter I doubt even an adult could ingest one. They are probably too heavy to get sucked into their mouth anyways.

Good luck, sounds like a great idea

 

[Crysta]

No idea how big a quarter is tbh. try to find the smallest bead you've got and measure it's diameter at the smallest point. this needs to be bigger (not the same size as) the axolotl in questions head, I don't see any problems happening while your axies are juvies still, but I'm thinking some of the bigger adult axolotls could have up to 3" across heads (someone correct me on this if I'm thinking giant mutant axolotls)


Are those lights going to be very bright then? and on quite a lot? I doubt the axies would like that, do you think you could perhaps get some tube style hides? so they can hide from the underneath light.
I'm very curious about those table tanks, I just wouldn't want to use it ever x) (as a table I mean)

 

[Vicious Puffer]

Well. I plan to get some nice hides going that will block out the light, but I also intend to do some modification here and there to make it less intense. It is pretty bright, but I'm hoping to find ways to remedy that. It's going to be a while before I move them over. It just got in today, and started cycling it with some livebearers. I'm really eager to get some more decor and interesting animals in it.

 

[Otterwoman]

I'd make sure they were very clean first and not use any with any opalescence which I think is some kind of toxic coating. I use them too, in my tanks, but the ones with that iridescence I think are bad.

 

[Kaysie]

Just a note. While they may be of appropriate size to prevent being eaten, I can say from experience that these are a serious pain in the butt to clean. You need a siphon with a very large opening on it to get around/between them, and waste falls through the cracks easily.

 

[heather7792]

I actually have a coffee table very similar to what you are decribing and we use those same type glass stones in it and haven't had a problem (there are pics in my albums). They are difficult to clean but well worth it. The tank looks spectacular when lit up. We were originally using smaller glass stone without problem but decided to change out to the larger ones just to be on the safe side. The only thing I've noticed is that sometimes when our axolotls get a little crazy we will find ones that have broken. Just make sure you remove the pieces so they don't cut themselves or eat the pieces.

 

[Vicious Puffer]

Ottorwoman: I rinsed and sanitized them before hand, and if there are any problems with them, I'm sure I'll see it with my platies and mollies.

Heather: I've seen your tank before, actually, on your boyfriend's profile. I live in the same state ans was considering buying a golden from you. I really liked your setup, and that's what made me want to get my own.

 

[kuphie]

I would be a little cautious about using these glass pebbles for adult axolotls. they can swallow things that are much bigger then you could imagine.

heather7792: I've seen your tank setup with these pebbles and it makes me a little nervous. they can swallow anything smaller then their head, and those are deffinetly smaller. Just want you to know it can happen. just look at the link in my signature below.

 

[bmp1976]

kuphie: We changed out the smaller stones that are in some of the pictures still posted. We are only using ones that are bigger than their heads. We are using sand in all other tanks.