Question: Confused about contradicting info on sand & gravel!?

[Paivi]

Hello All,
I am somewhat confused about what we should have on the bottom of our Axolotl tank. The information about this seems to be contraditory, for what we've seen anyway, in books and online.

Initially, we had a bare glass bottm with only a few round stones and a couple of plants in pots, as this was what was suggested as the safest option on some websites. However, it didn't look right and the Axolotl didn't seem too happy about it.

When we set up our big tank that we currently have, we added gravel, and for the first time we saw the Axolotl walk on the bottom of the tank as she had something to hold onto!

The reason for having gravel is the following advise we got from a book we bought, "Keeping Axolotls" by Linda Adkins (UK). On pages 17-18, she talks about substrates, and gives the advice to use gravel "in the form of smoothly rounded stones" with no sharp edges and not too small, as "some stones will be swallowed from time to time. ... These should pass harmlessly through them." And then the most precise part of advice that we followed in our set-up: "Sand, for example, is too small. The grains can lodge in the stomach and may eventually prove fatal; 3/16-1/4 inches (4-6.5mm) pea gravel will be most suitable."

However, now I'm reading here that sand is best and no gravel should be used, same reasons, opposite interpretations. So what is right? I am confused,

Our Axolotls are mostly fed live earthworms from chop-sticks, as only Lottie takes pellets, which are normally placed in a little bare container on the bottom of the tank or fed from hand. We try to avoid putting food on the gravel, trying to minimize the chance of them sucking any gravel in. But still, it's worrying to face so many different advice and then trying to decide what is right.

Thoughts on this, anyone? Thanks!

 

[Azhael]

Fine sand will pass through the digestive system without trouble, but larger stones can cause very serious problems. The commentary "These should pass harmlessly through them" applied to larger gravel is simply not correct. Even though larger stones can be passed, impaction is a serious concern.

You can also use substrates like slate tiles. These provide a grip for the axolotl, but cannot be swallowed and do not trap debris.

 

[Paivi]

Thank you, Azhael!

Our tank is up for a revamp now for sure! The gravel can go to one of the fish tanks and we'll get some nice fine soft sand for the Axolotls.

But how infuriating is it, that the only book on keeping Axolotls as pets I could find here in Australia has so specific and trustworthy-looking, and yet fatally incorrect information in it! Will definitely leave some feed-back on that at the online bookstore's site...

If anyone knows of another book or books worth while getting, please let me know!

Thank you again! I'm so glad I found this forum and the other related sites! :happy:

 

[Jan]

Have a look at this article Caudata Culture Articles - Aquarium Substrates, contains great information on substrates.

Although not a book, our Caudata Culture section has many valuable articles that you will also find helpful - Caudata Culture Articles

 

[Paivi]

Thanks Jan! Yes, the articles are truly helpful and well written, no question about that! :happy: The reason I like books though is that they are easier with the kids. We are in this together and I like them to go and read and find information for themselves as well. As they are still young (9, 7, 5 & 3), I don't like to let them loose on the computer too much, especially without supervision (had to take one laptop for repairs after one of them got a bit too much into clicking about!), books are still safer :happy: And the little ones who don't read yet, love looking at the photos.

 

[dad of axle]

Hi, One of the books suggested on the caudata site is a book called"Axolotls care and breeding in captivity" it is written by Peter W. Scott.

I bought a second hand copy of ebay here in australia for a few dollars and i think it is for sale on amazon too.

the book would be useful in your situation with young children (particularly the second edition ) which has lots of large colour photos and an easy to understand diagram of the anatomy of the axolotl ( which is the diagram used on the caudata website)

 

[Azhael]

I like books, books are my friends xD The problem with them, though, is that they tend to be outdated.
They tend to include some suggestions which used to be commonplace but are no longer, like the use of gravel, feeding mammal meat, the generalized use of filters, and things like that. Also, if they include any taxonomy, it´s in all likelihood no longer in use.
I haven´t come across a book that covers caudates that contains "perfect" info....
They are valuable info sources (specially for beginners as that´s who they are typically intended for) and i completely understand why you´d prefer them for your kids, i would just suggest making sure they understand that the info they are reading is not ultimate and set in stone, it´s just somewhat outdated basics that they´ll have to complete in the future with better info.

I grew up reading books and encyclopaedias that now would make me cringe with their outdated or flat out wrong information, but they were nevertheless critical in sparking my interest and setting the basis.

 

[dad of axle]

I think books are a starting point that is worthwhile, and now we have wikipaedia instead of encylopaidea (sp) I used to work as a teacher (despite severe dyslexia) and one lesson I always taught was that knowledge in books is always being updated. I think children today are very much aware of this -well anyone who went through the classes i taught here in Australia was and I taught over a thousand students during my teaching years.

I used to set a project where the students had to research how Mozart died and present their results to the class. (I was a classroom music teacher)

 

[Paivi]

Thank you for these, Dad of Axle and Azhael!

I did find the Peter W. Scott book on Amazon, wonderful! And another, German book under it in the suggestions, so might need to have a look at that one as well (good for brushing up on my under-used German - ).

True, the information in books does get outdated, but as long as we are aware of that, and also take that as part of the adventure, it's ok. Anything that's taken as the ultimate final truth is questionable, and I always try and make sure my kids remember to question everything (oh dear, I might regret that! And I pity their teachers! ) They are pretty good with computers, as most kids are these days, but I still rather give them books first, and computer and internet second, when I have the time to supervise the use of it!