Cynops water chemistry questions

[SludgeMunkey]

I might be nuking this a bit, but I really enjoy the chemistry aspect of aquariums.
So here is a few questions I have about Cynops sp. that I have been unable to find reliable answers for:

1. What is the suggested water pH for neonates, juveniles and adults?

2. Does carbonate hardness or dissolved iron hardness affect development, and if so, what are the recommended levels?

3. What medications are successful for treating fungal infections or wounds?
(I ask this only to be prepared in case such a situation arises)

4. Any aquatic or terrestrial plants that should be avoided in a set up for Cynops?


Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[grunsven]

About water chemistry, avoid extremes. So pH around 7 and no distilled water or extremely hard water.

Most used fungal treatment is salt baths.

Plants, have to grow at low temperatures and often low light but no specifics.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Excellent, thank you very much!

I was pretty certain of pH, was curious if I needed to mix up some more Holtfreter's solution like for my axies, or some other method or adjust the carbonate hardness or some other tedious bit of basement chemistry...lol

We have very soft, slightly acidic water here which caused me quite a few headaches after living in The Southwest for so long with its liquid rock water. I still get a bit paranoid about it.

 

[Jennewt]

I agree, Cynops are not picky about their water. The only thing to watch with soft water is dropping of the pH. I had real problems with this when I lived in VA, with some of my tanks dropping to around pH 5.5 before I realized the problem. The tanks were quite resistant to raising the pH via water changes with tap water, even though the tap water itself was roughly pH 7. I started adding occasional gallons of spring water in order to raise the hardness and pH slightly.

Although I don't recommend pH 5.5, the animals (Cynops and Notophthalmus) were just fine. As the pH changed gradually, they must have adapted. I'm sure there are lots of aquarium keepers in soft water areas who have low pH and don't even realize it because the animals are able to adapt.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I have taken to using bottled spring water imported to this state for my axolotls, Cynops sp. and Triturus sp. We have had a strange winter around here and the freeze/thaw cycle has the lead levels in the tap water a bit higher than I care for lately. (This part of Nebraska is a Lead Superfund Site). Its not an issue for us humans, as we have a proper filtration system, but for my aquatic pets, its actually cheaper to buy 5 gallon jugs of spring water every so often rather than burn up our expensive potable water filters in the sink...

The advantage to this is a pretty standardized pH and hardness...for now. I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can get back to using activated charcoal filtered rainwater for my caudates and fishes.