Handy sand, silica sand

Aschneider8

Aschneider8

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Hello, I am wondering if this would be an OK sand for a tank? It says 100% quartz and was recommended for fish on a local forum, just want to make sure. There is a warning against breathing it in on the bag. Also I will be moving 2 about 7" long from a 20 gal long to a 92 gal corner tank. Will this be too much of a shock if there are lots of things to climb on? Thanks.
 
It depends what kind of sand it is. Silica based sand is the best for axolotl tanks, but if it's got that "do not inhale" warning on the bag, it may be sharp and could cause some severe problems for an axolotl should the sand be swallowed. The best kind of sand to use that I've been seeing a lot on the forum is children's play sand and pool filter sand.
 
Hi! not sure about the sand, Rhiannon did address that though. As for the tank, floor space is generally more important than water volume. If you're worried about it being too deep for them to swim to the surface maybe try only half-filling it until you're sure they can swim that high? How high is the new tank?
 
The bigger the tank the better really, axies like to walk along the floor, so maybe add some 'levels' using shower caddies to your tank for them to swim up to or add your plants to so they have floor space?
Water level is irrelevant unless they are only tiny still, you have to think axies come from a lake in the wild so are used to depths and they use their gills to breathe, they dont generally go to the surface to use their lungs unless its to swallow air for buoyancy, but if you are going to reduce the water level it needs to be a little higher than they are long, as a minimum :D

Play sand is the most recommended as a sand substrate as its very fine, so has less chance of causing impaction
 
Thanks so much for all of the advice. They are about 7 inches already and swim really well. I have allot of plants, although now I will need to get some more, that they like to sit in. Often they float near the top on their own though as well. The tank is 2 feet deep an 38 inches on each side with a curved front. I love the idea of shower caddies to put plants in. I'll look for some plastic ones and have some mosses to attach to them. I have tons of slate from a pool table that I am making some big platforms with as well and will be sure to smooth off the sharp edges.
Your comment about the lake reminded me of a possible axie sighting my friends 12 year old daughter had in a lake in Wisconsin. It is a deep lake, but the top freezes over several feet deep in the winter. She swears she saw about a 10 inch leucistic axie in about 2 feet of water. Would it be possible for them to survive in such a cold environment. I wonder if there are any species that look similar here?
 
You friend may have seen a pale salmander larva - they look very similar to axolotls - but it wouldn't have been an axolotl unless it was a released/escaped pet, which is very unlikely. But yes they can survive at 2-4C at the bottom of a lake over winter.

Google images of tiger salamander larvae and you'll see how similar they are.
 
I figured it was something else, but we did searching for native salamanders and she kept insisting, but she is only 12 :wacko:. It is a mostly private lake surrounded by homes but very deep and pretty big. Told her to get a picture if she ever sees one again. I know that it would have to be released or eggs that were disposed of or something. The lake has a terrible invasive zebra mussel problem too.
 
Just an update, they are loving the bigger tank. I couldn't find shower caddies without metal in them, but I did find all plastic soap dishes with suction cups at the dollar store. I tied some java moss into the drainage slits into the bottom. One of the two uses them and seems to be learning to come up to one to be fed. Wondering what you think.
 
As long as hes not at the surface swallowing air when your feeding him then its fine :D
 
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