Help with tank set up plaese

[Flee]

Hi,
I am brand new to this site and I am wanting to buy some axolotls but first I need to set up a home for them. I have been reading heaps of posts and was jsut wondering what is the best set up for someone new?? What do I need to keep them happy, healthy and safe?? Also what is a good age to buy them??( Do they need to be a certain age like puppies) and can you tell the gender at a young age?? and how to pick a healthy one??


I have read things like eg.
For two I need a 60cm x30cm x30cm min tank size
Use sand or bigger pebble type stones not gravel as they inhale it
Main thing to feed is worms
Each one needs its own house as they may fight

Thank you for reading and for any advise you may have,
Felicity

 

[auntiejude]

Welcome to the Forum, and well done for doing some research BEFORE buying a pet!

You'll need a tank at least that big if not bigger - work on 40L per axie. No heat, no lights needed. So for 2 axies you'll want at least 80L if not more.
For a base you'll need sand, large stones or nothing - personally I have sand embedded in silicone on an acrylic plate as it's easier to clean. Stones are hard to clean, sand is OK - use kids play sand and wash it well.
Worms are the best food - get youself a worm farm set up - big bucket with lid, soil, worms, feed them cooked potato and they'll breed like bunnies.
Axies don't usually fight as such, but they like to hide. 2 hides or tunnels for 2 axie is fine.
Axies don't like strong current - make sure your filter doesn't upset them by angling the outlet towards a wall or ornament.
They do like bubbles - get a bubble curtain for them to play in.
If you're prone to hot summers where you are (above 25C regularly) invest in a chiller - axies don't like their water over 20C and some Aussies have trouble keeping the axies cool.

Choosing a healthy axie:
1. try and get one that has all its limbs and gills intact. Fluffy gills are a good sign.
2. try and get one from a breeder rather than a pet shop.
3. if you have to get one from a pet shop go to a shop that actually knows about axies - don't get one from a shop that keeps them of gravel or in a in a tropical tank.
4. You can't tell what sex they are until they are about 8" long - you'll normally get them at 3-4" as pets.
5. There is no set age for buying axies, but you can expect then to be around 3-4 months old at 3".

Hope that helps, and good luck!

 

[layna]

Hey
Axies dont need their own tank, as long as they are fed properly and have a big enough tank they will be fine. he general rule is a 2 foot tank for 1 axie, a 3 foot for two ect..so for two adult axies you would need a min of a 3 foot by 1 foot tank.
They like to have hides so look for something that will suit an axie and you dont need a tank light, they dont have eyelids so dont like it.

The safest sand type to use is childrens play sand, large rocks will get food and waste lodged under them and be a nightmare to clean.
No substrate at all is also an option but some axies cant grip the bare glass and dont like it.
Others use large pieces of slate and lay it across the bottom of the tank, or astroturf stuff so it looks like grass

They can be fed on bloodworms until they are 4-5" then they can be moved onto earthworms, these are the best diet for them but you can include pellets or the occasional feeder fish/shrimp.

You can buy an axie at any age, even an egg if you want but they are hard to raise that young, your best looking for a 'juvi' one, they are still little 3-6" but have all their legs and will be feeding well.
To judge whether an axie needs more food or not their tummy should be as wide as their head, if its littler, feed more.

As for the gender, you cant tell this until they are at least 12 months old as some axies are 18 months and a girl then overnight they become a boy hehe

Hope this helps!!

 

[layna]

Beat me to it auntiejude! haha

 

[Flee]

Thank you both so much. you've been a great help. I think I was on the right track with what Ive read on other sites :happy:

I have always wanted some I love watching them. I have been looking at tanks and will go again 2morrow.

Another question is a tank set ok you know the ones which come with a filter and light? I know the light is not needed but will the filter be ok or do I need a better one?

also I was worried that were i was wanting to keep it was under a cooling vent but may be good in the summer to help cool the tank?

 

[layna]

The filter generally should turn over 4 times the tank volume every hour, for example, if you have a 100L tank the filter should do 400L/ph
Some people just use a sponge filter, others use a cannister, and some just use an internal filter, its personal preference.

If you are going to heavily plant your tank with live plants then the light will be fine to help them grow and the axies will have shade in the plants.
If not you can just leave the light off

And a mesh lid is fine, if you were wanting to have a fan blowing on the water to keep the tank cool, its brilliant! Just always try to have a lid as axies sometimes like to try and jump out of the water silly things

Haha welcome to the axie world, theyre addictive! I started off with one and i now have 5