Hows this?

[dogan]

on Sunday i will be going to get an axolotl
its going to be put into this tank, i was wondering if its suitable

ive still got to put a tube, tunnel, hiding place things in.
the fake plants that are in there were taken out from a tank that had goldfish in it, so im assuming its got some bacteria on it?

the pics are crappy but you get the idea

 

[kclinton]

How big is the tank? Did you cycle it?

 

[Abrahm]

Moving the plants from the goldfish tank isn't going to help if there is no ammonia source in the new tank. Since you moved them into an empty tank all the bacteria that was growing on them has now more than likely died. If you have a filter for this tank I would get it set up on the goldfish tank for a week or so and that will allow some beneficial bacteria to grow.

You should post a picture of the tank with the hides/decorations because it is awfully bare at the moment. Also, I'm going to second Karrie and ask how big is this tank?

 

[ianclick]

Hi dogan,

Great start www.axolotl.org has information about cycling and what it is as well as heaps of other great info on setups and axies in general.

Excellent to come here before getting one I didn't and had a few early freak outs.

Axies like places to hide and plants, the more the merrier.

Good Luck

 

[dogan]

If you have a filter for this tank I would get it set up on the goldfish tank for a week or so and that will allow some beneficial bacteria to grow.

You should post a picture of the tank with the hides/decorations because it is awfully bare at the moment. Also, I'm going to second Karrie and ask how big is this tank?

well the thing is i chucked all the goldfish into our pond outside, if i put the plants/rocks into the pond for a week would that do the same thing?

ye the tank is really bare at the moment, I've still got to put some hiding places in it.

the tank is 60x24x30, to me it looks big enough for one axolotl, and thats all i plan to get at the moment, if i thought about more ill get a bigger tank for sure!


Thanks for all the advise!

 

[kapo]

No that won't do the same thing, it may not give enough time for bacteria to build up on the plants/rocks.

Have you got a thermometer and freshwater test kits for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate? The thermometer you'll definitely need, especially by the sounds of things with some of the temperatures that have been posted recently on this forum by other Australian owners. Temperatures over 20C can be very stressful to axies. Trying to maintain a cool temperature that constantly fluctuates can also be very stressful to an axolotl.

The complete master test kit costs approx $37, might be a little more. But if you can't afford that, definitely buy a test kit for ammonia and nitrites, the test tube kind, not the all in one types. You'll need this to test your water while it's cycling. Don't buy any chemicals to speed the cycle or fix the ammonia etc... apart from a water dechlorinator to add to the tapwater.

Once you add your axolotl and start feeding it you will effectively be starting the cycle in your tank, which will need it to be monitored regularly, every day or two days (at most); by testing the water for ammonia, and then if levels are above 0 doing a partial waterchange (20-30% ) on the same day. Cycling can take anywhere from 3.5 weeks to 10.5 weeks (at most).

Temperature and water quality will be the main things you need to monitor over the next few weeks while it's cycling.

 

[dogan]

During the day i keep the shutter closed so the room shouldn't get as hot as it is outside. But ill still hang a thermo on the tank.
i haven't got a test kit yet, ill get one ASAP, ill do small water changes everyday until i do.

I got the axolotl today it seems to be really healthy, the person i got it from seemed to be know a fair bit about axolotls.So far the axolotl hasnt done much other than hide in the cheapo hiding place its got and swim up to the top to get a gulp of air once in awhile. It s a pretty small axy its about 5 inches.

ill post a pic of the axy later

 

[dogan]

heres the pic

 

[Jennewt]

During the day i keep the shutter closed so the room shouldn't get as hot as it is outside. But ill still hang a thermo on the tank.

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly, but if you plan to hang an air thermometer outside the tank, this is not adequate. The water temp can be surprisingly different from the room air temp, and it's important to measure the water temp accurately. (Sorry if I'm misinterpreting.)

Do you have a filter?

Good luck with the axie!

 

[dogan]

ill be sticking it inside the tank with those suction cups!