Ideal axolotl tank?

[Anna F]

What is your ideal axolotl tank? And what is the smallest you would recommend for a healthy axolotl? I am certain this has been asked before but please be patient with my miriad of questions I will ask!!

 

[PatchworkClocks]

The bare minimum as far as tank size goes is 10 gallons for one adult axolotl. However, 20 gallons is a much more comfortable space for them. You have to take into account how much space your decorations are going to take up when you go looking for a tank, because axolotls need 10 gallons of "free space", with extra for decorations, hides, what have you. The ideal tank is really whatever your heart desires, with respect to what will keep your axolotl happy and healthy. The key things to stay away from are sharp objects, objects with small holes, objects that move, objects which the axolotl can easily swallow, and any other non-axolotl tankmates (with the exception of snails, or shrimp/feeder fish if you want to give your axolotls a snack). When it comes to substrate, you can leave it bare bottom, use a piece of slate (cut to the size of your tank), or sand (play sand is one of the safest, although it is a pain to wash). Everything else is up to you!

Look around in the gallery section, I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration there.

 

[smurfrider]

My 55g tank is constantly a work in progress. It's bare bottom so easier to clean. But decorations and hides that I thought would work, the axies outgrew or or had to be removed because of injuries. I had a castle type arch thingy they loved to sit on top of, but the boy axie also loved to smash his face on the sides leaving bruises, so out it went. My axies also have a preference in plants. If they don't like it, they destroy it.

It doesn't matter what I think is ideal or aesthetically pleasing, Itzel and Quetzi have their own ideas of a dream home.

 

[Anna F]

Is it better to start with a smaller tank and upgrade or to go with a huge tank to begin with? Would that be okay for the tiny juvies?
I thought to start with a smaller tank for a couple of little ones and get something bigger as they grew.
Also, what have you found is the best "hide" for axies?

 

[PatchworkClocks]

Is it better to start with a smaller tank and upgrade or to go with a huge tank to begin with? Would that be okay for the tiny juvies?
I thought to start with a smaller tank for a couple of little ones and get something bigger as they grew.
Also, what have you found is the best "hide" for axies?

From what I've read, axolotl growth is dependent on how much they eat and how much space they have. That being said, it would probably be a good idea to start with a larger tank, rather than the bare minimum 10 gallons.

There are lots of hides that work perfectly well for axolotls. Personally, I have a ceramic tree trunk in my tank. It has lots of holes, and the inside is black so it stays really dark. Some people use terracotta pots turned on their sides (in my opinion they don't make the best hides, because they don't get very dark during the day). I've heard of others using things like candle holders (the ones with the dish-looking thing on top for scented wax; I don't remember the actual name of it). Really, the main things to look at when getting hides for axolotls is 1) Is it going to be big enough that I won't need to change it out for another one once the juvies become adults? 2) Does it get dark enough during the day that my axolotls can sleep without any light disturbing them? 3) Are there any sharp edges or small holes I need to worry about? 4) What quality is the paint (if there is any paint; the reason for this being that it can flake off and irritate your axolotl's skin)? Usually if the decoration was made specifically for aquarium use, #4 shouldn't be a concern.

 

[Anna F]

I like the ceramic tree trunk idea. I looked them up on Amazon and there are tons of choices!!
Hmmmmm....maybe I need to have my eye out for Black Friday sales and as large a tank as I can get,lol.

 

[Jawdoss]

I have a 91 Gallon tank. So in theory i could put 9 Axolotls in it….. but i wont. Because it will get crowded and will not be very nice to clean up… I will probably put 4 or 5 in my 91 Gallon tank!!

Basically stick to 15 Gallons per axie to give it a comfortable space, and try and get a tank that is long and wide, rather then tall.
My tank base is 125 x 41

If you have the $$$ and are willing to spend it, you can get custom tanks made, so you can make them wide, rather then tall.

 

[Anna F]

Thank you for the info!
Yeah, I have heard wider rather than taller, so will be keeping that in mind while I am looking.
Would those HUGE plastic tubs work if there was some sort of low pressure filter system set up?
I am also looking at kritter keepers JUST to start the axolotl eggs. Then graduate up. Same for the larvae.
Getting something bigger for my juvies though and investing in sponge filters and low pressure pumps, can't hurt to use them though I have heard axies don't care for a great deal of current?
I think my ideal would be a 150 or 200 gallon tank, set up as much as possible as original habitat. But that will be a while!

 

[layna]

For hides i used mopani wood and built a bridge thing they like to hide under and i attached anubias all around it so its like a little cave
I also have an 'aquarium root' they sit under, looks like this

And i have showed caddy things that stick to the walls and ive just put sand on top of them so they look more natural, which they love to sit on!
You can get corner ones and long wall ones so you can make all different levels for them to hide out in.
Ive opted fr the more natural look with pale play sand and the wood ect, but you can buy pre made hides which are pretty cool!
The general rule is 1 foot per axie but then add an extra foot for decor and plants ect so for 1 axie you would want a 2 foot tank

 

[auntiejude]

My Fantasy tank would be 6 ft long, 2 ft wide and 2 ft deep. Thats nearly 680L, so in theory thats more than 15 axies....

But that tank would cost £1000 so I'll start saving now...

 

[Anna F]

VERY cool, both of you!
I think "axolotl fever" may have hit here because now one of my friends is interested,lol.
So on Black Friday, there will be two of us looking at tanks.
I also think my ideal tank would have lots of interesting hiding spots.
I love castles, though I like the natural look, I also think it would be fun to set up a "medieval" tank with castles...drawbridges....the axolotls could be the dragons... I know, lame, right? (laughing)

 

[zombieaddict]

VERY cool, both of you!
I think "axolotl fever" may have hit here because now one of my friends is interested,lol.
So on Black Friday, there will be two of us looking at tanks.
I also think my ideal tank would have lots of interesting hiding spots.
I love castles, though I like the natural look, I also think it would be fun to set up a "medieval" tank with castles...drawbridges....the axolotls could be the dragons... I know, lame, right? (laughing)

I don't think it's lame at all! I'm setting up a 65 gallon tank for the lotls that I'll be getting next week with a nature aquarium meets Wonderland theme. I'm going to raise them in my spare 20 gallon until they're a little bit bigger and then transition them into Wonderland, full of plants, roots, rocks, hats, cats, cards, and caterpillars. Maybe even a doormouse or two.

 

[Anna F]

Wow. Now THAT is seriously COOL.
I am naming my axies after famous dragons and medieval (not necessarily good or bad) entities, gods/goddesses...

 

[zombieaddict]

Thank you! I'm going to order some terra cotta clay to sculpt one of a kind sculpture hides to go into the tank and match the theme. If I have any luck with it, maybe I can get some commissions from fellow axolotl fanatics.

Famous dragon names sounds like an awesome theme. A lot of my fish have Wonderland themed names and I suspect that the lotls will end up with them as well.