Ideas

[argray90]

Hello,

I will be purchasing a few axolotls here soon I would really like 3 preferably. Due to ease to get I will probably go with babies so I know I would need to separate the tank. I have a few questions. What size tank would be good for when they are full size adults? I don't want to buy a small tank then upgrade later might as well give them plenty of space while they are young. What type of filtration do people use? What is the best and cheapest. I know a lot of people have 50 gallon tanks and only fill them with 11 inches of water or so and usually have a waterfall system somehow. Any input on how to set up a tank would be great as I want to have all of that set up well before I make my purchase. If anyone near Chicago has a tank, setup, or even axolotls for sale let me know and I would love to consider them!

Thanks,

Adam

 

[jane1187]

If you get three and they all live to adulthood you will need quite a big tank, at least 3 to 4ft minimum (not sure how big that is in gallons), or 3 separate 2.5 to 3 ft tanks if you want to house them all seperately. For young axolotls a small tank, such as a 20 gallon, will do them for now but be prepared to need to upgrade.

You do not necessarily need to separate the tank for the babies. As long as there are plenty of hides and you feed them carefully they should not nip at each other's limbs too much. Overstocking can be a major factor contributing to limb loss so as long as they have plenty of room there shouldn't be a problem.

You do not need a waterfall system as filtration is not necessary and the water flow caused by the waterfall may not be appreciated by your axolotls. If you do want some sort of fitration try a sponge filter powered by an air pump. This will provide filtration with minimal water disturbance, and the air bubbles will increase the oxygen content of the water, which is only beneficial.

You are right to have the set-up fully installed before purchase. However, I do suggest you sit down for a couple of hours and scour the axolotl pages of this site as you will discover many useful and ingenious tank set-ups, and advise about housing many axolotls. You will also find advise about tank cycling, substrates, and suitable ornaments and plants for your tank. Also I highly recommend reading the axolotl set up sticky as there are literally hundreds of tank photos posted for you to take inspiration from.

Good luck

 

[hacelepues]

Minimum is 30 gallons for three adults, but it's always good if you can give them a little more!
I'd recommend a 40 gallon breeder, personally. I know petco sells them. They're great axie tanks because they are deep and wide, and axies like floor space!!! Another bonus is that a 40 breder has a smaller footprint than a 30 gallon long tank

Like Jane said, you don't need to separate them. I never did with my juvies and have never had problems. Also, I can't agree more about getting a sponge filter!!! I used to have a waterfall filter in my old tank... now I've had a sponge filter for about a month in my new tank. It's ridiculously less expensive than HOB or cannister filters, 100x quieter, and my axies are happier for it!
They used to avoid areas of their old tank because no matter how I tried, I couldn't completely reduce the flor from the HOB. Now, they own every inch of their tank and even enjoy sitting in the bubbles from their new filter.

 

[argray90]

Thanks for the help, after a lot of reading last night instead of doing the work I needed I found a few 40 gallon breeders at petco that seem to be good. One was 4 ft. L X 1 ft. W X 1ft. H which seems a lot of people have. I also ordered a sponge filter seeing that most everyone has them and they are way more efficient to a budget then a canister filter as you said. I did not know about lots of hiding spaces could prevent them from the cannibalistic stage so I will add that to the plans. Thanks for the help. Any other help would be great.

 

[Kaysie]

40 breeders are definitely great tanks! They're versatile, big, easy to access (at least for short people like me).

You'll need more than one sponge filter though. A couple placed throughout the tank will help keep things from getting stagnant. Once these guys get to be a little bigger (3-4") I would recommend getting a canister filter. If you're on a budget, look for the Rena filters; they're much cheaper than the more well-known brands. I've had great luck with them, and their customer service is phenomenal!

 

[argray90]

40 breeders are definitely great tanks! They're versatile, big, easy to access (at least for short people like me).

You'll need more than one sponge filter though. A couple placed throughout the tank will help keep things from getting stagnant. Once these guys get to be a little bigger (3-4") I would recommend getting a canister filter. If you're on a budget, look for the Rena filters; they're much cheaper than the more well-known brands. I've had great luck with them, and their customer service is phenomenal!

Thanks for the input I will get 3 of them to put through out the tank! I am not on a budget necessarily so once they are bigger I will definitely get a canister filter as they get bigger. Thanks for the insight.

 

[jane1187]

I'm glad you've chosen a tank. Not sure what a 'breeder' tank is (I'm British so I don't work in gallons) but it sounds like it should be plenty big enough from what the other members are saying.

Just wanted to say that a canister filter is a good idea as almost all come with a spray bar, which will reduce the power of the water flow into the tank. So do bear in mind that if you buy one that doesn't have a spray bar try to find one that will fit onto it. Canister filters are great because they are powerful filters and you don't have to disturb the tank to give them a clean.

 

[Jake]

If you get three and they all live to adulthood you will need quite a big tank, at least 3 to 4ft minimum (not sure how big that is in gallons), or 3 separate 2.5 to 3 ft tanks if you want to house them all seperately. For young axolotls a small tank, such as a 20 gallon, will do them for now but be prepared to need to upgrade.

Minimum is 30 gallons for three adults, but it's always good if you can give them a little more!

I'm not sure where anyone comes up with "minimum tank requirements" for axolotls. It's all a matter of opinion as none of us can personally communicate with our axolotls and ask if they'd prefer a 75 gallon over a 10 gallon tank. Many universities keep them in simple, small tubs and some literally keep them in squat fish bowls their entire lives with no apparent ill effects. For the most part lab raised axolotls look just as healthy if not healthier than axolotls people keep at home in large aquariums. The only downside is the need to change the water more frequently because of the amount of waste the animals should produce. Axolotls are not known for being very active, in fact, increased activity is usually a good indicator of stress (or breeding behavior).

Keeping small juveniles in a large aquarium can actually be worse than keeping them in a small tub until they're larger. A 2-4 inch juvenile in a 40 gallon tank will not be able to locate food as easily as it would in a smaller area. They do not actively hunt, but rather lie and wait for prey. Unless you decide to hand feed each of the axolotls, which many people (myself included) choose to do, you'd be better off raising them up in smaller tubs or tanks until they are larger.

Just my opinion.

 

[hacelepues]

I'm not sure where anyone comes up with "minimum tank requirements" for axolotls. It's all a matter of opinion as none of us can personally communicate with our axolotls and ask if they'd prefer a 75 gallon over a 10 gallon tank. Many universities keep them in simple, small tubs and some literally keep them in squat fish bowls their entire lives with no apparent ill effects. For the most part lab raised axolotls look just as healthy if not healthier than axolotls people keep at home in large aquariums. The only downside is the need to change the water more frequently because of the amount of waste the animals should produce. Axolotls are not known for being very active, in fact, increased activity is usually a good indicator of stress (or breeding behavior).

Keeping small juveniles in a large aquarium can actually be worse than keeping them in a small tub until they're larger. A 2-4 inch juvenile in a 40 gallon tank will not be able to locate food as easily as it would in a smaller area. They do not actively hunt, but rather lie and wait for prey. Unless you decide to hand feed each of the axolotls, which many people (myself included) choose to do, you'd be better off raising them up in smaller tubs or tanks until they are larger.

Just my opinion.

I think the idea of the minimum is a good concept for hobbyists. Yes, axolotls can do well in tubs, and tubs can be a necessity in certain cases like scientific studies and large scale breeding.

But lets face it. Most people here aren't keeping axies to study their regenerative properties, or massive scale breeding.

First of all, it's always best for the animal to try to replicate their natural habitat. It tends to fewer stresses.

Second of all, most hobbyists want to keep multiple axolotls TOGETHER, not in separate small containers. This is why a minimum comes in handy. You can't keep two axolotls together permanently in too little space. This will result in agression. 10 gallons per axolotl is an easy to understand terminology that most people new to the hobby can aim to provide.

Finally, 10 gallons of water per axolotl is a decent amount that allows for weekly water changes, and less fluctuations of temperature, ph, etc, than a little tupperware container.

The way I see it, any animal can SURVIVE in the smallest container possible as long as they're getting the bare minimum. I'm sure you and I could both survive in a small empty room with just enough room to lay down as long as someone was cleaning our waste, feeding us, and ensuring we had fresh oxygen to breathe. Would either of us be truly happy in that situation? No. We probably wouldn't live as long either.

Animals may not understand or experience "happiness" or "sadness", but they understand the concept of space well enough. All animals know when they're trapped in a tiny box, or a large box, or a giant lake or field. And most are better off and have longer life spans when their captive space allows for the same freedoms as their natural habitat.

That's why minimums are good things, for people who want to care for their animals as pets, versus for profit.

 

[MandiceP]

Just to add to the above... My little 6" Axolotl, Kreacher was recently moved from a ten gallon by himself into a 33 gallon long (4ftx1ftx1ft) with another axolotl of the same size and when he was in the ten I often saw him swimming against the glass sides (as if he were trying to swim right through) and "pacing" the front side of the tank. Swimming back and forth. Now that he's in the larger tank he doesn't do any of this. He has many new places to hide and lots of room to swim and he doesn't seem bothered at all. I felt awful every time I saw him swimming at the glass. So you can definitely tell Kreacher is more comfortable in the larger tank. Maybe he could have survived by himself in the ten for a long time, but he is definitely more content in the larger tank (plus the larger tank is beautiful to look at where as the ten, I felt, was kind of an eye sore :/ )