Photo: Introducing Charlie (My First Axolotl)

[dr34mr]

Just thought i'd post a photo of my first axolotl, Charlie.
Doesn't he look happy that its breakfast time! :happy:

I have a gravel floor on my tank, so he has a plate for feeding on. That way he doesn't eat any gravel.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Dr34mr,

Charlie sure is photogenic, posing with a huge smile for the camera. The feeding plate is a good idea. You will be surprised how quickly axies associate the plate as their dining room. However, gravel substrate is not suitable as it can pose an impaction risk. I recommend you either keep the tank bare bottomed or use sand as substrate.

Cheers.

 

[axiewhisperer]

He is beautiful! Love his joyful face and his colouring is pretty.

You should listen to Rayson about the gravel though, your axie could accidentally swallow the gravel while just snuffling around the place, you wouldn't want to risk losing that gorgeous axie!

I currently use very large rocks myself but actually am finding them a bit hard to clean lately so contemplating getting some sand myself, this weekend.

Good luck with him!

 

[axolotl86]

Oh my goodness, what an adorable axolotl! Love that face.

Mind the gravel - though. All good advice. Sand is great, as are very large rocks or slabs of rock. With your pretty axie I would recommend light natural colored sand, it would really bring out his beautiful colors. :happy:

 

[dr34mr]

I recommend you either keep the tank bare bottomed or use sand as substrate.

Hey Rayson,
Where is a good place to get sand in Sydney?
Also what is the best method of removing the gravel and replacing it with sand, with out stressing Charlie too much?

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Phil,

You can use freshwater aquarium sand, pool filter sand or children sand pit sand. The cheapest would probably be sand pit sand. You can get them from Bunnings Warehouse. If you have a smaller tank and don't require that much sand, you can just get freshwater aquarium sand from most aquarium or pet shops. You would only need enough sand to fill up to a layer 1 inch deep. This is to prevent gas pockets as a result of anaerobic bacteria activity from forming.

The best way to do this, since you already have an axie in the tank, is to remove Charlie and house him temporarily in a container/bucket. You can even pop him in the fridge for a couple of days. This would give you time to change the substrate in the tank. I would recommend you rinse the sand to get rid of fine particulate matter. Thereafter, after removing all the gravel, just replace with the sand. You might like to take this opportunity to unclog your filter, do some interior designing in the tank - placing plants, hiding spots etc. Try leave the slimy layer on your tank surfaces, they are the beneficial bacteria we want to retain. Allow the water to settle perhaps overnight with the filter on. Note that you would need to use a dechlorinator as long as you add any new tap water. You can then pop Charlie into his newly refurbished home.

Cheers.

 

[dr34mr]

Ok, I'm happy with cheap sand so Bunnings it is. I was thinking that i might layer the tank a bit, so have sand on one side of the tank, and not the other? Whats the best method for cleaning when you have sand as a substrate? At the moment i have a gravel vac / syphon for cleaning up the gravel.

In the tank at the moment I have a terracotta pot (With a plant growing off it), a barrel and piece of drift wood (also with a small plant). I'm thinking this is too much and so i'm thinking i'll remove something.
Charlie doesn't seem to hide much, I've seen him in the barrel twice and the pot once. Generally he sits either on top of the driftwood or just on the floor of the tank, when it's feeding time he comes and sits on his dinner plate.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Phil,

I would not recommend the 'slope' you intend to do with the sand. A slope will require a region where the depth of the sand is more than 1 inch. That would predispose gas pockets forming. A vacuum siphon works fine. You would have to experiment a bit to see which angle to hold it works best to avoid sucking up too much sand.

I think you can leave the pot, barrel and plants be. It is always good to provide at least 2 hiding spots per axie. Furthermore, there will be some beneficial bacteria already on their surfaces.

Cheers.

 

[dr34mr]

I was more thinking of using some small long pieces of drift wood to create a dam. So would be more of a step than a slope. This way i can have half the tank bare bottomed and half with sand.

I don't know if this will cause problems. I will probably just go with all sand, but i was just thinking out loud.

 

[2os4sds]

What a face,I love the photo.Very nice axie.:happy: