New and considering Axie

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Kaycejones

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I'm new and am considering an Axie and have a few questions. I'm still doing my research and wouldn't get one until this weekend at the earliest but want to get everything hammered out first and know what I'm getting into.

I have a 10gal tank. The Axies I'm looking at are just under 3" right now so obviously have growing to do. I am considering a slate bottom, if I can find it at an affordable price. I am also looking for a filter for my tank as I don't have one. I would be getting a larger tank in the future but I have this one for the time being so might as well use it. I've never cycled a tank before so I don't really know where to start and I've never owned any amphibians. Is there a simple step by step page for cycling/setting up a tank? I've read the "Read first" thing and there's lots of ideas but I'm a bit overwhelmed and want to do right by the lil kiddo if I get it.

So..how do I cycle?
Experiences with slate bottoms?
cheap/easy hidey plants/houses?
 
I just googled cycling, or fishless cycling, depending on if you have a critter in there or not already. TONS of info. I believe there are some cycling threads here already too. I'd elaborate but I'm only two weeks into cycling my tank WITH my axolotl (didnt know better). Some of the sites i've found:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.flippersandfins.net/CyclingFishlessNeeds.htm
http://www.flippersandfins.net/CyclingFishlessHowTo.htm
http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/Water_Changes.htm
I have a bunch more that i personally use, just cant remember where i put the bookmarks atm :D

For cheap/easy hides, terra cotta pots are good, pvc is safe, most things that are considered "food safe" are ok for aquariums. I recently found out that you can make things out of Sculpey clay (certain lines of it anyway) and also FIMO clay after its hardened (duh) and after its fired in your oven is safe. I found this out by a few fish forums I joined and people had done lengthy tests of water chemistry and fish and other aquatic critters health after adding the sculpey to the tank. also, polymer clay is basically pvc.

Basically the main thing for tanks is NO GRAVEL or rocks smaller or close to the size of the axies head. But you said you are planning on using slate, so that probably wont be an issue.

I'm personally using a sponger filter, as the drop in filter was an aqueon quietflow 10, and my axie was wigging out with it on. I had it for less than 24 hours lol. Shes fine with the sponge filter.

My axie is 3.5-4 inches right now :)
 
yeah it's really overwhelming. I've had fish before and never cycled but they were mainly guppies and bettas and did grand without much help.
 
Well that's the problem with fish keeping. It's not always easy to tell how a fish/salamander is actually doing. It is definitely possible to keep aquatic life without cycling, however it requires multiple waterchanges a week in order to keep ammonia/nitrite to an acceptable level while the tank is cycling. If you have never previously cycled a tank before, chances are the tank cycled naturally, however the process of cycling is very hard on whatever is currently living in the tank.
I would personally suggest not even considering getting the axolotls until you at least have a cycled tank, because I'm personally not a fan of doing daily waterchanges. If you cycle the tank prior to getting the axolotls, not only will you have more than plenty of enough time to research them, but when you get the axolotls you'll be sure you know everything you need to. Not to mention there will be no need for daily waterchanges.
I know you plan on buying a growout tank for an axolotl, however most of the time it's far easier(and cheaper) to just get the tank you plan on keeping for life. For instance when I bought my 2, I looked for a 40 breeder on craigslist for a few months before getting them, even though they were very small when I purchased them.
So what I recommend on doing is getting a firm grasp on the nitrogen cycle(if you need any help with it feel free to pm me), get an ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kit(most sites say a ph test kit, but I think that's a little excessive), and check out craigslist or ebay for a cheap secondhand tank that would be a little bit larger
 
So one Axie wouldn't do well in a 10gal? I've read a lot of mixed reviews on that and whether they are happy alone as well. I only really considered them because I have this tank and was planning something for it when I came across them. I was planning on getting one and using the 10 gal tank that I have rather than anything bigger. Would possibly consider a 20 in the future but I don't have a lot of room for anything bigger than that at absolute max.

So cycling with an axie in there would not be ok? They are very uncommon in our area (central washington) and I'd hate to go through all this work an have the axie I'm considering be gone to another home.
 
I wouldn't put one In an uncylced tank of that size nitrates build up really fast and water changes cause a lot of shock. I started mine in and uncycled but its a 75 gal so it builds up slow. Plus its planted fairly. If you want to use the 10 for something consider a shrimp tank or something like that. You could pit them in there after its cycled but they can grow fast depending on how much you feed them and 10 gals is the mi. For one. Just imagin a ruler in a 10 gal tank. That's how big they get :) best of luck

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997R using Tapatalk
 
I was going to use the ten for fish but axies are much neater. I could try to find a large tank but not really wanting to spend a lot on filters and a new tank, only reall considered because I had it on hand. Was reading they only get 8-10" max. so it still seems like quite a bit of room. Was thinking about adding levels too so I could use the full tank instead of half.
 
I'm looking at 20gal tanks now and might be able to make one work/afford it. Is it absolutely not ok to cycle with an Axie in. I've read some other posts where people have done it. I really don't want to buy a tank and have the axies be unavailable and honestly a few weeks/month I may not be able to find them anywhere.
 
It's possible to keep an axolotl in a ten gallon tank, but you would need to monitor the water more closely and do more waterchanges. I personally would not keep an axolotl in a ten gallon tank. A 10" axolotl may not seem quite that big, but the width of a ten gallon is only 10 1/2". So if an axolotl was 10" it would only have an extra 1/2" of space width wise.
It's ok to cycle a tank with an axolotl(or any fish) inside, but be prepared to do daily waterchanges. .5 ppm's of ammonia and 3 ppms of nitrite are the most you want in your tank. This means you will be checking your water on a daily basis, and doing daily waterchanges to ensure you're water is livable. There's really no reason to cycle a tank with an axolotl inside if you're planning ahead, it's easier, involves less waterchanges and will be less stressful for your axolotl
 
K. Looking at 20gallon tanks now and filters. I don't see how I can do this withouut cycling it with the Axie in. I really don't want to cycle a tank for weeks/months and when it's ready not have the ability to find an axie. I've never seen them available here before and the breeder has a had a lot of interest in them. I am willing to test and do water changes as often as needed, I have plenty of time on my hands to do so.
 
Kaycejones said:
I'm looking at 20gal tanks now and might be able to make one work/afford it. Is it absolutely not ok to cycle with an Axie in. I've read some other posts where people have done it. I really don't want to buy a tank and have the axies be unavailable and honestly a few weeks/month I may not be able to find them anywhere.
Click to expand...


The larger the tank, the more stable your water parameters are inbetween water changes.
Greater volume of water means more dilution of waste.
Water temperature is also more stable in a larger volume - - very important for those summer months when temperatures spike. Cool water is essential for your axolotls health.

Check out craigslist for your tank. You are sure to find a good deal there.
And you can always order an axie from members here year round
 
I'm cycling with an axie in, but as others have said, it is hard work doing daily testing and water changes, and probably not the best for my axie. I'm on week 7 now, and my levels are still really high. I have a 20 galling long tank, which I thought would be fine for him, he is only 7 inches, but now i've had him in for a few weeks it seems a little small, and I'm looking to upgrade. Wish I'd got a bigger tankto start with, as I will now have to cycle etc all over again! I would personally get the biggest tank you can. It will make it less effort for you too in the long run. You could always start cycling your tank now, whilst looking for an axie, then hopefully your tank will be ready by the time you find one. Most places should reserve it for you for at least a week or 2 anyway if you are preparing the tank. Good luck!
 
I think the biggest I'd consider is a 20gal. I don't have the room for anything bigger unless my roommate moves out and I move a tank to the living areas of the house but..it's really bright out there, large windows everywhere. I think I can find a 20gal, have a few e-mails out to people just waiting for responses.
 
yeah, i'm cycling with my axie but if i had the choice to do this over again, and knew what i know now, that DEFINITELY would not have been my choice.

LOTS of water changes and testing. Do i regret getting her? No way. Will i cycle a tank before i get more? Oh god yes.
 
What exactly does cycling with entail? Partial changes and testing daily? How long does it take you? What is most difficult about it? Does your lil Ax seem to be handling it well?
 
I test the ammonia and nitrite levels daily, then do a 20% water change if the ammonia or nitrite hits 0.5% or above. It isn't a big hassle, I've got into a routine of always having a spare bucket of room temp dechlorinated water to hand, but I worry that having ammonia and nitrites in his tank isn't doing him any good. I have no idea when my levels will reach 0, as I said, it has been nearly 7 weeks now, as I started the cycle off with some fish food before I got him, in the hope it would help. If you are going to be away for more than a few days In the next couple of months, don't do it, as I am off on a weeks holiday in a few days, and am panicking about what to do while I'm away.
 
The twenty gallon tank I'm planning on buying has a Whisper filter.. anyone know if that's ok? Also she said it needs cleaned, has algae on the glass. Does the fact that the filter system has been used mean that it might be quicker to cycle? I'm planning on getting the tank/filter tomorrow. And would be picking up the Axie this weekend if all goes as planned. I don't mind testing and doing frequent changes daily to cycle it that way and won't be leaving for even a weekend in the next couple months so shouldn't be a problem.
 
if the filter is currently in use with fish in the water, then yes it will be a much faster cycle. However if it has dried, and hasn't been running than it will have no effect, I highly suggest you read about the nitrogen cycle before getting an axolotl.
 
I read about the nitrogen cycle on all the pages you guys have posted and more. I hadn't seen anywhere that it said a dry filter mattered. Sorry.
 
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