New to Axolotl Rearing (Tank Cycling Help?)

[rads]

Hey there everyone!

I recently got an axo and I didn't realize I had to cycle the tank. After extensive reading up I decided to do the fish in cycling (which I know isn't recommended but possible to do with a lot of care). In doing that I went and got the Tetra Safe Start to jump start my cycling process and a water test kit. I tested the water day 1 of the process (when I introduced the bacteria but about day 3 total of the axie being in the tank) and found my levels to all be in the acceptable range. Mind you my axie is only about 1.5 inches if that and in a 20 gallon tank alone. Day 2 I'm starting to see a rise in ammonia (0.25 reading). I realize this is normal but my question is do I let the ammonia rise a bit so the bacteria have something to eat or do some water changes to keep it at 0? I figured that it must have some in order to feed the growth but I worry about my axie. I also clean most extra food up but wanted to leave some for the ammonia production since the tank is so big and Rads is so small. I didn't think it alone would produce enough ammonia before the bacteria started to starve. I also have two live plants in there as well to help with ammonia and what not.

My water temp is kept in the range for juvie axies but I also worry it fluctuates a little too much. It ranges from 63.2 to about 67 or so slowly through the day. I keep a fan over the top of the water all day except feeding time when I take the axie out and feed it in a separate container (I'd gotten sand after reading it was good for them, but not juvies so to be on the safe side and keep it from eating sand I take it out). The ambient temp stays pretty steady in the day. I work 12 hours so regulating the temp is difficult when I'm away for that long.

I got a blacklight bulb as I was told they would be fine for the axie (and it has the GFP so it glows!) but when I turn it on it seems to run and hide. I have plenty of caves it can hang out in and decided to run it only through the night (mostly for the plants as they don't have any direct sunlight). I wanted to leave it on for the day as well and maybe let it adjust to the lighting, thoughts?

I know you're supposed to feed juvie axies daily but how much? At 1.5 inches I don't think it eats that much but I don't want to under feed it either. I have dried blood worms (which I've found is the best so far and feed about two to four), nightcrawlers that are either very small or small and I cut up (which it'll eat about maybe one whole one or about half), and dried brine shrimp cubes (which was a total mess and disaster when I tried to feed it and it ate maybe a gulp or two). I hand feed it successfully until it it starts to just swim away instead of eating. I assume that means it's full? Also occasionally I see it floating butt up which I read was a sign of constipation but a few moments later it will be chilling flat on the sand. Is that just an axie thing? I've been keeping a really close eye on it especially since there is sand in the tank but as I stated above I take it out of any sand to feed. I see it mostly after feeding and by the next day until after I feed again it's floating normally.

I also was considering eventually getting another axie since I have a 20 gallon. I know I have to either get them young now and raise separated until they're adults (I worry about getting opposite genders though and I don't want breeding), let one grow and get another juvie and raise them separately (again I worry about them not being the same gender), or raise one and try and find another adult when it's old enough (but no where near me do they have adults and I don't want to have one ship due the extreme heat we usually have in my city). Thoughts?

I know it's a lot to read through but thank you in advance for the help! I realize I should have probably read up a lot more prior to purchasing but I've read so many threads in this forum after and started playing catch-up as soon as I realized my mistakes (and why I decided to finally join! lol).

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

Hey there everyone!

I recently got an axo and I didn't realize I had to cycle the tank. After extensive reading up I decided to do the fish in cycling (which I know isn't recommended but possible to do with a lot of care). In doing that I went and got the Tetra Safe Start to jump start my cycling process and a water test kit. I tested the water day 1 of the process (when I introduced the bacteria but about day 3 total of the axie being in the tank) and found my levels to all be in the acceptable range. Mind you my axie is only about 1.5 inches if that and in a 20 gallon tank alone. Day 2 I'm starting to see a rise in ammonia (0.25 reading). I realize this is normal but my question is do I let the ammonia rise a bit so the bacteria have something to eat or do some water changes to keep it at 0? I figured that it must have some in order to feed the growth but I worry about my axie. I also clean most extra food up but wanted to leave some for the ammonia production since the tank is so big and Rads is so small. I didn't think it alone would produce enough ammonia before the bacteria started to starve. I also have two live plants in there as well to help with ammonia and what not.

My water temp is kept in the range for juvie axies but I also worry it fluctuates a little too much. It ranges from 63.2 to about 67 or so slowly through the day. I keep a fan over the top of the water all day except feeding time when I take the axie out and feed it in a separate container (I'd gotten sand after reading it was good for them, but not juvies so to be on the safe side and keep it from eating sand I take it out). The ambient temp stays pretty steady in the day. I work 12 hours so regulating the temp is difficult when I'm away for that long.

I got a blacklight bulb as I was told they would be fine for the axie (and it has the GFP so it glows!) but when I turn it on it seems to run and hide. I have plenty of caves it can hang out in and decided to run it only through the night (mostly for the plants as they don't have any direct sunlight). I wanted to leave it on for the day as well and maybe let it adjust to the lighting, thoughts?

I know you're supposed to feed juvie axies daily but how much? At 1.5 inches I don't think it eats that much but I don't want to under feed it either. I have dried blood worms (which I've found is the best so far and feed about two to four), nightcrawlers that are either very small or small and I cut up (which it'll eat about maybe one whole one or about half), and dried brine shrimp cubes (which was a total mess and disaster when I tried to feed it and it ate maybe a gulp or two). I hand feed it successfully until it it starts to just swim away instead of eating. I assume that means it's full? Also occasionally I see it floating butt up which I read was a sign of constipation but a few moments later it will be chilling flat on the sand. Is that just an axie thing? I've been keeping a really close eye on it especially since there is sand in the tank but as I stated above I take it out of any sand to feed. I see it mostly after feeding and by the next day until after I feed again it's floating normally.

I also was considering eventually getting another axie since I have a 20 gallon. I know I have to either get them young now and raise separated until they're adults (I worry about getting opposite genders though and I don't want breeding), let one grow and get another juvie and raise them separately (again I worry about them not being the same gender), or raise one and try and find another adult when it's old enough (but no where near me do they have adults and I don't want to have one ship due the extreme heat we usually have in my city). Thoughts?

I know it's a lot to read through but thank you in advance for the help! I realize I should have probably read up a lot more prior to purchasing but I've read so many threads in this forum after and started playing catch-up as soon as I realized my mistakes (and why I decided to finally join! lol).

It sounds like you have a good start. Fish-in cycling is definitely not ideal and can actually take longer, but if you're careful it'll be fine. Really, you don't want to let your ammonia get above .25ppm. Even at .5, they can start to get agitated. This is part of why fish-in cycling takes longer. You can't let the ammonia get too high so the bacteria takes a little longer to build. Using a starter bacteria definitely will help. It can take over 6-8 weeks though to get your tank stabilized so bare that in mind and stay on top of your water changes.

Blacklight bulbs can actually be super intense light. We don't think of them that way because they aren't bright to us, but if you've ever actually looked directly at a black light bulb, they hurt your eyes.

As far as feeding goes, earthworms are the best nutrition for them anyway so if he is eating cut up red wigglers already, that's great. Red wigglers/european nightcrawlers, soft sinking carnivore pellets, and repashy grub pie are my go-to foods. It's very hard to over feed axolotls at that age. They will stop eating when they are full. Be very very careful with the sand. I would honestly remove it if you can. They really should not be housed on sand until they are about 6 inches long. Sand can be fatal to smaller axies since it's easier for them to develop impactions at that size. They wont just eat it when they are feeding either, they'll do it when they're just hunting around their tank.

You could definitely get a second axie. My caution here would be wait until your tank is cycled and you've got a good handle on caring for one. Then get another of the same size. You could definitely have an issue with ending up with a male and female as it can be really hard to tell until they are closer to a year old, and even then it's not always 100% guaranteed. If you want to wait until he get to more adult size and then get another adult, that is also fine. Any reputable breeder that ships will take precautions when it comes to shipping during hotter months.

 

[rads]

It sounds like you have a good start. Fish-in cycling is definitely not ideal and can actually take longer, but if you're careful it'll be fine. Really, you don't want to let your ammonia get above .25ppm. Even at .5, they can start to get agitated. This is part of why fish-in cycling takes longer. You can't let the ammonia get too high so the bacteria takes a little longer to build. Using a starter bacteria definitely will help. It can take over 6-8 weeks though to get your tank stabilized so bare that in mind and stay on top of your water changes.

Blacklight bulbs can actually be super intense light. We don't think of them that way because they aren't bright to us, but if you've ever actually looked directly at a black light bulb, they hurt your eyes.

As far as feeding goes, earthworms are the best nutrition for them anyway so if he is eating cut up red wigglers already, that's great. Red wigglers/european nightcrawlers, soft sinking carnivore pellets, and repashy grub pie are my go-to foods. It's very hard to over feed axolotls at that age. They will stop eating when they are full. Be very very careful with the sand. I would honestly remove it if you can. They really should not be housed on sand until they are about 6 inches long. Sand can be fatal to smaller axies since it's easier for them to develop impactions at that size. They wont just eat it when they are feeding either, they'll do it when they're just hunting around their tank.

You could definitely get a second axie. My caution here would be wait until your tank is cycled and you've got a good handle on caring for one. Then get another of the same size. You could definitely have an issue with ending up with a male and female as it can be really hard to tell until they are closer to a year old, and even then it's not always 100% guaranteed. If you want to wait until he get to more adult size and then get another adult, that is also fine. Any reputable breeder that ships will take precautions when it comes to shipping during hotter months.

Thank you so much for your help! I'll start trying to figure out a way to remove the sand then. My only problem is we recently move into an apartment and I don't want to throw the sand out and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to dry it out and out it back in the bag. Maybe I'll pick up a bucket or something.

I didn't see anything about the temperature though, would you mind also sharing your advice on that?

Thank you again so much for your help!

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

Thank you so much for your help! I'll start trying to figure out a way to remove the sand then. My only problem is we recently move into an apartment and I don't want to throw the sand out and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to dry it out and out it back in the bag. Maybe I'll pick up a bucket or something.

I didn't see anything about the temperature though, would you mind also sharing your advice on that?

Thank you again so much for your help!

Keeping several 5 gallon buckets handy willl make your life much simpler in general. Using buckets to siphon water into for water changes and to fill the tank back up is much quicker and easier than most other methods. You can store the sand in one for now too. They honestly grow about an inch a month so it shouldnt be more than 5-6 months before hes old enough to handle being on sand.

Tank temperature should never exceed about 70, though 62-67 is optimal.