Other sources info

[teesha]

i was reading this book on salmanders and newts and it said axies prefer softer and less acidic water, the contrary produces gill irritation!! I was like....what??? I thought it was the opposite, they said there was evidense?? SO i wonder if anyone can state that this might be true?? It also said to stimulate breeding to keep the water level down for a while ( weeks i'm guessing) and then to flood it with cooler water....they also said if females don't lay once producing eggs they die- though it is rare.....i thought they reabsorbed it??? i was wondering if some other ppl found interesting facts or other wrong info in other sources apart from this site and axolotl.org ????

 

[joan]

What was the book? A lot of people write things (books, webpages, whatnot) based on personal observation rather than scientific data.

 

[teesha]

newts and salmanders by barrons. i think he wrote on a bit of both......like if hes axies were hurt my acid, he changed to alkaline and it was better.... thats evidense write?

 

[jennifer]

I have that book. The author is Frank Indiviglio. It's actually one of the better books on newt/sal care that is widely available. What he says is this (in the section on axolotl care):

"While they can be slowly acclimated to a variety of water types, they do best in soft water with a pH of 6.9 to 7.6. I have seen evidence that hard water can damage the gills, as can high acidity."

Well, he doesn't say what evidence he saw. And there is a difference between seeing evidence and testing something scientifically. What I can say is that I've kept axolotls for a year in hard, alkaline water and they are thriving like crazy. What I have is only evidence too. But it contradicts his evidence. That is why scientific studies are much more powerful than "evidence" alone.

(Message edited by jennewt on March 29, 2006)

 

[teesha]

o ok! i see now! Which could mean that any peramateres go. As in they are hardy and will survive both acidic and not ect, just not the extremes yeh?

 

[joan]

Not any parameters are appropriate, but axolotls can exist in a limited range of pH levels and alkalinity in the water. I've kept mine in hard water, and in softened water, and they've never shown a preference either way.

 

[sharn]

goes to show stability is the key!!

 

[teesha]

i ment any as in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, not ANY!! sorry i should have explained it better!