Question: Palm peat

[Fastback]

Evening all

I did search the forum and there was nothing on this subject i could find.

Can one use palm peat as a substrate for your Axies?
I know some fish hobbyist use the substrate for curtain fish species.
I know it makes the water gold-ish brown colour.

But if one could use it.
If swallowed will it cause impaction?
What will it do to the water quality?

 

[Neil C]

Never heard of it being used and I'd imagine it would be a really bad idea. I stick with fine sand or nothing at all.


Regards Neil

 

[jessicaanne]

I just did a quick google search because I've never heard of it before. I'd say based on the information I read, it isn't suitable for being submersed under water. Just to be on the safe side I'd recommend using a substrate that is already commonly used in axolotl tanks (very fine sand, slate tiles or no substrate at all). There is a substrate that people use for the areas in the tank where plants are but I'm not sure what it's called.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

"Palm peat" is a lesser used name for the product more properly called coir and more commonly called coconut fiber.

It is highly unsuitable as an aquatic substrate. Use of this as a aquatic substrate will cause more trouble than one could comprehensively describe in a forum post.

In short: bad idea.


See the Caudata Culture articles on substrates for the only newt and salamander specific guide on the web.