Please Help Me Someone

[nicnic123]

ok so im getting an axolotal in a few weeks and i was just wondering if a tank that is about 45cm x 20cm would be big enough? and if it isn't whats a good size tank.

 

[Daniel]

Hi and welcome to the Caudata Forum!

A tank this size may be okay for a small juvenile but too small for a semiadult or adult Axolotl.
I personally prefer tanks with a size of 100 x 50 cm; minimum for adults is a 80 x 35/40 cm.

 

[tkromer]

As I understand a bear minimum would be about 90x45cm, as it's recommended your tank be at least twice as long as at least as wide as an adult. If you're keeping a pair, you don't have to double that, but you should come close to double. (120x45 at least).
Depth in your tank is not a real big factor, 20cm is more than enough, but obviously the more water you have the more stable your conditions will be, as well as having more area to disperse your filter flow. You may as well fill whatever tank you buy, just for the sake of keeping temperature, pH, and ammonia/nitrate levels more stable.

--Tommy

 

[Daniel]

Hey Tommy,

As I understand a bear minimum would be about 90x45cm, as it's recommended your tank be at least twice as long as at least as wide as an adult. If you're keeping a pair, you don't have to double that, but you should come close to double. (120x45 at least).

in fact I have never seen an adult Axolotl with a size of 45 cm - the largest that came to my eyes was 36 cm (and most I know kept in tanks get as big as 30 cm).

In my opinion you also do not necessarily have to have a larger tank for more than one animal, depending on the decoration.

I keep 4 adults (ranging from 25 to nearly 30 cm) in a 100 x 50 cm tank with many hides and a lot of plants (looks like a jungle sometimes) without any problems. As axolotls grow older they not only get larger but a lot calmer and less-moving, too.

I am partly with you concerning the water depth - Axolotls do not need deep water but some of mine prefer to hang out in some plants, sometimes near the surface and sometimes in the middle.
As you already said, water parameters are more stable the more water you have in the tank and therefore I personally fill my tanks up to 8 cm to the rim.

So in my opinion it is better to have a big tank but for a pair an 80 x 40 cm tank with many plants and some hidings.

But be aware, nicnic123: If you get infected with the Axolotlvirus you want to have more than one or two Axolotls (I have 28 right now...) and then you definitely need a larger tank, or a second one, followed by a third, maybe a fourth...

 

[kapo]

Definitely agree with Daniel! We have 10, had 11 - one died recently, but have recently acquired another 40 axolotl larvae to raise (most of which we will not keep), our household is now crammed with 8 tanks and several small tubs for the larvae.

 

[nicnic123]

ok so i have a few more questions..
so these feeder fish.. are they a certain fish or can u feed them any tiny fish?
is it better too have sand or big rocks in the bottom of the tank?
i was down town today and i couldnt find a big tank so is it alright too keep them in a big plastic container for a few weeks just until i find a big tank?

 

[Kal El]

Hello nicnic123,

I wouldn't rush into these just as yet- it's a bad habit, and I've done it before. You are better off getting the tank before purchasing the axolotl because if you keep them in a confined space, they tend to become stressed. I do believe you can request tank sizes. That being, you provide your local aquarium with the correct measurements of the tank size that you require and they will either order one in for you, or assemble one together from glass panes. Also, I have been told that sand/bare glass is always the better option because axolotls can ingest gravel. Personally, I wouldn't purchase any kind of feeder fish unless you have quarantined them for a minimum of 30 days and are absoutely sure that they disease free (i.e. they cannot pass anything onto your axolotl). Better yet, breed your own feeder fish that way you can be 100% sure that they do not carry any diseases. I remember going to purchase some feeder fish from my local aquarium and was stunned to notice 5+ dead feeder fish amongst the alive ones!
Hope this helps matey.

Jay

 

[gr33neyes]

hi nicnic... some people use guppies or white cloud minnows for their feeder fish although guppies are usually kept in tropical tanks whereas white cloud can be kept happily in a cold tank.
As for sand and rocks, I keep both in with my axies, the sand is easy enough to clean and passes out through their gills if they swallow some when feeding and they like to climb and sit on the rocks.

 

[nicnic123]

so can u feed them any small fish or only guppys and white clouds?

 

[sdhuz36]

I bought feeder fish, rosy barbs {Barbus Conchonius} (the one's you buy at the pet shop as feeders; gold, with a black spot on the tail) easy to care for, now breeding them.

Cheers
Sharon

 

[kapo]

You still need to quarantine the fish for the minimum 30 day period.

 

[nicnic123]

what do you gotta do to quarantine them?

 

[kapo]

A completely separate tank for quaratining.

When you do get your tank sorted out for your axolotl try and cycle the tank before you get your axolotl See: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml as well as sort out possible cooling options for your tank. see: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cooling.shtml

If you have the money consider buying a freshwater master test kit (may cost up to $75, but worth the money) which tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates (it also includes test kits for low and high pH).

You could very well put your axolotl straight in the tank, once it's setup and cycle while your axie is in there. The main reason I suggest you cycle first is that Australia has had some really hot summers. Many Australian owners who are on this forum will certainly be able to tell you the trials they went through over the last few years both trying to cycle and cool and maintain their tank temperature at least round 20C during the summer period. If you did get the axolotl before the tank has cycled and aren't vigilant during the cycling period especially with water testing, regular waterchanges, if needed, and maintaining cooling temperatures your axolotl can get stressed which will invariably lead to fungus and sickness.

You could also search around for other live food sources such as: earthworms (unless you have a garden) or a supplier of earthworms (check your local council, Bunnings and other garden centre/hardware stores) and set up a wormfarm (see: http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/residents/waste/worm_farming/ ) ; slaters, garden slugs or garden snails (just make sure the garden they come from doesn't use pesticides/weed killer).

 

[Kal El]

I don't where in Australia you are from nicnic123, but I live in Melbourne and I have managed to find aquariums where they sell water testing kits for under $60. However, this is the best place to purchase the water testing kits: http://www.yellowpages.com.au/searc...harmacy&locationClue=Carlingford+NSW&x=42&y=7
It's an online store. And because it is an Australian store, there is no need to wait for shipping (which could take up to half a month if delivering from overseas). I strongly reccommend the API Freshwater Master Test Kit because it works out to be a lot cheaper than purchasing the test kits individually.
As for cooling, I am currently using a desk fan which I bought from Kmart for $10. It effectively cools the water by a 3 degrees celcius. I am going to purchase another aquarium cooling fan from the website I provided you. Also, I am looking to get a computer fan from a friend which I'm going to hook up to a transducer and use it to cool the water as well. I figure the more the fans the better, just keep an eye on the temperature and make sure that it doesn't change drastically, as this can stress out your axie. Besides, the fans generally cool the water gradually- unlike ice bottles (which I despise! I believe they are useless). Being an Australian, I'm sure you're aware of how hot it can get and you're axie will most likely succumb to disease/infection if you do nothing about the heat.
Best of luck with everything buddy!

Jay

 

[nicnic123]

ok so im a bit confused. ive read that you have too have a heater in the axolotal tank but then ive also read that you dont use anything... so do u use a heater or dont you???

 

[kapo]

No you don't need a heater in an axolotl tank. Axies prefer cooler temperatures (below 20C is ideal for them) but they can reside quite happily in temperatures down to 5C. Ours prefer the cooler winter temperatures 10-12C and are usually much happier, slower and calmer than during summer time.

 

[nicnic123]

i was wondering about cycling... how do you do it? do you have to do it? if you don't how will it effect the axie? will it die? how long does it take? do you have to do it every time you clean out the tank? if i get my axie while its cycling do i have to do it too the other tank its in too? or can i keep it in the same tank thats being cycled? if i can do i still do it the normal way? is there an easy way too do it? can you do it without chemicals because i live out in the middle of no where and the pet shop here is only tiny. um thats all i can think of but if you do have any more advice for me please let me know

 

[nicnic123]

i was just reading and i was wondering.. if i leave the tank for a week or so with the pump going and if i find the stuff you put in the tank and take some water out every day and keep an eye on the tank would i be able too put my axie in the tank then? would it b ok if i did?

 

[Daniel]

Nic,

if you con over the last posts (and the article mentioned about cycling), you already should have found the answer given by Kapo given two days ago

You can cycle the tank with the Axolotl in it but you will have to do regular tests for ammonia and nitrite as these are toxic to animals (including Axolotls of course).
With an axolotl in the tank you won't have to add any substances but you will have to test your water parameters.

 

[Jennewt]

Kapo already posted this link, but I'm going to give it again, nicnic:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
PLEASE read it carefully. It has answers to most of what you are asking. I also think it would help if you go and ask some of your questions at a good petshop that has good customer service. They should be able to tell you about quarantine and cycling of tanks for fish, even if they don't know anything about axolotls.