Question: Question about sand size & axolotl size before putting it in

[BinaryRun]

Hi guys,

How long does an axie need to be before you can put in sand? My new buddy is currently 15cm/5.9inch from head to tail.

About sand size, my pet shop sells 0.2 to 0.5mm sand as the smallest size, is that small enough?

Also which color would be better? Black or White?

Thanks for your insights!

 

[auntiejude]

5 inches is about righ to keep them on sand.

But it's not the grain size you need to be concerned about, it's the roughness of the grains. Playsand is recommended because the grains are smooth, aquarium gravel tends to be rough to create more surface area. If you can't get playsand go with the smallest grains.

 

[BinaryRun]

I've some pictures of the white version since I can't feel it before I buy it. What do you think?

 

[Ariel]

I put mine on sand that seems about that size when it was 2.5 inches long, and now it is 5 inches. I think that it should be fine at any size as long as they do no eat off the floor and suck up some sand accidentally. To prevent this you could strictly hand feed, or use a feeding dish.

When I first got my axolotl he would look for food on the ground, but after strictly hand feeding he now comes to the surface to feed and ignores pellets that fall to the sand, which I always pick up.

 

[kjnorman]

Just a note about colour - I have two leucistics on a pale sand substrate, and I wish I'd waited until I found dark sand. It would show them off better, and hide poop

But if you have a dark axie, white sand may be better.

 

[bugdozer]

I found dark sand hid poop too well! It kept being missed during cleaning. Also my wildtype was invisible on it
I have light grey sand now and it's much better.

 

[blushed]

I went with white sand, since I think normal tan sand is boring.

My leucistic axolotl seems to have turned white against the sand... Still trying to figure out what caused it to lose it's pink color.

 

[littlebignafe]

I have a light sand in my 5ft tank, I have two wildtypes so they and the poo are easy to see i also like the lighter sand as you can see EVERYTHING I only used one bag of aquarium sand for the tank (one end is slate pieces) and its an inch thick at the thickest

 

[auntiejude]

Even if you hand feed axies off the ground or use a feeding jar they will search the ground and ingest sand. Hence not using sand for smaller axies - the grains are bigger by comparison.

The substance the sand is made from is an issue too - ordinary sand is usually safe, but coloured sand may be made of unsuitable rock or have coral pieces and affect water chemistry.