Substrate issues? Or something else?

[RyRy]

Has any one ever had issues with flourite substrates causing foot issues with a solitary axolotl? We have had our tank set up for about three months. The substrate is Seachem flourite black sand. The feet appear to be eroding away, toes, then digits go, then the foot. What else could cause this? Eating blood worms, and carnivore sinking pellets well.

 

[Xtophr]

From Guide to Axolotl Husbandry

Although we successfully use plastic containers, they must be kept very clean. Plastic tends to support the growth of a bacterial scum along the bottom and sides of the container. We have found that if this scum is not cleaned off periodically, the axolotls will develop sores on their toes and feet that will not heal. Instead the skin retreats up the leg and the toes eventually die and are sloughed off.

 

[Blackstar65]

Has any one ever had issues with flourite substrates causing foot issues with a solitary axolotl? We have had our tank set up for about three months. The substrate is Seachem flourite black sand. The feet appear to be eroding away, toes, then digits go, then the foot. What else could cause this? Eating blood worms, and carnivore sinking pellets well.

The sand maybe too coarse. Try Petco branded black sand or Estes perma color quartz sand. 3M colorquartz t or s grade work great too. It's no abrasive and should fix the issue. It will not give the benefit's the Flourite sand offer for live plants but the trade off its worth it. I use pool filter sand in all of my tanks.

 

[RyRy]

How long have you had this pool filter sand in a axolotl rank? Around here, pool filter sand is diatomaceous earth and is also used around hostas to deter slugs as it puts microscopic tears in them and they die. Surely you means something else?

 

[RyRy]

We have removed all the substrate and are watching and hoping...
I dislike no substrate, it is not very pretty to look at.

 

[Skudo09]

You could use play sand, the sand used for children's sand pits. it is quite fine and looks nice in the tank. Just take care to wash before adding and be careful to remove some stones and chunky bits before adding if the sand has any. The pack I got bad chunks and stones mixed through but once you sift them out the sand is quite safe and fine.

 

[RyRy]

Thanks. We are still observing for a bit. No improvement yet. No worse no better. I have a question for you more experienced keepers. we started feeding some Hikari carnivore pellets and now get a bit of an oily surface on the water. Any other suggestions?

 

[RyRy]

We have decided to avoid the Hikari pellets, and added Chemi Pure to the filter. The oil slick has improved and the feet now have little nubs forming. We got planted tank soil from a great local pond store, and we will be trying it out soon.