Substrate preferences

[dipsydoodle]

What are peopels preferred substrate for an axolotl tank?

I've read bare (which I don't really think I want), sand and large pebbles.

What does everyone prefer and how easy is it all to clean?

I think I prefer the look of sand but would the water get cloudy from it being blown around or messed up?

The gravel that I have seen all seems to be too small and could be eaten, if I do see nice gravel what is the size that it would need to be to not be eaten (when an adult).

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I actually use both bare bottom and sand. I prefer a bare bottom setup for my young axies since they tend to be messier. Adults don't seem to create as much waste as often as young axies so I use a fine sand for those tanks. With a little help from a turkey baster either one of these setups are realtively easy to keep clean.

If you decide to go the sand route it is important that you rinse, rinse, and rinse it some more before putting it in the tank to prevent the water from getting cloudy. Now it will still be a little bit cloudy when you first introduce the sand but this will go away after it sits for a day or so.

 

[dipsydoodle]

Thanks, I know about cleaning the sand; I've had gravel in my fish tank for years and it can be a pain.

I was thinking of getting a large flat feeding dish and leaving it to one side so that I could try and leave a bit of food on it - to aid with the mess. Is this a decent idea?

Do you find if you hover the sand out the tank is cloudy for a few days after wards - that is my main concern?

 

[melfly]

Hi
I agree I use sand on my big tanks and bare bottom on the babies.

The sand was only a little cloudy when it was first put in. It doesn't go cloudy now even when they are kicking about.

Mel

 

[melfly]

I tried the dish idea and they just blew all the food off the dish lol.

I know some people use jars which look like a good idea.

Mel

 

[dipsydoodle]

I like the jar idea; I just don't know if we'd find a big enough jar to fit it's head into haha. I'll think about a dish. I suppose I could get one with big sides rather than a flat-ish one. I have a dish about an inch high in my newt tank and one of them clambers inside and eats everything.

Oh I might go for sand then, I was worried it would go cloudy everytime it got disturbed on a medium scale. Is normal aquarium sand suitable?

 

[melfly]

I know some people do use plates or dishes. But I think my axies are too boisterous to eat with manners lol.

I'm thinking of getting some cherry shrimp that will help make sure i dont miss any leftover food. Thats if they dont become food too quickly!

I'm not sure how much aquarium sand is but the play sand is really cheap. It doesn't go cloudy even if i mess about with it.
Heres a article on substrate
Caudata Culture Articles - Aquarium Substrates

Mel

 

[dipsydoodle]

Where do you buy play sand?

I'm actually off to a garden centre on my way home which have an aquatics department so I'll look at the price of aquarium sand when I am there.

 

[melfly]

I bought mine from argos 2.99 for 15kg
Mel

 

[SludgeMunkey]

The Axolotl Website and The Axolotl Sanctuary also have excellent information on substrates for axolotls, as does the forum search function.

I absolutely prefer a bare bottomed tank for axolotl-. less work, better water chemistry, and a sheet of black paper underneath the tank makes your axolotls more comfortable,

 

[dipsydoodle]

I've read all the links sludgemonkey; I was just interested in what people preferred.

Thanks for the info melfly