Substrate

[aroseypeech]

Hi I'm just starting my set up and was wondering if this substrate was okay?

 

[auntiejude]

No, you need fine, smooth sand like playsand (I believe 1-2mm grains are recommended)

Personally I find axies are fine without substrate, much easier to keep clean too.

 

[aroseypeech]

what is the danger with gravel anyway?

 

[Asevernnnn]

Accidentally ingesting it while eating, and the build up of waste will foul the water quickly

 

[auntiejude]

Gravel is likely to cause impaction by getting stuck in an axie's digestive tract - it's the equivalent of you swallowing a stone the size of an apple. Axies ingest it accidentally because of the way they feed.

 

[aroseypeech]

So sand? How on earth would you clean that?

 

[Cacique]

All the debris stays on the top. If you're axie hasn't trampled over the poop, you could just scoop it with a turkey baster. If he trampled it all over the place, you can lightly gravel vac over the sand. As long as you don't stick the gravel vac straight into the sand it will just fall right back down. Poke around the sand occasionally if you add more than 1/2 an inch.