Question: Switch from pebbles to bare-bottom

[reb2g08]

I would like to switch my tank that has pebbles at the bottom (as food/waste is getting trapped in the pebbles) to bare bottomed.

How would you recommend that I do this- keep the axie in or take him out and do it?
And shall I do it all at once or take away a bit at a time?

I have read a lot about bare bottomed tanks and the problems and am slightly worried but I think it will be cleaner for him.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dr0gr1n]

I would take him out of the tank and place him in a container with some of the tank water, make this big enough he can move about since he may be in the container for an hour or so. If you are using some kind of hang on filter the next step is going to make it very dirty so you may want to turn it off terporarily or clean the filter so it can handle what you may be about to stir up. Now I would start to take all the media that you want out of the tank. I would do this all at once. Once it is all out you may have stirred a lot of solid debrie up. Let it settle, this will only take a few minutes for the larger particles. Once most has settled you can siphon it out of the tank. Once the solids are removed you can place your other substrate into the tank provided it has been cleaned properly. If you are not replacing it then you can put the axolotl back inafter starting the filter. If it is sand it may take a little for it to settle. I would then make sure my filter was working again and return the axolotl to the tank.

Again this is only what I would do, someone else may have an easier or better way of doing this.

Best of luck, and enjoy that little amphibian.

 

[reb2g08]

Fantastic- thank you for the speedy reply and great advice! I will let you know how it goes

 

[reb2g08]

Ok I have just done it and put him back in. He isn't really moving but I suppose he is just getting used to the change? I am worried that he won't be able to move around and maybe I will have to put sand down in the future.

 

[Dr0gr1n]

The sand does give them something to grip when they walk on the bottom. I had mine in a bare bottom tank and he much prefers the sand he is on now. Watch the tank for any little stones to appear that he may have eaten and take them out as soon as you can..

 

[reb2g08]

I had massive pebbles previously so he couldn't have eaten any. If he doesn't settle in I will put sand down I think. Thanks for your help!