The Burrow. Axie cave setup

[andrew]

Hi All.

I have just finished re-decorating my tank.

Not may people seem to be using rocks these days so i thought i would do something a bit original.

The rocks i have used are sandstone and don't alter the PH of the water. I was thinking that sandstone would complement the sand used as the substrate.

The design of the little caves i have made, was to create multiple hide holes for the axies with them still being visible from either the front or side of the tank (i used to hate having to empty out PVC pipes and things and go looking for them at feed times).

I have also posted a few good piccys of the crew.
Seeing as i have been a member of this forum since August i thought it was time to introduce my little family.

Any comments/suggestions would be greatly welcomed. My setup is far from perfect but its a start.

Introductions:

Axie - melanoid (yes i know very original name. she was my first.)
Tango - Golden albino.
Rodger - Albino.

Not pictured -

Thunder - juvanile wild type.
Flash - juvanile white Leucistic.

 

[sharn]

looking good!! your albino looks like hes having fun crawling all over everyone. your golden albino is a great colour too- very orangy. lol love your rubber bands attaching plants... reminds me of my tanks haha. axie paradise i reckun... great work

 

[maja]

loooks soo goood.. im glad that some ppl know how to make a great setup !!!

 

[hayley-jane]

I really like it, the rocks are great.

I have a few rocks in my set-up, but not as big

 

[jojo]

That looks great Andrew. The stones look fantastic too. VERY VERY NICE!
I'd love to see the other 2 axies that weren't pictured ? The wild type and the Leucistic?

 

[rob]

look really nice

lots of hiding spots for ur axies

 

[casey]

Wow! Andrew, that's a great tank set-up!

Reminds me of Jurassic Park - I love it!

 

[rheann]

Andrew, that is so beautiful! I love it! Can you post some more pictures? I would love to see a full frontal view of it

It is so natural looking and very inspirational.

Might I offer some suggestions though? The plants you have in the very front will grow rather tall and bushy. You might want to move them closer to the back and then add some small short plants in the front. Tall plants in the back, Medium plants in the middle, and shorties in the front lol.

Other than that, it's completely beautiful and I could just spend all day looking at it.

 

[andrew]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I didn't quite expect such a response.

Not bad for $15 worth of rocks. The pet shop rocks are like $8 per kg - can anyone afford that?

As requested i have taken some more photo's. I will resize them and post them up tomorrow. Even got some cute ones of the little guys.

Rheann- thankyou for your suggestion, i will look at relocating the plants this weekend. A trip to the pet store may be in order! Been having probs before though, my plants only seem to grow well at the front of the tank. I may need a grow tube for my fluro? anyone used these?

 

[sarah]

LOVE YOUR SET UP

Axie is just devine

Cheers

Sarah

 

[the]

dude, that's awesome

 

[jojo]

Hey Andrew,
i think everyone has summed it up - thats one wicked looking tank!!!!
Just a quick question though - what kind of sand is that exactly??? is it play sand? its not washed river sand is it?
Just curious. l really like it, thats all!!

thanks matey!! jojo

 

[andrew]

As promised some more piccys. The guys are now starting to explore a little bit.

Thanks for the kind words there Jojo. The sand i've got is just plain old washed aquarium sand. However It looks exactly the same as the fine white sand down at the landscape place if you want to save a few bucks.

Ok here is another view from the front of the tank. Sorry the first piccy had the edges missing.

Also if your wondering about the vertical rocks. My idea was to make that look like a bit of an axie sacred site type thing (seemed to run out of tank space though). I'm planning on trying to do some engravings or something on them maybe an axie head with an earthworm below it or something. A bit like the style Rheann uses in here drawings only real basic.

Here's a few pics of my juvies Thunder (wild) and flash (leucistic). Don't worry about flash looking a little pink. Its food time and he's a little exited (the pig).

Here is a pic of my juvi tank. Its not the best as it's only going to be temporary. It also managed to collect all the leftover plants from my main tank.

In case you are wondering about the funny looking lamp on top of the tank. Its a 20watt LED light (produces no heat). Its a bit of an experimental moonlight idea.

let there be moonlight

 

[rheann]

Heh Heh, Andrew, something like this?

This is a cell Shaded Axolotl guardian statue that is featured in my web comic at various parts. I designed him to look sort of like a dragon from the far east lol.

Great pictures! I love the whole tank set up you have. Sand stone? I think I can find some here at my local home improvement center. I'll have to take a look

My site isn't up yet, but when it is, I will reveal the name hehe.

 

[andrew]

Yep Sandstone. Just make sure it dosn't alter your PH.

I have read somewhere on the net that some sandstone (being a sedimentary rock) sometimes can contain traces of limestone and other PH altering nasties, However 99% of them are fine.

All i did was get as many thin flat rocks as possible (12 i think) and just broke them up with a chisel. Then took all the sharp edges off using an angle grinder with a masonry disc.

I do love your drawings Rheann. Where can i view your comic? is it finished yet?

 

[sin]

That is a set up to be insanely proud of (or in my case envious of) lol.

I love them sitting on one another, mine do it and it always cracks me up to watch.

 

[rheann]

Thanks, Andrew

No, my site isn't up yet. Hopefully soon in a few months. There is loads of work left to do on it, and I am still in the process of finishing the first couple of pages of the comic and the layout just so that the site can officially open. The comic will take possibly over two years to finish, which means that I will be updating the site once a week with a new comic page or pages; depending on how much time I have in the week to work on it.

My official mascots follow in this link: http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/793/46885.html?1131245403

But the comic is not about the Axolotls, but they are featured in it and there will be a mini comic possibly (still in the thought works) that will be on the site just about them.

When I get the site up and running, I will reveal the name of it. It's a surprise for now

You could use soap stone to carve some statues. It is a very soft rock; I don't know however if it will change the water quality. It possibly might. It is however I believe much easier to carve than sandstone, or you could carve them out of wood and place them around lol. I think that would be much easier to do.

If you get any carved, I would love to see some pictures!

 

[jarred]

That is a great setup Andrew.

I am in Caloundra too and was wondering where you purchased your axolotls. I am looking for a shop with some cheaper prices.

Thanks.

 

[jojo]

Ohh Andrew, thanks for posting the baby axies. TOO cute!!!

 

[jojo]

OHH and Rheann thats an awesome sketch!!! I was just thinking (before reading your comments) that this looked like a dragon!
Awesome! ** round of applause for Rheann **