Question: To rinse or to scour?

[bitenomnom]

Tried to find if this had been asked before, but was unable to return any results.

Today I bought some "lucky bamboo" to put into my axolotls' tank (kiddie pool). Now, when the stuff is shipped, it comes with this gel stuff on its roots, to keep it hydrated and so that (in theory) the store owners don't have to water the bamboo all the time.

I've rinsed almost all the stuff from the roots of the plants, but I was wondering if the gel is harmful at all. That is, if it is extremely harmful, I will meticulously inspect and preen each thread of the roots before even thinking about getting the bamboo near the axolotls. But if it is not that dangerous (especially in such tiny amounts as the traces left on the roots), I would rather not mess with the roots too much and keep them intact.

From what I can tell, the gel is "polymer gel," a.k.a. "water-gel" or "super absorbent polymer gel." What I've found claims it is non-toxic, but only specifically mentions plants and humans.

Thanks!

As a side-question, do I have any reason to believe the kiddie pool would be toxic to the axolotls over time -- say, one to two years? (Or more?) It is hard plastic but I can't find a label specifying which type (maybe it's underneath -- could check at the store where I bought the pool). It was meant to be a short-term home (over the summer), but they have so much ground-space in this pool compared to their aquarium... (A good 12 square feet, and the water is approximately 6-8" deep.) I haven't seen many people around here using kiddie pools as axie homes. I figured it's 'cause they take up so much floor space, and aren't exactly aesthetically pleasing, but is there any other reason?
(Again, thanks!!)

 

[Shizeric]

I would say both the water gel and the kiddie pool are ok for your axolotls. Typically when something is manufactured for human use (particularly children) they are rigorously tested so no toxins are given off. So I would say your Axolotls are probably fine. Do you think you could post some pics of your setup?

 

[bitenomnom]

I was hoping that that would be the case, but wasn't sure since obviously children sitting in a pool for a few hours is different than axolotls living and breathing in the pool for months or years.

I can try to get some pics of my setup later, or maybe after I get the bamboo placed. My dad and I are hopefully going to make a fancier covering for the pool, to hold the bamboo plants, as when I was planning on only using it as a summertime setup, I just used two spare window screens as the lid. We're going to make something like two semicircle (or, to be more accurate, trapezoidal or flattened-hexagonal) screened hinged "doors" that will allow me to open one or both halves, supported in the middle by a 2x4 with holes drilled through to hold the "lucky bamboo." Or at least, that's the idea. We'll see how it goes.

Or did you mean pictures of the setup as it is right now?

Hopefully I can keep this setup -- it's in the basement, where it's nice and cool and the temperature hardly fluctuates at all. Only a little indirect light gets in (hopefully sufficient for the lucky bamboo, but not disturbing to the lotls).

 

[bitenomnom]

Anyone else have thoughts or know anything about the "polymer gel"?

 

[tmorgan]

My thoughts on this are: better safe than sorry. I don't know much about the polymer gel, but I think it would be better just to be on the safe side. I would try to get as much off as I could.
Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes!

Tahnee

 

[Mac Myers]

I've used Lucky Bamboo before and all I did was rinse off the roots thoroughly. :happy:

 

[bitenomnom]

Thanks, guys! I think I will look over the lucky bamboo one more time and remove any visible polymer gel, then maybe give everything another good rinse just to be safe. I picked out the plants with all the best roots, so I just didn't want to have to rip all of them off or something like that...

I'll try to post a picture of the improved setup once it's done -- hopefully this weekend.