Question: Using an outdoor enclosure in 20-30 degree weather?

[silk]

Heya guys, long time no chat!

Last few months have been wild for me, bought and moved into a new house and got a few new family members! All the axolotls were great and are doing fine. Dionysus and Demeter are in my 40gal, Artie and Attie both have their own 29 gallon tanks.

The house I moved into has a large wrap-around porch, and a large spot I think would be perfect for a 100 outdoor pool/pond for my axis. I know a lot of people on here don't care for ponds because you don't get a great view of your axies, but that doesn't actually bother me.

I would be wanting to cover the pool with netting framed with wood to make it sturdy against potential predators (neighborhood cats mostly), using a pool sand substrate and including TONS of cover and silk plants. I'd want to use a sponge filter of course, but I've only encountered one issue thus far:

I live in Central Oregon. Our average winter days range from 35 degrees to 20, with a few days below 10 sprinkled in. Our summers can get up to the 90s, and this last summer I struggled to keep the tanks an OK temp (below 60).

I am thinking about only setting up their tanks indoor during the winter months and just keep them outside in the summertime (covered of course), but if anyone has any ideas how I could keep a 100 gallon pool un-frozen in this kind of weather I would really appreciate hearing it.

PS I have considered using a floating heater (like people use for cattle troughs) but I'd be afraid it might make the water too warm.

 

[michael]

If your pond is deep enough it will be fine for axies. Normally water temps are stratified in ponds. If the pond is to shallow it might get hot from top to bottom in hot weather.

A cattle trough heater has a thermostat that kicks in a little above freezing. In real cold weather your axolotls will slow down a little. They will be at risk for disease from debris in the bottom of the pond as they are moving slowly in the winter.

 

[silk]

If your pond is deep enough it will be fine for axies. Normally water temps are stratified in ponds. If the pond is to shallow it might get hot from top to bottom in hot weather.

A cattle trough heater has a thermostat that kicks in a little above freezing. In real cold weather your axolotls will slow down a little. They will be at risk for disease from debris in the bottom of the pond as they are moving slowly in the winter.

The "pond" I want to get is actually a type of kiddie pool, its about 2'x2' by 1' deep. It's more floor space than deep, and it won't be buried in the ground. I read about using water movement to keep the water from freezing but I'm worried it might be too small a surface area to work.

I know about the anchor worm risks, and am aware that they'll probably be pretty lethargic during the cooler days, but I read as long as the water isn't freezing they will be ok?

 

[xxianxx]

They will be at risk for disease from debris in the bottom of the pond as they are moving slowly in the winter.

Have you had many problems with axolotls in ponds at low temps Mike ? Mine get kept at 5c over winter in barebottomed tanks and are far more prone to foot rot than usual but look in superb condition come spring.

 

[michael]

HI Ian,
I kept some outside around 40F. They nearly stopped eating and slowed down a lot. I did lose a bunch of Ambystoma andersoni in a tub below freezing. The snow was so deep I didn't want to walk out and check on them. The heater failed ....
The larger volume of water you are dealing with the better off you are.

 

[xxianxx]

I lost one of my A.andersoni at 5c 40f a couple years ago , i subsequently was told they dont tolerate as low temps as axolotls. I dont feed axolotls at all below 5c, very lightly under 10c 50f, they can go weeks at low temps with little , if any , loss in body mass, i make sure all my guys start the winter in good health , weaker animals may not make it.