Question: Water Temperature Fluctuation !

[brella]

I just moved my axolotls from my old house to my new house a week ago. At the old house the AC was on so the tank temperature was constantly between 68-70 degrees F. The axolotl.org website said the temp had to be below 74 degrees F. So I believe this temp was ok...and their behavior was fine, never problems or lack of eating or anything.

Now at the new house, it does not have AC and the water temps have been majorly fluctuating in the tank! When we first moved here it was still a little hot outside and we had to place a fan constantly blowing above their tank. That kept the water temp. below 70 degrees F. But now, its been getting fairly cold in the house during the day and cooler at night. The water temp has been going from 70 F down to different degrees at night and it even reached 60 F!

I went to the pet store today to have my water checked (and its finally cycled!!) and the pet store worker said my water was freezing! She said its really not safe to have the temps fluctuating so often. I know that axolotls can be in cooler water but I didn't know what to do about the fluctuation of temps all day. So I bought a fully submersible heater. The lowest setting is 68 F. It is supposed to keep the water temp permanently at 68 F. Since this is about what my tank has been at since I first got them, I thought that would be fine.

Is this okay?? If not, what are other solutions to deal with the temps changing all day??

 

[Kaysie]

You'll get some natural fluctuation between night and day, and between seasons. Are you monitoring the water temperature, or the air temperature? Water is much slower to cool and heat than the air is.

And 60F is just fine. I try not to let mine dip below 40F, though. If you do want the heater, I suggest REALLY monitoring it, to make sure it doesn't get above 68.

 

[brella]

So you say that fluctuation is normal but dropping from 70F to 60F in less than one day is okay?

 

[Kaysie]

Not necessarily. But I don't understand why your tank would do that. Does the temperature in your house drop that much? And water is usually fairly slow to lose heat.