New owner questions

[blueit7]

Hi, first let me say how brilliant this forum is and so full of information.

I have bought my first axolotl on Sunday (today being Wednesday). I think it's a boy by looking at the photos on the biology page. His name is Axie (orignal I know!).
He is 20 cm long. Any ideas on how old he may be?
We have got the feeding all sorted and he has moved into a cycled siamese fighter tank (minus the fish and heater). I am getting low ammonia readings so I'm doing 25% water changes daily while this settles. He seems happy enough.

He is living on stones (I have since learnt this is not ideal) and I would like to remove these and try a bare bottom to see how he goes, with the idea of moving to sand eventually. He was living on stones at the shop I got him from so that is what he is used to. I would like to know, should I let him settle in some more before I start mucking about with his tank and changing things or would it not stress him to much to put him in a bucket and remove the stones now? He is settling into his new house quite nicely but I don't want to upset him. I also don't want him to swallow stones and get sick.
He is eating well and not looking in the stones for food as anything that he has missed is still there the next morning so I remove it.

What cool pets these guys are! Are they okay living on their own or do they need a friend?

Sorry this turned into a bit of a novel! Thank you in advance.

[kapo]

Welcome to the forum!

Age will basically be unknown unless the actual breeder, not petshop, could tell you the actual hatch date. It could be anything from 7-8 months to mature 2-3 yr old adult (size is basically dependant on the conditions and how often/well it was fed).

Remove him from the tank and remove the stones as soon as possible, sooner rather than later.

They do swallow them in their search for food (even if you used a lid for feeding they love to snuffle/hunt for food) and it can lead to impaction/blockages that can last months and at worst can eventually lead to a prolapse and subsequent death). We had one that died about a month ago that hadn't been on stones for over 18months, that died with a bubble and glass pebble sticking out of its cloaca. We've also got quite a collection of stones/pebbles that 5 (axies have pooed out over the last 18months sitting in our potplants).

We have sand and bare tank floor. Ultimately I like the bare tank floor, but husband is reluctant to empty all our tanks (considering he did all the work cleaning the sand prior to adding) as bare tank is far easier to clean and for feeding as live food (earthworms etc can't hide in substrate) and easy to spot waste but to some people that prefer the look of a substrate it doesn't suit them.

I also tend to write novels!

[Karrie Clinton]

I agree with Kapo. How big is the tank he is in?

[Carley]

I'm really liking the sound of a bare floor the more I am reading about them.

[blueit7]

Thanks for your replies. I'll get the stones out right now.

The tank he is in is only 20 litres, 45cm long by 24 wide. Not big enough I think, but okay for the moment. I chose the smallest axolotl I could! I am working hard to get him a bigger tank.

I will never know how old he is by the sounds. The guy in the shop couldn't even tell me if he was male of female! So full of information they are. Thank goodness for sites like this where we can all share information and learn together.

Some of the rubbish they tell you in the shops in unbelievable. The poor animals owned by people who think they are getting knowledgeable advice. In saying that you do find the odd gem who really knows their stuff.

I'm off to get rid of my stones. Thanks again.

[click]

Hi Blueit7,

Welcome nice to see another New Zealand flag.

If ever you are in the Waikato there is a petshop with such a gem.

Axolotls are solitary creatures by nature so they don't mind being on their own. That having been said they seem to enjoy the company of others. I have three in a 160 Litre tank and they all get along well there is heaps of space and caves, plants etc so they can get away from each other if they want.

I have had gravel, sand and now bare floor with some slate slabs and Its very easy to maintain.

Warning axolotl keeping is addictive so I guess you wont be having just one for very long.

Good Luck

[Lisa]

Yep have to agree with Ian on that one. Started with one only about three weeks ago and already planning my three foot tank and at least one more...

[Carley]

I agree with Ian also, I got one and then quite a few more :)

[blueit7]

You guys are mind readers! Yes I do already want another one.
I need a bigger tank first or a seperate smaller one. The one I have now is not big enough for two. Don't know how well that will go down though, I have 5 fish tanks including Axies already! Might need to look at getting a bigger house maybe..........!
I would quite like to get one of the white ones that I have seen in the pictures. Axie is just black and plain looking.
He is so happy without the stones in his tank. He swims around a lot more now Could be just settling in more as well. He eats the food off the floor of the tank as well which he didn't do when he had stones.
I am reading that adults only need to be fed every 2nd day. How do you walk past that begging little face without feeding it every day!? Can I hurt him by feeding him every day? I remove any uneaten food the next morning. There's not normally any though!
I am feeeding him Axolotl food from the pet shop. He has about 5-6 pellets a day.
Ian, what is the name of the petshop in the Waikato? I do come over that way sometimes and would been keen to pop in and visit.

[goobi69]

hey guys i got my first axie today im infactuated already haha anywho i was just wondering how big the tank has to be idealy for a second one. the tank i have at the moment is 2.5foot by about 1 foot is it okay to put more than 2 guys in here

[click]

It would be ok for 2 juveniles. A general rule of thumb is 18inches of tank space per axie more is better.

More than 2 in the tank you have may lead to problems, agression and a bio load that your tank can't handle.

Good Luck