Aquatic Setups

This page includes both fully aquatic tanks, and tanks with very small islands. These tanks are suitable for caudates that never leave the water, or only rarely.

Aquatic Setup #15

Dimensions: 55 gallons; 120x30x45 cm
Animals: Ambystoma mexicanum
Owner: Jenny Edwards

Comments: Two large tanks for axolotls. Substrate is fine sand, which allows planting of live aquatic plants without the risk of digestive impaction posed by gravel. The above-water plants are artificial.

Aquatic Setup #14

Volume: ~20 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30x40 cm; 24x12x16 inches
Animals: larval Pleurodeles waltl
Owner: Mark Aartse-Tuyn

Comments: A tank housing around 25 well grown larvae. Artifical plants form dense cover to provide hiding areas during the day. Artificial ornaments and a handful of pond weed break the surface which morphs use to rest on during the night. There is no substrate for ease of cleaning and a submersible filter, whose output is shielded by peices of slate stone.

Aquatic Setup #13

Dimensions: 90x45x45 cm; 36x18x18 inches
Animals: 7 Paramesotriton caudopunctatus
Owner: Tim Johnson

Aquatic Setup #12

Volume: 46 gallons; 170 liters
Animals: 2 Taricha granulosa
Owner: S1ren

Comments: I keep about 35-40 gallons of water in it. All the plants are live. At the time of the photo, I had just clipped them all back, so it looks a little bare.

Aquatic Setup #11

Dimensions: 120x40x50 cm; 48x16x20 inches
Animals: 6 ribbed newts (Pleurodeles waltl)
Owner: Joeri Wielandts

Comments: The left side is densely planted and has a lamp so the plants would grow during winter as well. The center part is somewhat more open. Here you find the filter. This is also the part where they are fed.

Aquatic Setup #10

Volume: 15 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30x30 cm; 24x12x12 inches
Animals: Japanese firebellied newts (C. pyrrhogaster)
Owner: Reinder Haar

Comments: Densely planted with Vallisneria. No filter, just an airstone.

Aquatic Setup #9

Dimensions: 120x40x50 cm; 48x18x20 inches
Animals: Ribbed newts (Pleurodeles waltl)
Owner: Zuccone

Aquatic Setup #8

Dimensions: 60x45x40 cm; 24x18x16 inches
Animals: Tylototriton verrucosus
Owner: Alan Cann

Comments: Includes small air-driven box filter, fine sand substrate, maintained at 20-25C. Planted with Java fern, Java moss, hornwort and Salvinia. Bogwood and hornwort provide haul-out points, which the animals use frequently.

Aquatic Setup #7

Volume: Approx. 10 gallons
Dimensions: 45x25x30 cm; 18x10x12 inches
Animals: 3 subadult ribbed newts (Pleurodeles waltl)
Owner: Leonardo Ancillotto

Comments: Plants: Ceratophyllum demersum, Criptocoryne sp. and unknown species.

Aquatic Setup #6

Dimensions: 60X35X30; 24x14x12 inches
Animals: Cynops ensicauda
Owner: Leonardo Ancillotto

Comments: There is almost no gravel on the bottom, only large smooth rocks. Plants: Elodea densa, Ceratophyllum demersum and Fontinalis antipyretica.

Aquatic Setup #5

Dimensions: 60x40x50 cm; 24x16x20 inches
Animals: 4 adult Paramesotriton
Owner: Juraj Lezovic

Aquatic Setup #4

Volume: 20 gallons
Dimensions: 60x30x45 cm; 24x12x18 inches
Animals: Triturus vulgaris (during breeding season)
Owner: Coen Deurloo

Aquatic Setup #3

Volume: 15 gallons; 57 liters
Dimensions: 12x24 inches; 30x60 cm
Animals: Tylototriton verrucosus
Owner: Heather Bjornebo

Comments: This tank is similar to the other rock-island types. It was designed for Tylototriton verrucosus.

Aquatic Setup #2

Owner: Ed Pearson

Comments: This aquatic setup has an undergravel filter with two overhanging waterfalls. It's great for caudates that like some places to climb out, but climb out only rarely.

Aquatic Setup #1

Owner: Ed Pearson

Comments: This tank works for most fully aquatic caudates, like axolotls or sirens. It has a submersible filter hooked up to a homemade contraption that is basically like an overhanging waterfall. As you can see, it pours the water onto the rock-island.

For more setup photos, see Setting It Up.