Axolotl Eating Sand!!!

I have an axolotl named Axel I just switched his tank from bare bottom to sand. He is about 5 inches and I don't know if it is safe. I've heard it was safe but he has been eating a lot of sand. The sand hasn't been in the tank for long, only for about 10 minutes. I don't know since he is still pretty small (5 inches) but please help!!!

Hi there!
I have axolotls on a sand substrate and they suck in sand all the time. Just make sure you keep him well fed on his real food, and watch his poop, and he should be fine. They are usually able to pass any sand they ingest, but if you don't see any sign of poop for a few days in a row, then you could try a plain black tea bath as the tannins in it are good for the skin and the caffeine acts as a natural laxative for them. Other than that he should be fine.

Kochebi said:

Hi there!
They are usually able to pass any sand they ingest, but if you don't see any sign of poop for a few days in a row, then you could try a plain black tea bath as the tannins in it are good for the skin and the caffeine acts as a natural laxative for them. Other than that he should be fine.

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You think tannins are good for the skin ? They posses antifungal properties so help treat/prevent fungus but actually good for the skin ? Can you link me up with the study showing caffeine added to tank water acts as a laxative, thanks .
Op, I don't use sand now as i prefer barebottomed tanks but I used it for years with no probs but it's surprising how much an axolotl will accidentally consume. Does this cause a prob ? Idk, doesn't seem to except in rare cases. You can reduce consumption by feeding larger food items such as worms rather than pellets, use a feeding dish to keep the food off the sand or hand feed. The link is to a debate I started on sand a couple years ago
http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...et-ups-filters-substrate/79557-sand-safe.html

Hey Nai, I can't give anything more than personal experience, and for that I apologize!

My axolotl had an issue with his awhile back when a tank cycle crashed and he had spots all over his skin. I made a post about it here and someone recommended tannins to soothe the skin, and I've had other people say the same before in other places.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...k-axolotl/101946-sick-axolotl-tank-crash.html

As far as a laxative goes that's more from personal experience. I've given my axolotls black tea baths with the only plain black tea I had on hand, which was a golden monkey variety. Given, it does have higher caffeine levels in it, but every time I use it they usually poop within a short time of being in there. It's also why I'm cautious of leaving them in black tea for longer than a few hours. Again, I'm sorry I don't have any solid evidence/links, I'm going off of personal experience and word of mouth from others.

Tannins are used as a treatment for fungus etc, this doesn't necessarily mean it is good for their skin permanently, axolotls need slightly alkaline water , tannin loaded water becomes softer. If you bathe an axolotl they often poop, wether it's a temp change or fresh water idk but when I tub axolotls to ship I have to change the water in an hour or so as its messed up, your mistaking this behaviour for caffeine having a laxative effect I imagine

Perhaps you misunderstood but I didn't mean tannins would be a permanent skin treatment of sorts. I just meant a bath in water full of tannins could be beneficial in that department as well as warding off fungus and such.

And hey. Maybe I am but from personal experience it's what happens and other people have said the same but I don't want to argue. I'm sorry for any confusion.