Other sources info

i was reading this book on salmanders and newts and it said axies prefer softer and less acidic water, the contrary produces gill irritation!! I was like....what??? I thought it was the opposite, they said there was evidense?? SO i wonder if anyone can state that this might be true?? It also said to stimulate breeding to keep the water level down for a while ( weeks i'm guessing) and then to flood it with cooler water....they also said if females don't lay once producing eggs they die- though it is rare.....i thought they reabsorbed it??? i was wondering if some other ppl found interesting facts or other wrong info in other sources apart from this site and axolotl.org ????

What was the book? A lot of people write things (books, webpages, whatnot) based on personal observation rather than scientific data.

newts and salmanders by barrons. i think he wrote on a bit of both......like if hes axies were hurt my acid, he changed to alkaline and it was better.... thats evidense write?

I have that book. The author is Frank Indiviglio. It's actually one of the better books on newt/sal care that is widely available. What he says is this (in the section on axolotl care):

"While they can be slowly acclimated to a variety of water types, they do best in soft water with a pH of 6.9 to 7.6. I have seen evidence that hard water can damage the gills, as can high acidity."

Well, he doesn't say what evidence he saw. And there is a difference between seeing evidence and testing something scientifically. What I can say is that I've kept axolotls for a year in hard, alkaline water and they are thriving like crazy. What I have is only evidence too. But it contradicts his evidence. That is why scientific studies are much more powerful than "evidence" alone.

(Message edited by jennewt on March 29, 2006)

o ok! i see now! Which could mean that any peramateres go. As in they are hardy and will survive both acidic and not ect, just not the extremes yeh?

Not any parameters are appropriate, but axolotls can exist in a limited range of pH levels and alkalinity in the water. I've kept mine in hard water, and in softened water, and they've never shown a preference either way.

goes to show stability is the key!!

i ment any as in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, not ANY!! sorry i should have explained it better!