Dumped axies need bit of advice

hello everyone my name is danni and i study herpetology though i specialise in reptiles more than amphibians. i work in a pet shop and just got get axies given to me by a customer their son got them from another pet shop rents dont want him to have them so long story short i ended up looking after the little guys. now i havent been around axies since college so im a bit rough. at the mo i had to place them in a tank about 12" x 6" they're only 10 weeks old and about 3", im feeding them on live bloodworm and daphnia (does anyone know if you can buy these online?) i have some quite large gravel stones in the tank they're too big for them to eat at the mo im guessing it'd be best to move to sand. my main point is i had to put them into tap water i placed a tonic (tap safe) in which takes out the chlorine and heavy metals it adds alovera and 'benificial bacteria' it was all that was available to me they've been in the tank about a week so i want to do a water change. ive heard about cycling but as they arrived so quick i didnt have chance to do that, i do have a 3ft tank free and a filter which im going to set up for them...i just dont want anything to happen to them while they're in the little tank, so whats the best way to change the water just a half water change or full water change?
thanx for reading

(Message approved by jennewt)

do you mean live blackworm? live bloodworm are pretty uncommon and can harbour lots of nasties from what ive read. bloodworms, chopped/live blackworms and daphnia is great for youngins.

yes change to sand now in whichever tank you want to house them in permanently, no point letting it cycle then disrupt it with a substrate swap. unless the benifical bacteria was 'bio-spira' i dont think its done much good, in the meantime (for the next month or so) you will need to do daily water changes of 20% or so to keep the ammonia and nitrite down. http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml theres an article on cyling. no need to do full water changes, even half probably wont be necessary. you do need to get test kits or access to them so you can test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph regularly (sometimes daily during cycling) as the readings will tell you when they cycle has finished.

have a read of www.axolotl.org, that has heaps on info that can get ya started and any other thigns your not too sure on post here and well be glad to help you

I can get live bloodworm readily from an aquatic centee near me!

I don't know where to get them online tho.

Hey Luna, Welcome to the forum

Don't stress too much over the axolotls while your tank is cycling. Axolotls are very easy to care for even when they are not in a tank as long as the water is changed daily and food is offered via the feeding schedules. Take out the gravel and start the cycling when you can, but for the time being I would just take out the axolotls and put them in a container like a small clean bucket or ice cream bucket or plastic unused storage bin with the declorinator. Make sure the container has a lid with holes in it so that they won't jump out. It sounds like you are using "Stress Coat" is this the brand you are using for declorinator?

Most of the people on the forum I think use that, I use it, it's great. By far the best. It sounds like you are off to a good start.

Once they are in their containers, just do a water change daily or twice daily as needed.

Good luck with your new family additions Post pictures if you can ^___^