Using cycled turtle water

Mr Brown · Jul 2, 2008

I am looking at getting a few axolotls in the Fall and was wondering if anyone has used or has any thoughts on using water from and established turtle tank to use for axolotls. The water in the turtle tank in cycled and in very clear (strong filter with lots of biomedia). the ammonia levels are zero and have never been anything other than zero. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Jennewt · Jul 2, 2008

If you want to transfer the cycling capacity from one tank to another, solid objects such as substrate, rocks, plants, filter media, etc, are better than water. The cycling bacteria live primarily on surfaces.

How likely is it that the turtle carries pathogens? Wild-caught turtles carry all kinds of nasty parasites. But it's unclear whether these would be infectious to an amphib.

So... it's a risk either way. Either you face the risk of cycling from scratch, or you face the risk of introducing parasites or pathogens.

John · Jul 3, 2008

I'd be more concerned with the bacteria level. However I will confess right now that I used red-eared slider water to culture Daphnia for hatchling axolotls and it was the best culturing medium I ever used! However those were acquired as hatchlings and I'm not sure they were ever truly wild.

Mr Brown · Jul 3, 2008

Thanks. I have had the turtles for 11 years, but am not sure whether they are captive bred or wild. Would using some of the biomedia from the filter to start the cycle in the axolotl tank work?

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