n00b getting started

Hey thought id make my first post.

Names Aaron, from Melbourne Australia.

Just got my tank setup and waiting some spare time to pop down to get some sand and some plants along with a couple lil hidey decorations for the axies il be purchasing sometime once i get everything set up and neutral.

I have a 38x25x46cm tank, and from what i ahve been told this is a decent size for a pair of axies.

Question is, as a n00b should i just stick to a same sex community tank for the time being?

How sexually active are axies once mature?

Also i see alot of people with gravel and large pebbles for a base to their tank, yet people say to stay away from these as axies tend to choke on them, or are unable to pass them

(eg please see the picture of "Colin" )

is this "gravel/sand" too big/small?
(so i know what im looking for)

Im thinking of taking the risk out and just getting some sand to keep on the bottom,

Im super excited to get everything up and going..

Also where do most of you guys and gals get your axies from
eg. pet shop, aquarium shop (fish and reptile specialists) or just from other breeders
prices vary so greatly between the 5-6 places i ahve been (ranging from $12 (for anything they have) to well over $45, for just a wild type and over $50 for a axanthic albino (AUD $$)

this place seems to have the answers for everything i would ever need

Aaron

Hi nice to meet you!!

That size tank is only big enough for one axolotl, but they don't need tank mates, so one is ok, unless you want to get a bigger tank.

I like sand because it is safe to use (that's just my opinion), but you do need to wash it first. Just put the sand in a bucket and fill it up with water. Swirl the water around a bit and tip the water out. You need to do that a few times until the water runs clear.

As for pet shops, I have had ALOT of problems with pet shops as half the time they DON'T know what they are talking about or they just DON'T care. I prefer to buy my axolotls from breeders, that way, I can almost be 100% certain that the axie is happy and healthy. However, there are SOME good pet shops out there, so I suppose you just have to shop around.

As for mixing sexs, it just depends whether or not your prepared for babies I guess.

Hope this helps. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong

Hello, that gravel is not safe for axolotls - I should know, Colin was mine
He died of a fungus though.

well, i guess only having room for one is ok.. (the girlfriend isnt too keen on the idea of having a pair of mating axies watching us sleep at night heheh)

"hypotheically" if i was to get a pair, how "cramped" would it get

im very happy with the cost of tank (only 155 with filter pump and light) so an upgrade atm would seem pointless, as i really just want something small. But with that info i would probably just get one and see how i go, keep breeding til i get a nice healthy axie to breed with my friends one.

inkozana - Colin was so pretty, thanks for the heads up
my landlord wont let me get a "real" pet, so i thought an axie would be the next best coolest thing.

i have noticed alot of people at markets now selling axies, some of which are in very good condition.

when bringing them from the stockist (shop or breeder) wats the best (least stressful) way of getting them home, bucket? with a moist towel over the top too help with heat (its about to go into summer in melbourne and i dont wanna end up gettin home with a distressed axie.

im super excited, unlike my girlfriend (she will grow to love it i guess)

b00f said:

"hypotheically" if i was to get a pair, how "cramped" would it get

Click to expand...

Axolotls can grow to any size from 7 to 14 inches. The axolotls will spend some time wandering around the base of the tank so need a lot of floor space. The recommended floor space is about 18 inches length per axolotl.

As well as being rather crampted, there is also the issue of water quality. The water quality is most important to an axolotls well being. Axolotls release a lot of waste and are messy grots when it comes to eating.

With two axolotls in little water volume more frequent water changes would need to be done to keep Ammonia levels under control. Ammonia and Nitrite should always read as '0' - any levels over zero are dangerously toxic to the axolotls.

b00f said:

When bringing them from the stockist (shop or breeder) what's the best (least stressful) way of getting them home, bucket? with a moist towel over the top too help with heat (its about to go into summer in melbourne and i dont wanna end up gettin home with a distressed axie.

I'm super excited, unlike my girlfriend (she will grow to love it i guess)

Click to expand...

When transporting my axolotls I use a tupperware container with a lid to prevent the axolotl from escaping or being sloshed out with the car motion. Ensure lid is secure!

I then put the container in an esky.

If the weather is hot, I put an icepack in the esky to keep it cool for the axolotl.

If using a bucket, the top would need to be securely sealed or someone would have to nurse it.

If buying an axolotl from a shop, they will provide a 'fish bag' to transport the axolotl home.

I'm sure it won't take long for your girlfriend to fall helplessly in love with the axolotl. They are highly addictive and a laugh a minute.

i wouldnt mind having to keep a closer eye on the toxicity levels of the water and do larger and more fequent partial water changes, if it ment i could have a pair

I found a nice cupboard which i made at school many a year ago, which is perfect for the tank
i just need to get some foam to put under it to keep it slightly more flat

im really excited about setting everything up...

b00f said:

i wouldnt mind having to keep a closer eye on the toxicity levels of the water and do larger and more fequent partial water changes, if it ment i could have a pair.

Click to expand...

I really wouldn't recommend this.

The water changes would need to be done daily or every two days or so and would involve some full water changes. The Ammonia levels would be a constant. The tank will never cycle due to the amount of bioload in the tank, axolotls release a lot of waste.

When you went on holidays, someone would have to care for the axolotls by doing the water changes in your absence. A missed water change could be a death sentence to the axolotls.

If you want more than one axolotl, you will need a bigger tank.

yeah i guess i can always upgrade to a bigger tank later on...
the stand i am using is pretty tough (hand made from tassie hardwoods)
the stand cost more then my tank

hrrmm now im just sitting here thinking how i should begin the cycle...

after much reading i think i have confuzzled myself at which cycle method im going to do...

Whichever method you use, the cycling of an aquarium can take one to three months to complete.

Have you read this article on cycling? http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

Read through it, and then please feel free to ask any questions. Cycling can be a difficult concept to grasp at first - we're happy to help.

Read, printed (of course using work office supplies), re-read

this place is literally the place on the internet which helps people out, no matter what situation they are in or how experienced they are, so Kudos to John

I understand i need ammonia to get nitrite, which then turns to nitrate,
basically during this time i just need to monitor all 3 of the above, and make 20-25% water changes to keep ammonia down,

ammonia and nitrites are BAD :evil:
nitrates are good to have


I really need to fix the curtains in my room, as they are a bit "thin" and dont stop much of the light, and as im on a concrete slab and only get very late, partially shaded afternoon sun it isnt too hot.

super happy 2 days off, gonna sit in the bath washing sand

b00f said:

super happy 2 days off, gonna sit in the bath washing sand

Click to expand...

LOL...Interesting conciept! I don't think I have ever sat in the bath washing sand before!

Have fun!

b00f said:

gonna sit in the bath washing sand

Click to expand...

Sounds fun... What to do on a day off...serve the axolotls.

I wouldn't use the bath as there will always be residual soap, shampoo and other chemicals used in our daily washing routine on the bath surfaces as well as cleaning agents used to clean the bath and tiles. These chemicals will contaminate the sand and will harm the axololts if they are exposed to it.

I would use the bucket method. Put sand in bucket, swish around and pour the water out. Continue until water runoff is clear. Add cleaned sand to tank.

The good news is you only about a centimeter depth of sand maximum to line the tank bottom and this little amount is more than sufficient to give your axies something to snuffle through, dig and walk on.

Havelock said:

Sounds fun... What to do on a day off...serve the axolotls.

I wouldn't use the bath as there will always be residual soap, shampoo and other chemicals used in our daily washing routine on the bath surfaces as well as cleaning agents used to clean the bath and tiles. These chemicals will contaminate the sand and will harm the axololts if they are exposed to it.

I would use the bucket method. Put sand in bucket, swish around and pour the water out. Continue until water runoff is clear. Add cleaned sand to tank.

The good news is you only about a centimeter depth of sand maximum to line the tank bottom and this little amount is more than sufficient to give your axies something to snuffle through, dig and walk on.

Click to expand...

i can picture it now, filling a bath with sand, to wash it

i was going to use a bucket, in the bath, Water restrictions

b00f said:

i can picture it now, filling a bath with sand, to wash it

i was going to use a bucket, in the bath, Water restrictions

Click to expand...

Well that's all right then!

Cheers Jacq.

Ahhh now it makes sense!!!

i was going to use a bucket, in the bath, Water restrictions

Click to expand...

Thats how I did mine - I stuck on some togs and sat in the bath for a few hours with some buckets. I felt terrible tipping all that water away, but you can't really help it I guess. I made up for it by not doing any washing for a while

hahaha

so i thought id give you guys a bit of a run down over the last few days i have gotten my tank going

- washed a couple 2kg's on sand - TOYS R US playsand,
-Brought some plants - nice assortment
-3 Fantails - "Bikki" and 2 yet to name, Bikki is very very very active...

when tested ph was 7 and Ammonia was @ 0.00, a nice start,

going to test it again in a few days once the fish have settled in...

It looks great, still yet to sort out some better positioning for the plants (seem to be not sticking in the sand, might need a little bit more...)

Drift wood hidey hole is currently soaking in a bucket to water log it.

sorry no pics atm, only have internet at work.....

Sounds like it's coming along nicely :happy:

One question though - are fantails goldfish? Be careful, they can carry heaps of diseases and other nasties which might be passed on to your axolotl. Don't forget if you've got fish living in there you'll still have to do water changes every day - I think goldfish are particularly messy, but I'm not entirely sure. I cycled a guppy tank with 3 guppies in it - it was really hard to keep the ammonia and nitrite down. Maybe 3 is too many? And do you have somewhere to put them after the tank is cycled?

Also, try to refrain from putting more sand in, it should be under an inch thick. I thought the same thing when I set my tank up and I just ended up having to scoop some out later on. If the plants are supposed to go under the substrate, just give them some time and they should spread roots everywhere.