SapphireTigress
New member
Sorry in advance for my first post being sooo long! I have been perusing the forums for the last 3 days, but my account JUST got approved so i couldnt see some of the information/pics/etc.
-----
I know this is highly frowned upon, but a friend was trying to sell some of her axies, I had 2 empty 10 gallon tanks at home, and have always wanted an axie sooooo... I did the unthinkable...I bought my first animal without months of prior research. I have NEVER done this. I got Aarna the axolotl on Sunday Mar 11.
Now i'm concerned, because I know absolutely nothing about fishtanks and cycling, had no idea cycling even existed. Now i've read that you CAN cycle with the axolotl, but its harder on it than if you had cycled the tank before. I think I know what my levels need to be, and found out i need a test kit, so that will be picked up today.
I got a filter (not sure of the different types yet) yesterday, but it turns out she HATES it. It is the Aqueon Quiet Flow 10. This is the same type of filter that was recommended to me, just a little bit more expensive. She spent all day in the farthest corner away from it and kept looking like she was trying to get out. As soon as I turned it off and she had some time to calm down, she was swimming all over the place...She is really curious about my cat lol.
Now I am going back to the store as I have been reading that I cant cycle without a filter, and have read that a sponge filter would work better?
I know that the more details about my setup the better, at least thats how it works with reptile questions, so here is what I have/know right now:
Basics:
~9 month old axie, believed to be female, Golden albino. May or may not have the GFP gene. Roughtly 4 inches long.
~10 gallon glass aquarium.
~9.5 inches of water out of a possible 12 inches
~Good sized hidey cave for her to hide in.
~Bare bottom floor for now.
~Thermometer (glass suction cup kind), Temp reads ~70* F (I know thats high, but i'm concerned putting an icepack in will drop it too low to fast)
Supplies I have:
~Pelleted food (API brand bottom feeder pellets) She didnt want to eat these for me so I gave her 2 realllly small Dubia Nymphs
~Aqueon QuietFlow 10 Filter (pet store told me to get this, but she hates it, like i said)
~Siphon Vacuum Cleaner (5'')
Supplies I now know i need:
~water test kit, i'm planning on purchasing the
API freshwater Master Test Kit if my local store has it, if not, just a kit to tide me over until i can get this.
~earthworms
--------------
I feel terrible that I did this impulse buy, but now that i have, I need your help. Any suggestions on items that i need, when to do water changes, what to do if my ammonia/ph/nitrites/nitrates are too high or low, and any other information you can give me. A lot of the information seems to be so common sense to aquarium people that it is usually left out or assumed, which leaves me confused being a reptile person lol.
Also, where is the best place to buy earthworms? i already have Dubia roaches and Hissers, and my bf refuses to let me breed anymore feeder species.
I'm planning on making cut up earthworms (eww) her main diet as I went to get live bloodworms and nearly vomited in the store. Can I feed her live dubia nymphs fairly regularly or should I just give them as the occasional treat?
Thanks in advance!
-----
I know this is highly frowned upon, but a friend was trying to sell some of her axies, I had 2 empty 10 gallon tanks at home, and have always wanted an axie sooooo... I did the unthinkable...I bought my first animal without months of prior research. I have NEVER done this. I got Aarna the axolotl on Sunday Mar 11.
Now i'm concerned, because I know absolutely nothing about fishtanks and cycling, had no idea cycling even existed. Now i've read that you CAN cycle with the axolotl, but its harder on it than if you had cycled the tank before. I think I know what my levels need to be, and found out i need a test kit, so that will be picked up today.
I got a filter (not sure of the different types yet) yesterday, but it turns out she HATES it. It is the Aqueon Quiet Flow 10. This is the same type of filter that was recommended to me, just a little bit more expensive. She spent all day in the farthest corner away from it and kept looking like she was trying to get out. As soon as I turned it off and she had some time to calm down, she was swimming all over the place...She is really curious about my cat lol.
Now I am going back to the store as I have been reading that I cant cycle without a filter, and have read that a sponge filter would work better?
I know that the more details about my setup the better, at least thats how it works with reptile questions, so here is what I have/know right now:
Basics:
~9 month old axie, believed to be female, Golden albino. May or may not have the GFP gene. Roughtly 4 inches long.
~10 gallon glass aquarium.
~9.5 inches of water out of a possible 12 inches
~Good sized hidey cave for her to hide in.
~Bare bottom floor for now.
~Thermometer (glass suction cup kind), Temp reads ~70* F (I know thats high, but i'm concerned putting an icepack in will drop it too low to fast)
Supplies I have:
~Pelleted food (API brand bottom feeder pellets) She didnt want to eat these for me so I gave her 2 realllly small Dubia Nymphs
~Aqueon QuietFlow 10 Filter (pet store told me to get this, but she hates it, like i said)
~Siphon Vacuum Cleaner (5'')
Supplies I now know i need:
~water test kit, i'm planning on purchasing the
API freshwater Master Test Kit if my local store has it, if not, just a kit to tide me over until i can get this.
~earthworms
--------------
I feel terrible that I did this impulse buy, but now that i have, I need your help. Any suggestions on items that i need, when to do water changes, what to do if my ammonia/ph/nitrites/nitrates are too high or low, and any other information you can give me. A lot of the information seems to be so common sense to aquarium people that it is usually left out or assumed, which leaves me confused being a reptile person lol.
Also, where is the best place to buy earthworms? i already have Dubia roaches and Hissers, and my bf refuses to let me breed anymore feeder species.
I'm planning on making cut up earthworms (eww) her main diet as I went to get live bloodworms and nearly vomited in the store. Can I feed her live dubia nymphs fairly regularly or should I just give them as the occasional treat?
Thanks in advance!