Newbie With Some Questions

Hey there everyone,

I am in the process of planning for getting a melanoid axolotl and I want them to have the best home possible. I need opinions on the equipment I found, answers to a few questions, and referrals to where I can get a young adolescent (I want to be able to see the little guy grow up.)




Here is the list I have now:
Tank
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcos...llon?rrec=true

Hideaway
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CTXDV2S...5-df1f649f28fd

Filter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...qh_dp_hza?th=1

Test Kit
https://www.amazon.com/API-FRESHWATE...SIN=B000255NCI

Conditioner
https://www.amazon.com/API-CONDITION...8001448&sr=8-5




Questions:
How can I diffuse the flow of the filter so that it does not cause stress
What amount should I feed an adolescent (planning on using earthworms)
What plants can be added that will not cause issues? I’m planning on doing a slate floor/ hidey hole combo later along the line. (just going to have an empty floor to start)
How long should I cycle the tank before adding the axolotl
Is there any issue with moving the axolotl? I don't want to hurt him if I need to move the tank somewhere else.

Finally, I am not quite sure where to buy an axolotl from. As stated before I want a melanoid axolotl as young as possible (but not too young that its unsafe to transport.) I saw some things about certain pet stores having them, but that it's better to just get one from a breeder.

If you got this far, then thank you! Any help will be appreciated, and have a great day!

1) try tying a sponge using fishing line to your output I’m assuming your talking about a hang on back filter
2) to my knowledge all Axies feed different amounts on different days I’d say just eyeball for the first few days till you can get a feel of your axolotl but carful you don’t over feed it-when you know you know
3)I’m not sure about the plants because I’ve never had a planted aquarium but I’m sure a quick google search will give you all the answers you need
4)try to wait at least a month if not longer,unless you have a pre cycled tank that can spare some starting bacteria in that case about two weeks
5)as long as your gentle,and very careful about water hardness and temperatures you shouldn’t have too many issues
6)this site it one of the best places to start looking for a trustworthy breeder if you look through the index you can find a tab completely dedicated to buying,trading,and selling

I hope this helped and that you find what your looking for ��

I can't see what filter you have for some reason but assuming it's a hob, a water bottle baffle has worked really well for me, you can also stuff the water bottle area with sponge for added filtration and buffering.
Sponges around intakes and outputs are also common, and I've heard of people using suction cup soap dishes to baffle the filter. A quick Google of any of those ideas should yield instructions and you can figure out what work for you.
As for cycling, there really is no exact time frame you just need to carefully monitor your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate until they show you're cycled. Heres a guide to the whole cycling process. https://fishlab.com/how-to-cycle-aquarium/#nitrogen-cycle-process

For feeding, depending on the size of you axi you may need to cut up the worms at first. You can pretty much feed them when they are hungry and just monitor their body condition. Rule of thumb I've heard is their bellies should be as wide as their head, maybe a smidge wider it's ok for them to be a little plump

For plants there's definitely a thread on here about that that you can find by searching. Live plants can be a little tricky because of the cold lowlight environment, but people have made it work! Silk and soft plastic plants are ok too. If they pass the pantyhose test (run nylons over the plants to see if they tear, if they do it they are too sharp for your pet)

I agree that a breeder is best and their are great resource to find one on this site. However, depending where you are you may have to wait a bit for it to be safe for you axolotl to ship because of freezing weather.