Hi

My name is Janet and I've just bought my first axolotl. He is white, a bit transparent and his name is Xipe Totec - Zippy to friends and family. (I use the word 'his' advisedly as I'm not really sure). He lives in a 24" tank at a temperature which varies slightly between 16 and 18c. He seems to have taken a few days to settle into his new home and I've yet to see him eat anything but since he doesn't look too thin and isn't dead yet I assume he's ok. Today is the first day he hasn't scuttled off to one of his hiding places as soon as I approach the tank. Having kept fish for may years it rather goes against the grain not to have filtration so I have put a very gentle filter into the tank which he seems to like to rest against - explain that one! Because it's a new tank I've been testing for amonia and nitrates fairly regularly, the amonia level has gone up today but not alarmingly, nitrates are fine, I will continue to monitor it but I think this is probably normal for a new tank. I clear out any uneaten food every couple of days and top up with rainwater of which there is a plentiful supply at the moment. I hope I'm doing everything ok and that my next posting won't be to tell you that he has floated to the surface.

Welcome Janet. It sounds like you're doing a good job. I would be a bit wary of using rain water because it will be lacking in dissolved mineral salts and since axolotls like hard water this is not a good thing. You'd be better off using tap water treated with water conditioner/dechlorinator.

Best wishes,

-John

Hi janet
Welcome!
Congrats on your axie!!

Hope to see some pics on here soon! :happy:

Mel