GRRR. People.

[emmyk]

So as a crazy axolotl owner, I browse instagram and tumblr for others axolotls, and insure proper care.. i've bumped into a (more than a few) people with gravel, and I compliment them on their axolotls and tell them about the dangers of gravel... but every once and a while there's a person on a high horse claiming their axolotl can't get hurt on gravel and they just poop it out blah blah blah... how do we convince these people who don't realise their axolotl is in danger?!

 

[geekychik]

Unfortunately, just like some people shouldn't have kids, some people shouldn't own pets. Also, people in general, are stupid.
I had a pet store try to tell me that there was nothing wrong with gravel, until I found an axi in their tank with stones stuck in it.
Good luck with your quest to help people look after axolotls better :happy:

 

[Kaysie]

Also, people in general, are stupid.

Words of wisdom!

 

[snuggly time]

Tell them to swallow a small stone and see how they do digesting it? I bet they wouldn't.

 

[Morrison]

Show them the well known Awful-X-Ray-Picture-Of-An-Axie-With-A-Stone-Inside picture.

 

[Quentari]

In THEORY sand and gravel are equally as bad/good as each other. If the gravel is small and smooth then if the axie only eats one or two it should pass through easily. Usually though axies eat more than one or two. Added to the fact that gravel at the pet stores is often larger and sometimes had sharper parts and it's generally not safe.

I have had absolutely no luck in finding sand that wasn't 10x more jagged than the average gravel (I'm switching to slate when I move! 5 more days!) and I know my axies eat lots of sand. Axies have been known to poop sand for MONTHS after being removed from it. And most reptile owners will tell you sand is bad for reptiles because if they eat it it causes a cement-like blockage. I personally don't see why sand is any safer for axies unless you can find a super-soft sand and hope they never eat enough to cement-up their insides.

 

[emmyk]

That's a really good point.

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[Alkylhalide]

I always get the whole i want to give my axies more of a natural habitat. Where as it is true sand can be harmful in some scenarios expecially in small juveniles, the risk is a lot lower and normally from feeding them off the sand to much.

However if any of these people would do their research they would know the habitatthat axolotls(use) to inhabitate in fact was all fine sand and not gravel or rocks. So they are saying they want to give their axies a natural environment but add colorful gravel to the tank that you can see in their axies belly. Mmmhmmm and there is no convincing them otherwise. Its sad but unfurtunately like said above some people just shouldnt own pets.

Ive heard of people leaving them on gravel and them lving 10-15years. Actually one lady who got two off me said she owned an axolotl a long time ago who lived to be 13years and back then they had no information online to go find about axolotls. She had been doing research before she got the lotls and she called me one night telling me that so much more information has become available and how great this was because she never knew how dangerous gravel was. She was so grateful about the sites i gave her . Made me happy that though she owned one in the past didnt mean that times didnt change since the

 

[pondweed]

Is it sand or silt and mud in their natural habitat?

 

[mackinthebox]

ive often wondered the same but I cant find any info on the home lake in mexico... very little info about the bottom any way, lol
i would assume silt and mud though
would love to get down to Lake Xochimilco and find out though

 

[FX1C]

I am Axolotladdiction on Instagram & have spent the year posting general care info & ending up in arguments with idiots. I've posted lots of pics about no gravel & the X-rays etc - it helps to be patient & reiterate the dangers of gravel.

I'm happy if I can keep a few more lotls safe & happy by sharing the info & love for lotls



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Quentari]

I'd guess mud. Maybe silt. I doubt it's sand.

And you can minimise sand eating by feeding them off the sand (jars, tongs etc) just the same as you can minimise gravel eating by feeding off the ground (jars, tongs etc). Sorry in my opinion that's not really a valid justification, plus I've seen my axies randomly eat sand

Anyway like I said I'm switching to slate. There's not as much research on sand as there is on the horrors of gravel so for now it is at least a better option.

 

[Mama Mia]

As I was doing my research for my 1st Axie, I was getting so confused about the sand- gravel debate , Til one day I was looking at photos of other people's set-ups and I noticed a man feeding his axies in a small glass dish, so I went on E-Bay and I found that these dishes called (salt cellars) looked just right so I got a couple, to try out,
Everything is ready now, and my Axie should be here on Tuesday, I have been waiting, and I can't wait, but I made sure I did my research and was sure I knew enough not to do harm to my new lil guy.
I would like to thank everyone on here that helped me out and gave such great advice, I am sure when h/sh gets here Tuesday I will have more questions lol

 

[Howie]

Hello,

I have big stones in the bottom of my tank, far bigger that the axis, pain to clean though.

I was thinking of switching to sand but don't know if it's ok or not now.

Help please!

 

[auntiejude]

My axies are on sand that has been siliconed down onto an acrylic baseplate - looks like sand, has texture, but easy to clean and no danger of swallowing too many particles.

I tried to tell my LFS to move their axies onto larger stones - they just added a few large pebbles ON TOP of the gravel :nono:

 

[Alkylhalide]

My axies are on sand that has been siliconed down onto an acrylic baseplate - looks like sand, has texture, but easy to clean and no danger of swallowing too many particles.

I tried to tell my LFS to move their axies onto larger stones - they just added a few large pebbles ON TOP of the gravel :nono:

I LOVE that idea! Im going to use this idea once i get a new tank. Thank you! This solves my "i want sand but i dont" conflict

 

[pondweed]

Yeah, if I could get hold of a plate the right size, I'd try this. (I suppose it would be fairly easy to "paste" the silicone with a palette knife or something so it's flat and evenish.)

 

[emmyk]

I really wanted to do that, but I needed some substrate to plant the bamboo and other plant I have.

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[Alkylhalide]

I use sponges for my plants and thusfar it works great. It was an eyesore till i bought the bathroom caddies for levels in my tank. I put the sponges in the caddies and i think its a pretty cool improvise. One caddie i weaved java moss in it and the other one has anubias growing in it. I need to buy more plants though because one of my ltls ate 9' worth lf hornwort.. And i had to take the crypt out because texas loved it to much. They dont seem to care about anubias, moss balls and java fern and moss..

It would be nice to be able to plant plants in substrate but it is such a pain to clean for me. I think when i upgrade i am going to use that idea and elaborate a little bit more, like make pots out of siliconed sand to match my fake substrate and such. Idea still under construction

 

[emmyk]

I just had someone claim that they found axolotl safe gravel. There is no such thing. But apparently, according to them, "I know my **** man" huhmm. So frustrating, why do people want to keep gravel?!

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