Question: Moving house..... what to do with my axolotls on moving day

[laura103]

Has anyone moved with there axolotls, if so can you please tell me how you did it. Even if you haven't I would be grateful for any ideas. I'm moving home and don’t have a clue what to do with my axolotls. I have 4 to move and I am worried about moving them and stressing them out. The oldest is 9 years old and has been in her tank since she was 4 inches long.

They are currently in a 5ft tank, with an external filter and chiller. The tank and stand are not going to be that easy to move and will have to go in the removals van. The chiller will need to stand for 24 hours before being plugged back into the external filter. I have no idea what to do with them in the mean time.


I was thinking about moving them the day before I officially move with the removals van, as I have two 1 and a half ft tanks spare and was considering splitting the axies in, but I haven't had a date guaranteed so I don't know if this would be possible. Also with them having an external filter it wouldn’t be able to go in the spare tank over night. Would it be that much of a problem?


Also I’m concerned about how much water I should save. I’m thinking at least 75% should make the 45 minute journey with me.


Do I bag the axolotls to transport them?


Should I avoid the motorway and put an extra 20 minutes on to the journey.


Any help would be accepted gratefully. I’m just so worried about them. I’ve had them for so long I don’t want to loose them in the move. Maybe I’m just worrying for no reason but I want them to stay staff and happy.


Thanks
Laura

 

[Tarabull]

I think that they will be fine to move. I've traveled with a group of my juvinalls for an hour and a half drive. I put them in containers and then put the containers in a cooler with ice packs. I only left a small amount of air at the top so that they wouldn't be sloshed too much. They will probably get a little stressed but I don't think it would be enough to kill them.

As far as water I think that people say to take as much as possible. Also make sure your filter media stays wet to hopefully not kill the cycled tank. I have not had to move my tanks before though, so maybe someone else has better experience with it.

 

[Ernest Cable]

Hi Laura, I was just logging on to ask the same question (we are about to move house) - can I ask how you got on and what you did? Mine's a bit of a simpler affair with just the one axolotl in a relatively (probably too-) small tank.

Current plan was to empty most of the water into a clean drum for transport; axie in a container with ample air space; and then just reassemble as quickly as possible after we get there (four hour drive, so maybe seven hours in the container all up - we also have two <5 year olds and a dog to coordinate on the day!)

Please let me know and grateful to anyone for comments/ideas.

Thanks.

 

[Dr. Phil]

Hi Laura, I was just logging on to ask the same question (we are about to move house) - can I ask how you got on and what you did? Mine's a bit of a simpler affair with just the one axolotl in a relatively (probably too-) small tank.

Current plan was to empty most of the water into a clean drum for transport; axie in a container with ample air space; and then just reassemble as quickly as possible after we get there (four hour drive, so maybe seven hours in the container all up - we also have two <5 year olds and a dog to coordinate on the day!)

Please let me know and grateful to anyone for comments/ideas.

Thanks.

Ernest - sounds like you have a fine plan. As noted above - don't leave too much airspace so there is not alot of sloshing. I think most important will be to ensure that the axolotl container is well-insulated to avoid drsatic temperature changes. Good luck with your move!