Question: Andersonies morfing?

[axelotomudpupi]

I got three juviniles 6 months ago and two of the three have morphed. Conditions seem fine. I don't understand why?

 

[Shizeric]

What do you mean "seem" fine?

 

[axelotomudpupi]

Water condition is good and clean, ph is good. There are healthy plants. They are eating until they start to morph.

 

[dragonlady]

Do you know the actual parameters? I think that's what Eric is asking. What is the pH,Ammonia reading, Nitrites/Nitrates, and Temp?

You have had them for 6 mo and now they are starting to morph...something has changed for them. Could you post pics of them and their setup?

 

[JWERNER]

This has come up a few times. Is this not a subject that is still up in the air?

One reason I can see something like this happening is a lack of oxygen but I have not spent much time looking into this topic myself and I am probably wrong. But to me it makes sense. Why would a animal develop lungs and want to climb out of water?

I dont want to sound really dumb but who is to say that they are finaly hitting the evolutional landmark and evolution is just telling them its that time to start walking on land like other Ambystoma? Just a honest question I have been thinking about.

 

[Jennewt]

How big is the tank?

 

[sek]

Post a photo of your tank and the dimensions.

 

[axelotomudpupi]

The information required is as follows:

1. 33gal tank,
2. ph 6.8,
3. NH3 0.6,
4. NO2 0.8;
5. NO3 20,
6. Temp 20C/72F:ufo:
7. Vol 33usgal
8. Pics attatched

Look forward to the answer!

 

[michael]

What kind of filter are you running? What are you feeding them and how often?

Two things that have been guessed at causing A. andersoni to metamorphose are poor water quality and overfeeding. A few cases of metamorphoses have come up in the U.S. but when kept at optimum parameters it's still not common.

 

[Jennewt]

You said that you've had them for 6 months. If the tank has been up and running for 6 months, but still has detectable amounts of ammonia (NH3), then that indicates something wrong with the way the aquarium has been maintained. If they've been subjected to this level of ammonia all the time, or intermittently, for 6 months, then I think that would explain the tendency to morph.

The tank looks clean, but this perhaps suggests that it's been kept too clean (which can be just as bad as keeping it too dirty). Try to do some google searches on the subjects of aquarium maintenance, water quality, and aquariums as ecosystems.

 

[axelotomudpupi]

Filter is a Whisper 10-30i and there is a bubble hose as seen in pic attached. They are fed 3-4 times a week, King worms and Dew worms. Water is changed every 2-3 weeks (1/4) at a time.

 

[michael]

Ambystoma andersoni and axolotls do most of their growing their first year. They put off a lot of waste. I'd use a filter with a little more biological filtration.

 

[axelotomudpupi]

I am currently setting up a new tank setup photo attched. What would you suggest for a filter system that would suffice and is the set up I have designed look adequate? The tank is ten times the size as the previous one. Your expert advisre is appreciated!