Are you guys sure sand is safe?

[lordcycle]

I have two 4 inch axolotls in a tank and i recently added sand because the bottom looked too boring and for the first couple of days it seemed fine. When i would put food in i would noticed they would get sand in there mouth when they leaped at the food and they would spit out the sand and the food. Now a couple of days have gone by and most of the time they refuse to eat? and when they do eat they spit it right back out? what's going on? I bought that childrens play sand from home depot that everyone on here was saying was safe and would pass thru the axolotls system if indeed they did swollow sand.

 

[dad of axle]

It may be that they are still too young for sand and you need to wait till they grow up a bit more. I have one axolotl that I have had since it was a baby and it is now 21 cm long and about six months old . I am only just getting ready to put sand in the tank as I thought it was too early for it before now.

Apparently they need to be bigger before the sand is added, I suppose it also depends what you are feeding them and at that size they are probably not on a diet of worms yet too so that something like blood worms would be easily mixed in with sand for young ones. with a smaller body and smaller digestive tract.

 

[KingCanon]

There is always the option to tweezer Feed which eliminates as much sand that is disturbed? And it's fun as they'll chance your tweezers around the tank. A great tact if you want to get the little fella into a position to see him better ( check gills etc)


Sent from the comfort of my throne room

 

[natjobe]

I have 2 juvie axolotls on sand. They are about 4 inches as well. They are fine. As long as the sand is pretty fine it should be okay. I always think, if you think it would comfortable come out the other end, it's good. The grains of sand are probably smaller then the digested food. Definitely smaller then their poop! lol. I know it's gross but they are fine.

 

[xxianxx]

If you think the sand is causing a problem remove it or place their food in a feeding jar or on a plate, alternatively hand feed with worms, i personally try to keep my axolotls food off sand.