Axolotl Floating

[Silver5101]

I have 3 Axolotls, my tank currently has .5 ammonia but I have used Ammolock and am working on bringing it down. My wild type is currently sitting at the top of the tank but the other two are on the bottom. I don't know if there is something or I'm just overworrying. Help or advice please?

 

[Boomsloth]

I wouldn't use ammolock. water changes will always be the best way to immediately remove ammonia or anything else from the water. Axolotls spend a good portion of their time at the bottom but it's not uncommon for one to float near the top. If it becomes days where it's obvious that it can't go down on its own then it might be an issue.


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[Silver5101]

I'm only using ammolock to help stop it and not become toxic, I'm still doing 50% water changes. If it helps I have a whisper 20i filter for my 20 gallon long tank. I've been feeding twice a day mostly but since the ammonia build up has been happening I reduced it to once.

 

[keiko]

I don't know what Ammolock is like but in general it isn't adviced to use any extra chemicals with axolotls or other amphibians. They absorb stuff through their skins so chemicals can be very toxic to them.
Like Boomsloth said daily water changes are the best way to keep ammonia down if your tank isn't sully cycled yet.

 

[keiko]

Oh and about the floating... Sometimes they just like to hang out near the surface, but if it seems that they can't get to the bottom even if they try or if there seems to be air in their belly then it's good to remove them from the tank to their own tub with just enough water to cover them. Air bubbles usually pass in a few days.

 

[rachel1]

If it is the liquid ammolock product, it works the same as Prime and is safe. It ionizes ammonia (NH3) into the less toxic form ammonium (NH4+). Ammonium will be utilized by the biological filter in the same way as ammonia, but with lower risk of damage to the animals. You should absolutely keep doing large daily water changes, but I see nothing wrong with using this or Prime in conjunction with water changes to reduce risk of harm to the animals, especially if attempting a fish in cycle. The ammo chips, which go in the filter, will bind to ammonia until they are full, and will make the ammonia unavailable to your filter bacteria, so I would not recommend that product for a healthy balanced tank. Also you are likely to have ammonia spikes when the filter chips have reached their saturation point and no longer bind any ammonia.