Axolotl Help

[karina73]

Hi :happy:
This is my first post so sorry if something doesn't make any sense
I have been wanting to get an Axolotl for AGES and have quite a few questions since this will be my first one. Some of these questions are pretty stupid but I just want to make sure that I will do everything right

1) How do I know when my tank has finished cycling?
2) How often do you need to clean the filter?
3) How do you clean a sponge filter?
4) Once the tank has finished cycling, do you need to change any of the water? Can you put the Axolotl in soon after?
5) How often do you change the water and do you have to test the dechlorinated water before you put in in the tank?
6) Do you need to take the Axolotl out of the tank while you do a water change?
7) Do you ever need to do 100% water changes?
8) If you need to take the Axolotl out of the tank, do you just put dechlorinated water into a clean tub? Do you need to test the water first?
9) Is tap water okay to use if its dechlorinated first?
10) Since our water at home is fairly hard, do I need to add anything extra to it?
11) How often do I need to test the water?
12) Do I put the ornaments and plants in after the tank has cycled or before?
13) When you get the axolotl, how do you introduce it to its new home?

Thanks everyone

 

[LoriML]

Well the majority of those questions can easily be answered via google, or the stickies in this forum, but I'll try to get to a few of them.

I do weekly 25% water changes. I test water weekly. 100% water changes are extremely rare. I haven't done one in the 8 months I've had mine.
Hard water is ok I think, just check your parameters (ammonia, ph, nitrite, nitrate, temperature) regularly.
The decorations should be fine while you're cycling. I'm not sure it really matters either way. Read up more on cycling your tank.
I don't think they need to get used to the tank, just acclimate them to your water like you would a fish, temperature first, then add a little aquarium water, then a little more, until it's mostly aquarium water (over the course of 30 min to an hour perhaps). Then they can go in the tank if they seem ok. Make sure your parameters are good.
Senior members, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong anywhere, but this is what worked for me.
Make sure you have a big enough tank and if you get more than one axolotl they need to be very similar in size.
Good luck!

 

[LSuzuki]

LoriML said about about what I was going to say regarding google and the stickies at the top of the forum categories.

That is an excellent list of questions, and asking the right questions is half the battle. If you aren't certain about the answers (you will find that different sources have different opinions), then ask questions about the different opinions, and you will probably get lots of replies. But you really need to read up on these issues as much as you can - the short answers you get here can help you past some bumps in the road, but they don't take the place of careful study.

 

[karina73]

LoriML thank you very much. That really does help. I will look around more for some more info.

Thanks Laura. I will be doing a lot more research before I ask another question