Dragoon II died

V

vanessa

Guest
I lost him today from the unwelcome arrival of Velvet Disease again... both Dragoon I and Dragoon II had received and died within 4-5 weeks of receiving (buying) them. The stupid petshop gave us a tank too small and temperatures are SO hard to control so... I'm gonna buy a HUGE tank and some water cooler AND a powerhead. This time I might buy a Melanoid or a Axthantic (can't remember how to spell this thing) despite mum not wanting me to get a Melano!! But other wise get another golden albino and name him Kin'iro Ryu (gold dragon). I was SO upset when last night I immediately KNEW that Dragoon II might die this very day and never slept for 3-4 hours. TWICE I lost two cute axolotls but this time I know that it's a boy. When this morning I saw his mouth hanging slightly open and his skin looking kinda wierd I knew that he might've died but I gave him a salt bath just incase he isn't really dead.
 
Vanessa I am so sorry to hear about your axolotl.

Yes, a larger tank and a chiller would definitely be a benefit to your future axolotl.
 
I am so sorry for your loss!
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Vanessa, all the equipment in the world is not going to keep your axolotls alive longer if you don't know how to prevent/treat diseases. I sincerely hope you get some books or read online more about axolotl husbandry (mind you, read the credible websites, not pet-shop or personal websites), and learn how to best care for your animals.

I also recommend not getting another animal from the same shop, as you've already bought two which have not lived longer than a month. This probably means there's something wrong with the shop's husbandry. You should try to find someone in the area who has bred them. There are quite a few people on the board from Australia, I'm sure someone can help you.

One last point: I don't see why getting a powerhead would be beneficial. I have a powerhead running my undergravel filter, but it has to be deflected and baffled as to not create a current. Getting just a powerhead for no apparent reason will create too much of a current and stress your axolotls.

Best of luck in the future. And remember that there is lots of good advice here, so keep coming back!
 
i have never opened a book on axolotls but i have kept mine well i dont thinks its from lack of knowlegde i thinks its from lack of decent equipment
 
A larger tank and a chiller are good ideas. Also, maybe try getting one from a different shop or a breeder. The ones you got from that store may not be of the best genetic stock and may be more prone to illness. Not to mention many pet stores do not keep their axies in the right conditions so they are already really stressed when you get them.

I know temperature control is really hard during the hot months of the year, but if it gets too hot that will certainly weaken even the strongest of axies. So a chiller will be very helpful!

I think Joan was a little harsh, I don't think it's a lack of being able to prevent diseases. Some axies are sickly and the heat doesn't help them. I am really sorry you lost your axies.
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I would definitely wait on getting any more until you have the chiller and the bigger tank - anything you can do to improve their chance of survival (including coming on this forum!) is a good thing.
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Vanessa, sorry to hear about Dragoon II. From your posts and talking to you on the chat, I get the feeling that how you care for your axolotls depends a lot on your mum. For example, she didn't know that feeding him nothing but frozen brine shrimp wasn't a good diet.

Before you get another one, please be sure that your mum has a better idea how to care for it (diet, water changes, treatment for fungus, etc.). Has she read the axolotl.org website?

I agree with the suggestions to get another one from a different source. If you get it during the winter, it will have time to get larger and well established before hot weather becomes a problem. If it is well established and kept in the coolest room of the house, it may be able to survive summer without a chiller (which is very expensive). Certainly a larger tank and chiller will help, if you can get them.
 
i too am sorry for your loss as i have lost two of my axies in the past month...

but i just have a question what are: Melanoid or Axthantic is that a differing genetic strain of the axolotl or what...

ta
 
Melanoids are axies that are lacking iridophores (the reflective pigment) and they have a greatly increased rate of dark pigments giving them a dark black look. Check out John's page on color genetics: http://www.axolotl.org/genetics.htm
 
Thanks guys... I'm starting to save up for a larger tank, submersible filter, gravel vac (easier than a strainer!! But I dunno how to operate it?), super soft net so I don't have to catch it by hand to clean the tank, A NEW AXIE and probably medium sized gravel.
I'm never going to use undergravel filter EVER again cos it takes time to remove gravel then clean up the bottom and put them all back!!

(Message edited by Dragoon on March 01, 2005)
 
Vanessa - You don't ever clean under the under gravel filter. An under gravel filter works by keeping good bacteria under the floor of your tank. "Biological filter".

I'm not sure how you were using a strainer... but you don't ever remove your rocks to clean them either.

As far as gravel vacs go I recommend a "No spill clean and fill" vacuum. It attaches to your kitchen sink and allows the easiest way to vacuum gravel and return water to your tank.

Since you are saving up money for a good filter, I would recommend an external canister filter instead of an internal filter.

Medium sized gravel is easily swallowed by axolotls. You want to go with sand or stones large enough they can't be swallowed. The problem with large stones is they are hard to vacuum.

You need a test kit to test for ammonia and nitrite too.

I think you need to do some reading up on keeping an aquarium, tank cycling and tank maintenance. There are lots of good fish sites with tons of information. As well there is information here and at http://www.axolotl.org

If you want your next axolotl to survive and live a long healthy life, you need the right equipment to be sure... but what you need more than that is information and a dedication to learning how to maintain an aquarium. Your tank should be set up at least 30 days and it should be completely cycled (naturally not with bacteria from bottles)
before you ever think of buying anything living to put in it.

Please don't be in a hurry to replace your axolotl and skip steps, it ends up being the axolotl who pays.
 
Cynthia - do you use fish to naturally cycle it? Or do you have another method? I used Bio-spira when I did mine a year or so ago, I was afraid of using fish because I read it was cruel to them.
 
You need to add a live animal to cycle a tank properly. The bacterial need the waste from the animal to fuel their growth and expansion. Just add one or two really hardy fish. I'd recommend platys or mollies.
 
OR throw in some fish food, a piece of shrimp, bottled ammonia... it's a nicer way of doing things
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That's a great idea, Leah, thanks! I'll be using the piece of shrimp next time.
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Cynthia - do you use fish to naturally cycle it?


I use a small peeled raw shrimp from the grocery store.
 
I've already got the ammonia and nitrite test kits. External canister filters? Can ya provide a picture of it? So I have to set my tank up for 30 days?! Some idiots told me it's two weeks!! I'll get them if I ever find them.
 
Vanessa - there are many types of canister filters, research some and see what you find. I like the fluval 204 on my 29 to 40 gallon tanks (there are 4 sizes of external fluval 104, 204, 304, 404- depending on the size of tank select accordingly). You can google "Fluval 204" and find pictures.

Different people have "heard" different things about tank cycling, so they repeat what they believe to be the truth. Who ever told you 14 days probably believes that is long enough. Even "30 days" is only an estimate, but it usually takes 30 - 60 days for cycling to complete depending on individual tank conditions. The quickest I have had a new tank, with new filters and new substrate cycle is 27 days. However I have had the same size tank take as long as 45 days.

Testing ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels every few days are the only way you know your tank has finished cycling. Ammonia will be zero, nitrite will be zero, nitrate should be fairly low.

There are many ways to upset the balance of your tank after it has cycled making it potentially dangerous again; removing or changing substrate, vacuuming all of the gravel and changing the filters on the same day, medications, removing nearly all the water, etc.

You will find by doing "google" searches that there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Some people "swear" they used a short cut to get the tank to cycle instantly or in a week or ______[insert any time span here]. There may be some solutions you can purchase that might work. I have not had the pleasure of finding one yet. I do know that patience has always worked for me.

As always, my advice and experiences are unique to me and your milage may vary.
 
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