Question: Few Questions that I can't find answers to?

[broadbent30]

Hey every one,

i have only just gotten 3 axolotl's a white, black and gold bunch and have a few questions about them i guess im just worried as any one is when they first get a pet, the white and black are females and the gold is a male.

1. they dont seam to move much how normal is this? (eg the white and black one's move around abit the gold one sits in hiding all day)

2. how much food should they eat? (i feel like they are under eating the females eat half a beef heart cube or just a bit more each day and the male has only eaten 1/4 in about 2 days now)

3. is it common for them to sit with there head against the glass or constantly tapping it?

4. what is the best type of filter system? (i have pebbles but am looking at changing to sand as the food gets lost easy)

5. the water keeps getting murky and a bit smelly any idea on the cause? (left over food im guessing)

thats all i can remember at the moment... i know some of the answers are out there but im just asking again to clarify it.

any other tips or suggestions would be great.:wacko:

Thanks in advance

Michael

oh an i plan to get some photos up tomorrow night

 

[Nathan050793]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

I can really only answer questions 1 & 2 with positivity; someone else will have to answer the others (I doubt that will be a problem).

1. It is perfectly normal for axolotls not to move very often. It is in there nature to be pretty lazy.

2. You could probably feed them until they are full (you'll know this, as they will regurgitate food they don't want). If you are worried about them being over-weight, a good measurement is that their stomach should be about as wide as their head.

Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[LeanneT]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

Hi

You should change to sand as soon as you can, its sooo much easier to use and better for them!

My axies often sit with their head against the glass, I hope there's nothing wrong with them! I just like to think that they are like the starfish in Finding Nemo, who thinks that her reflection is her sister

 

[broadbent30]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

2. You could probably feed them until they are full (you'll know this, as they will regurgitate food they don't want). If you are worried about them being over-weight, a good measurement is that their stomach should be about as wide as their head.

Thanks i never knew how to tell if they were full or underweight, im guessing they are just under for now but they will get there

Both also seamed pretty alive and kicking in the early hours of this morning all three of them where playing with each other and swimming around

 

[broadbent30]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

Hi

You should change to sand as soon as you can, its sooo much easier to use and better for them!

My axies often sit with their head against the glass, I hope there's nothing wrong with them! I just like to think that they are like the starfish in Finding Nemo, who thinks that her reflection is her sister

Sand is looking good for this weekend as it is way to hard to get all the little bits of food they leave behind

ha ha i have small bubbles in there tank every so often when i turn it on there come out to swim though it and float around also like the fish on Nemo "bubbles bubbles bubbles bubbles" roud:

 

[Jacquie]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

Hey every one,

Hi and welcome!

1. they dont seam to move much how normal is this? (eg the white and black one's move around abit the gold one sits in hiding all day)

Axolotls spend the majority of their time doing as little as possible. Axies will be active at night though. Juvenile axolotls will also be active during the day.

2. how much food should they eat? (i feel like they are under eating the females eat half a beef heart cube or just a bit more each day and the male has only eaten 1/4 in about 2 days now)

It depends on their age. What size are the axies?

Have you considered earthworm as a staple food? It is recommended to feed beef heart only as a treat, not as a staple food item as it is difficult for the axies to digest.

Here is a list of appropriate foods for axolotls:

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/worms.shtml

3. is it common for them to sit with there head against the glass or constantly tapping it?

How are they tapping it? Are they frantic or just curious?

4. what is the best type of filter system? (i have pebbles but am looking at changing to sand as the food gets lost easy)

I would recommend you remove any pebbles that are smaller than two centimetres in diameter. Small gravel exposes the axolotl to the dangers of impaction.

Sand or bare bottom tank are the best substrate types.

I use external canister filters, I think these are the best types of filter but they are the most expensive. The next best would be the internal canister filter, these are excellent filters too and not as expensive as the external. This article gives a good run down on the best filters for caudata: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/filters.shtml

5. the water keeps getting murky and a bit smelly any idea on the cause? (left over food im guessing)

I would say left over food and poop getting trapped under the pebbles. The only way to clear it out is to shift all of the pebbles around which one of the many reasons why pebbles are a pain as substrate. With sand or bare bottom, the muck sits on the top and is easy to spot and remove.

Water quality is most important to the axolotls well being.

What are your tank readings for Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate/PH and Temperature?

Has the tank been cycled? http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

If the tank has not cycled, have you been doing daily 20% partial water changes?

What size is the tank?

 

[broadbent30]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

What size are the axies?

How are they tapping it? Are they frantic or just curious?
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/filters.shtml
What are your tank readings for Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate/PH and Temperature?

Has the tank been cycled?http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

have you been doing daily 20% partial water changes?

What size is the tank?

Firstly thank you for the information it is very helpful in reply to your questions

Only one is tapping it but it looks like she is just trying to swim and bumbs into it a couple of times then just sits there and does it agian then justs looks out i would say.

i dont know my tank readings the pet shop said not to worry to much about them but i am going to go get some test kits tomorrow.

i am only just reading about the cycling now so i would say no.

and no i didnt know i had to do the water change each day, i add the dechlorination stuff each time right?

my tank is 600mm long by 300mm wide with the water level at 300mm so about 54L

i hope all that kinda makes sense:errr: i will do a 20% water change after i try feed them and try to work out that cycle stuff also

 

[gr33neyes]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

Swimming into the tank sides is pretty normal for an axie, their eyesight isn't the best.

Ok your pet shop is completely wrong. Your tank conditions are the most important thing to keep your axolotl alive. If your water gets bad and you don't notice it in time then you have sick axolotls on your hands. Get yourself a test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates , the test tube type are better.
Your tank can take quite a few weeks to cycle fully, but it will get there in the end.
Do your water changes (20%) each day while your tank is cycling and yes add the dechlorinator to the water before you put it in the tank. Good luck

 

[broadbent30]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

i forgot to add how big they are... i would have to say between 10 and 20cm maybe even 15 to 20cm

i have come across 3 more puzzling questions?

1. they ate a lot tonight 5 beef heart cubes 2 each for the females and 1 for the male he didnt want any more is it possible to over fed them? i have read that they regurgitate the food when they are full


2. do noises such as music near the tank ect annoy them?

3.this is my big question... when the male secrets his sperm in what form is this and does it sick to rocks and stuff like the eggs? otherwise i might have the beginning of a fungi problem


also ill add that they are acting much better now and like have there chins rubbed before they eat it is like rub my chin or im not taking it. its really cute also:tongue:

 

[gr33neyes]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

I feed mine until they refuse to eat any more. They do sometimes regurgitate a slug they don't like but not very often.
Deep bass noise would be likely to affect them as it causes vibrations in the water. I wouldn't play music too near to the tank at a loud level, it isn't fair to stress them.

And the answer to your last question is read this -----> http://www.axolotl.org/breeding.htm

 

[broadbent30]

Re: Few Questions that i cant find answers too?

I feed mine until they refuse to eat any more. They do sometimes regurgitate a slug they don't like but not very often.
Deep bass noise would be likely to affect them as it causes vibrations in the water. I wouldn't play music too near to the tank at a loud level, it isn't fair to stress them.

And the answer to your last question is read this -----> http://www.axolotl.org/breeding.htm

Sweet thanks i have read that before but it doesn't look like the stuff i got unless its slightly different i got one male and to females the last thing i need is to females laying eggs haha... i only had my axolotls 8 hours and the white female laid about 400 eggs:grin: