Getting new and first Axolotl

[kim]

they will grown no matter what if they have a good diet... the bet temp is between 14-18 c

Please dont stop them from growning it isnt fair on them.

 

[alexander]

i agree it isn't fair.... im all about animal rights...Thanks for your help anything else i need to know?

 

[kim]

Not that i can think at the moment.. do you have anymore questions?

 

[alexander]

Possibly... Do you think one could live alone and be happy? Also could i add a couple Apple snails?
And if i were to add a small fast fish would this be alright?

 

[kaysie]

one can live alone and be quite happy, but they're amusing to watch. They wont grow to be 50 cm. The biggest one on record is 17inches (43 cm) but most are usually about 12 inches (30cm).

snails usually add to the bioload and are not recommended, and fish usually become food.

 

[alexander]

Okay thanks... so no fish... but i could still get a snail.... don't worry on all my fish tanks and all my tanks i have i do weekly water changes so that the Ammonia/nitrates don't get to high .. i do 25% water changes... should i change this into more is this alright?

 

[leah]

and ill make a couple hiding places with some plants and maby a piece of drift wood...

About that driftwood... I posted a question about this in the Equipment part of the forums but no one seems to be able to answer it!

Driftwood releases tannins into the water, making it slightly more acidic. I also want to put some in my tank, but I'm worried about just how much it'll affect the pH. Does anyone know for sure? Would some crushed coral to buffer the pH be enough to offset the effects of the wood, or would I end up with a horribly unstable pH? My pH now is 7.4, so it could go down a bit without harming Falkor, right?

 

[alexander]

i could help you with that.
You should always soak your drift would in water for about a week id say then most of the tannis should come out.... you should change the water in the bucket every day so it gets out more of that accide stuff...And you have to get wood that's specifically labelled safe for aquariums. Pet stores sell wooden things for terrariums that are not guaranteed to be safe in aquariums.
If I had unstable or medium-to-low pH to begin with, I'd use fake driftwood or petrified wood instead. You should get fake... because even if the real type is treated it always ends up rotting

 

[amy]

hey alex!!! where'd you come from??? haha! i guess you'll be taking over this board too in no time at all! lol. so when are you getting him? i have 2 babys in a 25 gal with a small pump, a plant, gravel thats big enough for them to eat but i hand feed them all the time so i dont face the gulping problem, and i made them a bridge/cave out of slate which they love. ill post a picture when i work out how. i just got a couple more pictures too which ill post up here for everyone. see you on msn, alex!!

 

[kim]

Alex i would say that the 25% water change is good but make sure the tank has cycled before you start doing this. And do weekly or 2weekly water tests once the tank had cycled then you can keep an eye on the nitates and ammonia etc.

They are fine on there own but i think they would rather have a friend... its so cute to watch them play.

I wouldnt get snails.. i have them in my tank due to some plants i got but they get taken out and put into my fish tank when they get bigger than 5mm. The problem with snails is they have been known to suck at the axies skin and mucas coating and even there eyes.. so i wouldnt risk it for the sake of the axie.

Amy i think your 25gal tank will only be suitable for your axies for a short time.. they need pleantly of room and remember grown to around a 1ft in length.

I have 2 axies and they are in a 70gal tank which is around 2ft long, i could put another axies in there, but im not going to for the time being and am going to wait as see how big they are when fully grown.

 

[leah]

70 litres maybe? A 70 gallon tank that's only 2 feet long would have to be really tall! 25 gallons seems reasonable to me...

 

[leah]

Thanks Alex for the wood info as well

I think I'll stick with the fake wood, as the cost here is about the same for real or plastics... I just hope the plants I plan on getting will do as well growing on fake driftwood!
Thanks again!

And as an ad-on to my previous post- here's a great site for calculating tank size from the dimensions, if anyone's ever in doubt!

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/calculator.php

 

[amy]

java ferns grow well on wood. they prefur that than things like gravel. also, java moss can grow over the wood and give it a more natural feel. i heard 1 adult axolotl per 10 gals was good. ive calculated mine many a time. i think mines about 2-2.5 foot.

 

[kim]

Sorry yes i was wrong.. i was thinking in litres not gallons! woops!

 

[alexander]

yup 10 gallons per adult axolotl, hey amy it's great to see you here i saw you on last night i was like ohhhh amy is here!!!!

 

[amy]

lol! i only joined last night! haha! great to see someone i know! any ideas when your getting him? i cant wait to see yours! you know, i think i may move them into my 40 gal later on and get a couple more. i so want a white one. the tans are way cool too. but i want a black one as well!! decisions, decisions!

 

[kim]

lol... dont rush in too much... remember get them so they are all around the same size other wise they may pick on each other!

 

[alexander]

hehehe this is so fun... im starting in a 10 gallon with 1 or 2 then im going to be moving them into a 20 gallon when they grow a little more.

I also want to get a black one i really don;t mind what color i get... they all look cute...

 

[amy]

trust me alex, they grow FAST. i only got them a couple of months ago and theyve grown about 2 inches in that time!

 

[alexander]

oh really? thats alot alright.... i think ill keep one like i said before in a 10 gallon to start.Im sure this will also become one of those addicting hobbies haha...