Is Bubblegum ok?!

[bubblegumlove]

Hello everyone,

I got Bubblegum as a surprise present for my birthday, only as usual, the pet shop told my friends they just needed a small bowl with pebbles etc.
I've got him the majority of what he needs.
However, I noticed his gills were a bit far foward, I have a Interpret PF1 Power Filter and I have it on low, once I read up and saw that his gills looked like they were bending forward, I put a plant infront of it to hopefully weaken it and make him happier!

Just needed a second opinion on his gills now

Also I understand I am meant to test the water parameters. At the moment I am just using a treatment to clean and neutralise my water and am using bottled water for water changes where I can.
What do I need to buy to do this water testing? And what do I need to test and what's good/bad?

Sorry, I know it must be frustrating all these clueless newbies but I do care and really want my axie to be happy and make sure I am doing everything right, thank you

 

[Petersgirl]

It's not frustrating at all Bubblegumlove - I am one of those newbies too

First of all - 'ahhh! So Pink and Cute!' *cough* sorry, had to get that out first. Your gills look absolutely fine, I've realised after a lot of forum trawling that sometimes gills can be curly and are still completely healthy. Yours don't look curled forward that much at all. Those are very healthy and developed gills. They may get a little redder when Bubblegum is active, that's fine.

Your best bet for a water test kit is the API Master Freshwater Test Kit, which is available from Amazon. It costs £20 but lasts ages. Basically, a liquid test kit is much better than strips because it's more accurate. These Master Kits test for Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, PH and High Range PH. Most people test their tanks every other day or weekly, but some have different methods (for example, when a tank is first 'cycled,' it's tested every two days until results start to stabilise, when established, ammonia is usually tested every week, as that's the biggie). If your pet becomes ill, these tests are your way of ascertaining water quality and seeing if a chemical imbalance is the cause.

Here is a good guideline for parameters:
Ideal Test Results
(during cycling period)

• pH: 6.0 - 8.0
• ammonia: < 1.0 ppm
• nitrite: < 1.0 ppm
• nitrate: 0 - 10 ppm

Ideal Test Results
(for established tank)

• pH: 6.0 - 8.0 (& steady)
• ammonia: 0 ppm
• nitrite: 0 ppm
• nitrate: < 40 ppm

Hope this helps! Also, if you are using bottled water (as in spring water) you don't have to. You can just use treated tap water

 

[bubblegumlove]

Amazing, thats such a huge relief. Thank you very much for your reply, it's been super helpful!

 

[Petersgirl]

No problem! It's why we're here By the way, Bubblegum is super cute!

 

[Mortimer]

I think he looks great!

I am a little concerned about the substrate, though. It looks large enough now while he is small, but I'm thinking you'll need to change it to something else as your little guy grows. Also, it looks like it would make lots of places for trapped poo, etc....which could wreak havoc on your water parameters.

 

[Alkylhalide]

I would also stop using bottled water. It is to soft for axolotls and eventually may start to have adverse effects on him. I have seen people freaking out because their axie seems not so healthy and to find out it was because their water was to soft. I mean you could treat the bottled water(adding salts and minerals to it) but why go through the extra trouble when you have tap water that normally is on the harder side(You dont want the water to hard, and I mean if your tap water has ammonia in it, which I have also seen before(DONT drink your water if thats the case! haha) don't use it) But if you dont have to use bottled water, I would refrain from it.
Just using a dechlorinator(A normal one not the one that also removed ammonia) and tap water. using an API master test kit to test your water parameters is really all you need

PS your axie looks fine! you normally can tell if the water flow is stressing a axie out. It took a lot of trial and error to get the flow just right for mine.

 

[bubblegumlove]

I will bare all this in mind and make some changes. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, truly appreciate it