djp81
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- Sep 6, 2013
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- Location
- Wirral, England
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- United Kingdom
Hi,
I'm experienced with tropical fish, turtles and terrapins but new to axolotls, I'd appreciate if someone more knowledgeable could have a look at my setup and let me know if everything's ok.
I have two Marina floating fish hatcheries stuck to the front of a 36", 100 litre planted tank, full of new dechlorinated tap water and filtered through a Fluval U3 that has been in place for over a year (previously used by a razorback musk turtle) and directed so the plants get most of the flow. Also a small airstone under the upturned plastic pot. Sand substrate with a rock and a couple of bits of slate, 10 live plants. Currently at 22 degrees C but it's been unseasonably warm the last few days so it should cool down a bit soon.
Our tap water is a little on the soft side, but I think the pH at 8.0 might be too high to add epsom salts etc. Using an API liquid test kit, nitrite is nil, ammonia not quite nil but not as high as the second colour down, nitrate is about 35.
The trap on the left has a 2 day old axolotl and about 30 daphnia, most of which are too big to eat but I'm hoping they'll create more and that the small ones won't be small/clever enough to get out of the sides of the trap.
The trap on the right has 11 white eggs laid on 5th May by an albino, 9 of which look like they're developing slightly (hopefully better than the 1 in 19 hatch rate from the last lot!)
I'm not sure how to feed the daphnia or the plants without hurting the axolotls? I do have more daphnia in tubs in the garage but it seems it would be best to keep the bigger ones alive in the trap to provide more baby daphnia and avoid fouling the water. I have some aquarium plant food but I have read that it won't be good for the axolotls?
Does this all look ok, have I missed anything or done anything stupid?
Thanks!
Dave
I'm experienced with tropical fish, turtles and terrapins but new to axolotls, I'd appreciate if someone more knowledgeable could have a look at my setup and let me know if everything's ok.
I have two Marina floating fish hatcheries stuck to the front of a 36", 100 litre planted tank, full of new dechlorinated tap water and filtered through a Fluval U3 that has been in place for over a year (previously used by a razorback musk turtle) and directed so the plants get most of the flow. Also a small airstone under the upturned plastic pot. Sand substrate with a rock and a couple of bits of slate, 10 live plants. Currently at 22 degrees C but it's been unseasonably warm the last few days so it should cool down a bit soon.
Our tap water is a little on the soft side, but I think the pH at 8.0 might be too high to add epsom salts etc. Using an API liquid test kit, nitrite is nil, ammonia not quite nil but not as high as the second colour down, nitrate is about 35.
The trap on the left has a 2 day old axolotl and about 30 daphnia, most of which are too big to eat but I'm hoping they'll create more and that the small ones won't be small/clever enough to get out of the sides of the trap.
The trap on the right has 11 white eggs laid on 5th May by an albino, 9 of which look like they're developing slightly (hopefully better than the 1 in 19 hatch rate from the last lot!)
I'm not sure how to feed the daphnia or the plants without hurting the axolotls? I do have more daphnia in tubs in the garage but it seems it would be best to keep the bigger ones alive in the trap to provide more baby daphnia and avoid fouling the water. I have some aquarium plant food but I have read that it won't be good for the axolotls?
Does this all look ok, have I missed anything or done anything stupid?
Thanks!
Dave
