My Axolotls are home!!!!

[HelloKitty]

I am so happy, I got my 1st ever axolotls today. The water test was good so we brought them home from the shop and introduced them slowly to thier new tank. Once they were finally out of the bag it wasn't long before they started exploring thier new home. They are so tiny right now it seems hard to beleive they will grow so big. The tank isnt that big but I will be getting a 4ft one from ebay when we do up our daughters room and move some of thier toys up there. They seem to like thier home, Athena is very inquisitive and has been all over the place and spent a lot of time watching me but Aristotle has been exploring round the plants and behind the deocrations. He has ventured up to us a few times but seems a little shy. I thought they were albino at 1st but I think they are actually Leucistic. They are both adorable and I am in love with them already. We gave them some blood worm so they can start getting used to us and they hoovered it up. I was going to use the tea strainer to get rid of the excess but I found hubby used it to catch a kidney stone GROSS! So I am going to have to get another. Or maybe a little net would be better. What do you guys use? Also the tank temp is 21 degrees c. Is that ok? They were in a tank that was 23 degrees so hopefully they will be alright. I introduced them very slowly to thier tank.

 

[Sykadelic]

Congratulations! Based on my reading here: Axolotls - Housing in Captivity this is what I've read:

The water should be kept between 14 and 20 °C (that's 57-68 °Fahrenheit)..... Above 24 °C, axolotls become stressed, and such warm conditions will usually result in disease if sustained for a several days.

So I would think it's "okay" but keep an eye on it. Lower is better of course and if you can do it, do it. Here's an article: Caudata Culture Articles - Cooling gives you ways of doing it

 

[mekkha]

Congratulations! How exciting. The ideal temperature for axies is 17. If you can lower it slightly and gradually I would. Things like having a mesh/screen lid instead of those ones that usually come with aquariums should help.

Are you keeping them separate or are they all together?

 

[mewsie]

Congratulations!!!

See if you can get us some pictures to coo over!

Re: temperature, lower is better, really. If you are at 21 now, it's only a couple of months til summer hits, and you don't have much to play with.

Are you keeping the tank lights on? That can raise the temperature (and axies won't thank you for it cause they like the dark better), as can some internal filters, or a very warm house. Are they by a radiator or anything?

Re: bloodworm, is it live stuff you've got? I fed them live bloodworm and used a net, seemed to do the job ok.

(Gross re: kidney stone... but was he gonna tell you before you made a cuppa with it?)

So, how big are the lotls? Baby leucistics are so sweet with their huge black eyes!!

 

[NachoMom]

Mewsie, I had the exact same reaction - oh my god, did she already make a cup of tea BEFORE he fessed up to the kidney stone?!

 

[HelloKitty]

dont worry, noone has made any tea with it lol!I hate tea anyway. My mum got me a net, I'm using frozen bloodworm.

I have the light on now but they seem to be quite happy with it on and the temp has actually gone down to 19. I think they are happy. They seem to have thier own personalitys already. Athena spends a lot of time out in the open exploring and looking at us. She also likes to swim up and then float down slowly like shes having a relaxing ride. It looks like a game. Is this a good thing for her to be doing? aristotle spends more time at the back and curled up in the little cave but he has now started joining Athena at the front to look at us, especially when we 1st walk into the room. He doesn't swim as much as Athena. He likes to sit and relax, but saying that he seems to have just come out for a swim. I've seen them go to the top for a little gulp of air once or twice. Atehna also seems to like hanging about near the filter. I saw her do this in the shop. I think she enjoys it sending her for a little ride. Aristotle likes the other side of the tank. They do seem to spend time together as well and no nibbling has taken place. You can tell them apart coz Athena has a bigger head and lighter coloured gills and Aristotle has pinker gills.

They seem ok with the light on and I have read conflicting information about lighting. Somewhere I read they should never be left in complete darkness and other places I have read it is ok. I know they musnt be startled by someone drastically changing the light. My husband decided to change the light from white to blue and they both went and hid behind the rock. I turned the white back on and they came back out into the open. I think that means they prefer it that way. They were in a lighted tank in the shop so I guess its what they are used to.

Am I getting it right so far, I want them to be happy.

 

[HelloKitty]

oh and they seem very interested in my girls. whenever one of them goes to see the axolotls Athena comes straight to the front and Aristotle slowly makes his way over after her.