New axolotl owner, axo vomiting help, and cycling.

[abiroad92]

Hello! new axo owner here!

few questions!

first one is, i found myself with a free axo before i had a chance to cycle my tank, it had been running clean water with just a plant in it for 4 days. (cleaned out a salt tank), so i decided to try a fish in cycle with TSS.

weird thing is that i had .1 ammonia, before i had added the axo. so i did a huge water change, did TSS, added axo.

axo has been swimming around happily for two days, except yesterday when i was feeding she vommited about 25 blood worms, i have now found out that this was probably due to my overfeeding, because i was paranoid about her eating. so first question is ...is this a fairly normal response to over feed? she has since been eating fine, swimming, and no more vomming.

question 2 is that I have been doing 50% water changes every other day to keep ammonia levels down for her....i have noticed no change in ammonia, i do a water change and its down around .05 or less, than by the 36 hours i do another one its back up just below .1 ppm.

question 2 is am i doing the right thing with the water changes? am i hindering the tank from cycling? or am i really screwing up?

params-
ammonia bouncing between .5 and 1, depending on how long ago i did wc
ph is 7.5
nitrates and nitrites are 0.

i have only ever kept saltwater tanks never freshwater any advice would be so appreciated, i just want her to be happy and healthy

thank you!!

 

[Donna001]

Re: New axolotl owner, axo vommiting help, and cycling.

Hi there and welcome to the forum. :happy:

What size is your axolotl? What sort of set up do you have it in?
It is not unusual for axolotls to regurgitate food. I have attached some links to sites that will provide a lot of information for you.
Caudata Culture Axolotl Articles
Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander
Silly Axolotls

As for your tank cycling, I would suggest that you move your axolotl to a smaller container with daily 100% water changes with dechlorinated water, then you have your tank empty to cycle.
What test kit are you using?
Sorry about all of the questions, but the more we know the more we will be able to help you. :happy:

 

[abiroad92]

Re: New axolotl owner, axo vommiting help, and cycling.

Then will it take the same 3-6 weeks to cycle?

I am using strips right now, my master test kit arrives tomorrow and I will post more accurate parameters.

My tank is a 12g nano cube

Axo is about 2.5 inches

 

[Donna001]

Re: New axolotl owner, axo vommiting help, and cycling.

You will need to get a source of ammonia to cycle your tank.
Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling
If you use frozen brine shrimp, as mentioned in the link, or any other food source, put it in some pantyhose, rather than letting it float around the tank, as it is much easier to clean/remove from the tank.
The good thing about removing your axolotl and keeping it in another container is that it does not get exposed to the toxins produced during the cycle, and you don't have to do the big water changes in the main tank.
It will still take several weeks to cycle, but your axolotl will be safer in a smaller container with 100% daily water changes, preferable with an airstone in the container as well.
You will get more accurate results with the master test kit. Make sure that you read the resulting colour in natural light as certain types of bulbs can cause the colours to be read slightly differently.
Axo is looking very well in the picture, and is utterly adorable. Such a cutie.

 

[adb]

Re: New axolotl owner, axo vommiting help, and cycling.

If it helps, I got two axies at the same time and one was much smaller than the other so for the first 3 months I kept her in a tupperware container with a small cup to hide in. She seemed perfectly happy. The only caution I have is to make sure the container is away from direct sunlight and any air vents because the water temp can change very quickly with such a small container, and that will stress the little guy. Congrats on the new friend!

 

[abiroad92]

My amonnia went down is staying below .5 now, and nitrates appeared , I did a water change, and everything is now at zero. Is it possible the tank cycled in a week with the TSS, or is this a trick?

Also I had another scare, my axo was floating at the top of the tank, and I thought she was dead for sure, I opened the hood and she swam back down to the bottom and has been behaving normally ever since