New axolotl owner :)

[angelas001]

Hi there! I got my axolotl last night after setting up and having his tank cycled for about a month. His gills look a little short, I was wondering if this could be to the water quality in the old pet store tank (was about to be cleaned though). It's a 20gal long and is about 68F in temperature, ammonia and nitrates are at 0ppm and the pH is at 7.6. I had to add in those almond leaves because the pH was at 8.2 . I'd say he's at about a month and a half old, his legs still are nubs. He did eat last night when offered thawed bloodworms.

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

hello! welcome to axolotl parenthood! he is certainly a cute little thing! Couple things I'm noticing right off the bat, he is way too small to be housed on sand. It can cause lethal impaction for axolotls his age when they ingest sand, which he inevitably will when he eats (especially if he is eating bloodworms off the sand like i see in the first photo). I know its a pain, but I would highly recommend removing that sand until he is at least 6 inches. It looks fine grain enough to be ok when he gets larger, but his little system wont be able to pass it now.

Everything else looks good. Be sure to monitor your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates carefully with a liquid test kit (no strips, they are not accurate). Even in a pre-cycled tank, you can have some fluctuations at the beginning as your bacteria colonies accommodate the new waste levels. Weekly water changes are your best friend. Make sure you are removing any uneaten food asap or it will pollute your water. As he gets bigger (and they grow fast!), you will want to transition him onto cut up earthworms. Bloodworms do not offer adequate nutrition for larger axolotls.

Excited for you and your little guy!

 

[angelas001]

hello! welcome to axolotl parenthood! he is certainly a cute little thing! Couple things I'm noticing right off the bat, he is way too small to be housed on sand. It can cause lethal impaction for axolotls his age when they ingest sand, which he inevitably will when he eats (especially if he is eating bloodworms off the sand like i see in the first photo). I know its a pain, but I would highly recommend removing that sand until he is at least 6 inches. It looks fine grain enough to be ok when he gets larger, but his little system wont be able to pass it now.

Everything else looks good. Be sure to monitor your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates carefully with a liquid test kit (no strips, they are not accurate). Even in a pre-cycled tank, you can have some fluctuations at the beginning as your bacteria colonies accommodate the new waste levels. Weekly water changes are your best friend. Make sure you are removing any uneaten food asap or it will pollute your water. As he gets bigger (and they grow fast!), you will want to transition him onto cut up earthworms. Bloodworms do not offer adequate nutrition for larger axolotls.

Excited for you and your little guy!

Thank you! I recently bought a little glass tub that'll sink down and hold his bloodworms for when he eats once I found out he can get impacted. I can't remove the sand, as I have live plants with some root tabs in there, but I can try tubbing him in the same tank at a higher level. Those bloodworms were from when I fed him in the container, and some fell out as I put him in (I removed them straight away), as he was finishing acclimation. I use a liquid test kid for my levels along with weekly water changes (and testing!!).

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

Thank you! I recently bought a little glass tub that'll sink down and hold his bloodworms for when he eats once I found out he can get impacted. I can't remove the sand, as I have live plants with some root tabs in there, but I can try tubbing him in the same tank at a higher level. Those bloodworms were from when I fed him in the container, and some fell out as I put him in (I removed them straight away), as he was finishing acclimation. I use a liquid test kid for my levels along with weekly water changes (and testing!!).

perfect! i can never stress testing and water changes enough. Even when they aren't eating, they will sometimes "snuffle" their nose around in the sand and accidentally eat it. They are wonderful animals but they aren't the smartest little things. If you cant take the sand out, I would definitely house him in something different until he is a bit bigger. its just not worth risking his life. As a breeder and long time axie parent, I hear horror stories on a regular basis and I just don't want you to go through that.

 

[angelas001]

Found a tub! I tubbed him in it and I'll wait until he's bigger to let him roam! Thank you so much!!

 

[GulfCoastAxolotls]

Found a tub! I tubbed him in it and I'll wait until he's bigger to let him roam! Thank you so much!!

perfect! it'll be much safer for the little guy. just make sure to do regular water changes