New member + new axolotl

[Jelle]

Hello,

Three weeks ago I got my very first axolotl and also my first aquatic pet. It is very small yet. Its name is Popocatépetl (you may call it Popo), after the Mexican volcano.

I have one question: the tail has a weird crook at the tip. Is this a stress indicator or just a small genetic error? In combination with the position of the gills?

I keep it in a small box now until he's big enough to go into its tank. It is 3 cm now, when he has reached a length of about 4 cm and got its rear legs he can move to the tank.

Here's my tank. I used a fake rock (which is meant for use as a tank background) as a bottom surface, to give the axolotl grip while walking. A glass bottom is boring and sand looks like a pain to clean, so I came up with this solution.
I hope the black aquarium kit fades over time to blend more into the 'rock' colour. I had to kit it all around the edges and the seam in the middle to prevent dirt and poop to come under the bottom plate. The stones are actual lava stones that I found in Iceland.

Here it is filled up with water. I placed another piece of fake rock right in front of the filter to prevent a strong outflow as I read here axolotl's really don't like that.

Did I miss anything? I will make some more hiding spots by the way..

greets Jelle

 

[Mortimer]

Looks good!

My only thought is that I would definitely take out the lava rocks. They will leach out minerals over time that are toxic to axolotls.

 

[Mortimer]

Also, what type of sealant did you use and how long did you let it cure?

 

[Tephra]

Yes, take out the lava rock.
Try a nice piece of driftwood, it's good for your axie's slime coat.

 

[Jelle]

Thank you!
I didn't know about the lava rock being toxic, I thought it would be OK as rocks like these can be found in their natural habitat but off course the effect on a lake is much smaller than on a fish tank. I took them out and I'll look for some other decorations/hiding spots.

I used Juwel black silicon aquarium kit and let it cure for 24 hours, as recommended. :happy:

 

[Jelle]

Popo has grown a lot since my last post, he/she is about 6,5 cm now and moved from its tupperware box to its aquarium two days ago. He seems to enjoy the fake rock bottom!
Its tail still has the crook in it, it looks like he has been bitten by one of its siblings or parents when he still was with them. There is almost no flow in the tank. How does it look to you?

 

[Dipsy66]

He / she's well cute....it looks like eyeliner around the eye.....:happy:

 

[Morrison]

Popocatépetl is an awesome name. Me and a friend say that randomly to annoy people on the train or so. Latest conversation:

"Hey, where are you going to live next year?"
"Oh, I was thinking about the Popocatépetl...
But the Popocatépetlpeople don't want me to be a part of their Popocatépetlpeoplevolcanofanclub."
"Uh, those Popocatépetlpeople are evil then."
"Yeah, hopefully they'll get eaten by the gigantic Popocatépetl monster who was born in Guadalajara, before he moved to the Popocatépetl."

I also thought about naming my axie Popocatépetl, but eventually it became Chipotl. :')

 

[Jelle]

I came up with the idea of the name after seeing a restaurant with that name.. there are a few of them throughout the Netherlands

Here are some pictures of my tank after rearranging it:

The black pole is the digital thermometer's sensor.

 

[Morrison]

Wow, looks great! And I love the hidden filter.