Proud New Axolotl Mom, new mom anxiety :-)

[BabySinclair]

So amongst being the proud mom of a Taricha granulosa. I am about to be the new adoptive mom of 5, 2 inch baby Axolotis. I had originally wanted to raise them from eggs, but quickly realized that doing so was not a good idea lol. I had wanted to teach the kids something, but it's not going to be with rearing our own eggs lol. Tadpoles in the pond will work for that. And all these Herp walks we've been doing. Anyways, sorry, a.d.d. Moment....
I have some questions

1--- is there any problem with drift wood and these little guys? It's wood from an established aquarium. Will the gills get caught/torn?

2--- is fine sand safe? Not gravel, but fine sand. This stuff is totally neutral sand, it's just soft.
http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/0/008479118202C.jpg

3--- is there any kind of aquatic plant that I should not use? I Plan to have plants growing out of the water with free floating root systems.

4--- I've been reading that sometimes peoples Axolotis climb out of the water into filters and such. Should I offer a couple semi-out of water ledges?

5--- should I wait until these babies are bigger than two inches, to feed small earth worms and fish worms?

6--- I am an organic Gardner and I often feed Baby Sinclair random worms, bugs, slugs, beetles and cabbage grubs. Is there any reason why I should not feed these to the Axolotis? Aside from the beetles - they don't sink... But Sinclair goes crazy for the fresh stuff.

Does anyone have any advise?

Right now, until everyone gets bigger. They are all going in a very well established and planted 40gal breeder tank. With plenty of hiding. While they are growing, I will be cycling the 55 gal I bought last year just for something like this. I intend to use the soft fine sand and some established aquarium plants and aged driftwood along with an established filter. I'll be filling the 55 gal a little over half way full, with vegetation coming out of the water. I'm currently on the hunt for some local duck weed for this too. This little adventure has cost me a little over 150.00 including the cost of my 5 babies. Don't get me wrong, I know it's worth it. I just can't afford to buy any more welcoming gifts for these guys lol.

I've already bought a divider so that I can keep brothers and sisters separated ;-). I don't need and 5 legged and two headed babies swimming around with chainsaws ;-)).
I also have 3 containers of frozen blood worms, so I should be good for the next month and a half lol
I have the API water test kit
Extra carbon and zeolite
Is there anything else I need

Is there any special water parameters that I should be going by?

Any help/advise would be much appreciated!:frog:

Thanks, Tori

 

[officerPuckles]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

Hey there! congratulations on your new friends, and welcome to the "OHMIGOSH I'M DOING EVERYTHING WRONG club"
(it gets easier, don't worry!!!)
I am not sure on a couple of these questions, but I will give my best advice for the ones I do know!

1- I would not recommend driftwood unless you sand down all of the edges, for they can impale themselves on them. They like to wriggle in and around things and aren't very graceful when it comes to quick or rapid movement. I have 'faux logs' tank decorations in my tank and have the same effect as driftwood but without the potential damage.

2- I am not too sure about this sand, but as long as it is pretty finely ground it should be fine. You just don't want anything they can't poop out easily basically. Make sure the sand you buy is just regular, no frills attached SAND. I made the huge mistake a couple of times of getting hermit crab/reptile sand that has special vitamins in it that the Axolotls don't need. I have had the best luck with just going to a Home Improvement store and purchasing a 20 pound bag of sand for about 10 dollars. Its cheap and it does the same job as any sand you would purchase from a pet store.

3- For plants, I have heard that hornwart is the best for Axolotls (fellow members might have more advice on live plants, for I am still researching in on plants)


4- I have never had any problems with my Axolotls jumping or crawling out of the water, but every Lotl is different. The closest my guys get is getting air around the top. I would probably just get a lid for the top of your tank so they don't jump out, but you can also keep your tank only filled up about half or 3 quarters full (I never fill my tank up to the brim) so they don't get tempted. I probably wouldn't put any semi-aquatic ledges just in case they end up getting stranded on the ledge and drying out, like I said, they aren't very graceful or gifted with the whole movement thing.

5- Definitely wait until they are larger to feed full worms, I would be feeding them live blood worms at this point in time, once their heads get a little larger than you can move up to larger worms.

6- the only problem with feeding Lotls things found in nature is the potential that they could carry disease or infestations. If you want to feed him "fresh" stuff I would recommend crickets or feeder fish from your local pet store. That way they have been properly cleaned and have less of a risk of parasites.

Here is a good guide for water care for Axolotls

Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity

All in all, the large tank sounds wonderful, and I am sure they will be very very happy! Don't let the anxiety get the best of you. I have found that the less I do for my Axies, the more happy they are, just gotta feed them every day and they are content, but like I said, EVERY LOTL IS DIFFERENT!

Good luck!

Also, I didn't see you saying anything about having a filter, but I would recommend getting at least an air stone and a sponge filter. If you get any type of filter make sure it is low movement or you adjust it to be low movement, moving water really stresses the little guys out!
I know I haven't had a filter for a couple of years, and I recently purchased a sponge filter and Puckles and Brent both seem very happy with it

 

[LSuzuki]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

Good, helpful advice, Sidhe. A few things to add ...

2. You can get hardware store sand, but you want play sand, not masonry/construction sand. Play sand has been screened and is softer.

3. Since axolotls like cold water and low light, stick to plants that can tolerate those conditions. The planted tank sites have lots of good info in those regards. Cryptocorynes, anubias, and java fern are suitable plants, in addition to hornwort, and anything else that satisfies that criteria. Axies are big and clumsy, so you don't want anything that can't tolerate being bumped into.

4. Usually, when axies climb onto a filter, it is a submerged filter. I have seen a few, rare posts about axies jumping out of a tank, but that is rare. They are not expected to want to leave the water.

6. A lot of people feed things from the garden, and it is a good way to provide variety. I don't anymore, since last year I had a tank of axies get a protozoa infection that MIGHT have been brought in by worms from my garden. Since I don't know, I figure I am avoiding my garden (and also the store where I got other worms fed about the same time.)

 

[Bette]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

It is a good practice to quarantine new plants, axolotls, and feeder fish for a minimum of 30 days. I've seen a lot of threads about axolotls getting various parasites and illnesses from new additions such as these (especially feeder fish). Remember that most mass produced feeder fish are kept in squalid conditions.

 

[BabySinclair]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

It is a good practice to quarantine new plants, axolotls, and feeder fish for a minimum of 30 days. I've seen a lot of threads about axolotls getting various parasites and illnesses from new additions such as these (especially feeder fish). Remember that most mass produced feeder fish are kept in squalid conditions.

Hi! I want to say Thank You! Ive been seeing your name around here A Lot! This tells me your very informed, So Thank you for your time, and Experience!!

is it ok if I ask a few more questions?
So I currently have couple batches of baby guppies. I intend to raise them as feeder fish For my Peacock Parrot Cichlids, and now axolotis - if its recommended.

Also, I'm thinking about getting a couple of cultures of Daphnia. Is this something you would recommend having in the tank at all times? Basically always having an available fresh snack? Are these guys gluttons? Or will it provide an adequate exercise to food ratio? I know Baby Sinclair absolutely Loves her fresh food. Earth worms, slugs, sow bugs.
I intend to look up what kind of beneficial nematodes i would need to make my garden entirely organically safe for my critters and myself. i already do, but there are other kinds.. But since you said protozoa can be issue, it draws concern. Is it possible to cultivate ones healthy and safe batch of ones own earth worms, slugs? what about giving all worms and slugs a strong salt bath before feeding?

Im sorry for the insistent questions. Its just that all critters, being aquatic, terrestrial, furry, scaley, what ever it may be. Well its a life, and I want to make sure that they are cared for properly and have the best life I can give them. Im certain the boyfriends kids are going to loose interests in these cute little guys. But since I have always wanted one myself when I was a little kid. I saw a perfect opportunity to live a child hood dream and maybe teach the bf's kids something Other wise all these Herp walks have been kind of pointless.

My last and final question for you
These little guys are going to be over night'ed. What do I need to do right away and first off?
Should I keep the lights off for the first couple days? it is already really dim under the water line because of the plants above the water line. But should I keep it black out dark for the first couple days?

Ok, thats it. and again, thank you SO much for your help!!:angel:

 

[officerPuckles]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

Good, helpful advice, Sidhe. A few things to add ...

2. You can get hardware store sand, but you want play sand, not masonry/construction sand. Play sand has been screened and is softer.

Good point on that! Thanks for the addition :]

 

[Bette]

Re: Proud New Axoloti Mom, new mom anxiety

Hi! I want to say Thank You! Ive been seeing your name around here A Lot! This tells me your very informed, So Thank you for your time, and Experience!!

is it ok if I ask a few more questions?
So I currently have couple batches of baby guppies. I intend to raise them as feeder fish For my Peacock Parrot Cichlids, and now axolotis - if its recommended.

Also, I'm thinking about getting a couple of cultures of Daphnia. Is this something you would recommend having in the tank at all times? Basically always having an available fresh snack? Are these guys gluttons? Or will it provide an adequate exercise to food ratio? I know Baby Sinclair absolutely Loves her fresh food. Earth worms, slugs, sow bugs.
I intend to look up what kind of beneficial nematodes i would need to make my garden entirely organically safe for my critters and myself. i already do, but there are other kinds.. But since you said protozoa can be issue, it draws concern. Is it possible to cultivate ones healthy and safe batch of ones own earth worms, slugs? what about giving all worms and slugs a strong salt bath before feeding?

Im sorry for the insistent questions. Its just that all critters, being aquatic, terrestrial, furry, scaley, what ever it may be. Well its a life, and I want to make sure that they are cared for properly and have the best life I can give them. Im certain the boyfriends kids are going to loose interests in these cute little guys. But since I have always wanted one myself when I was a little kid. I saw a perfect opportunity to live a child hood dream and maybe teach the bf's kids something Other wise all these Herp walks have been kind of pointless.

My last and final question for you
These little guys are going to be over night'ed. What do I need to do right away and first off?
Should I keep the lights off for the first couple days? it is already really dim under the water line because of the plants above the water line. But should I keep it black out dark for the first couple days?

Ok, thats it. and again, thank you SO much for your help!!:angel:

I am always happy to help. I have had a good amount of experience with axolotls, but I definitely have much more to learn :happy:.
Guppies are great and easy to breed. The best setup for breeding them is to have a dedicated guppy tank and fill it with plants... java moss, guppy grass,hornwort, etc.

Daphnia are difficult to raise indoors, but some people have done it. As long as you have a sponge filter, you could add a daphnia culture to the axie juvenile tank and try it out. Axolotls are big eaters, so the daphnia will probably not thrive in the tank. You'll also need to clean the juvi tank frequently and daphnia won't like that disturbance constantly. Again, a separate tank is recommended...see this link for more info: Daphnia

I recommend starting a indoor worm bin! I have had great success with culturing e. hortensis earthworms. That way, it is a closed and contained culture. You won't have to worry about any outside contaminants.
I honestly don't know if giving the garden worms a salt bath would accomplish anything (other than stressing the worm). Any protozoa would be mostly in the gut/internal anyway.
I believe that slugs are not often recommended because they are common carriers of nasties. See the following thread: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...ral-discussion/99281-slugs-food-axolotls.html

When your new axies arrive, you don't need to keep the tank "black out dark". But I would refrain from using a light nearby or over the tank for a few days. Plant cover in the tank is good. It will make them feel more secure, and your tank will be healthier.
Make sure that you start feeding them what they are used to eating. Keep the water clean, and you will have happy axolotls! Best of luck:happy:.