Ragged Tail?

[andrew]

I have a baby albino axolotl, about two-three inches long... And the tail seems rough and slightly tattered around the ends. Maybe It was like that before and I just didn't notice, but... I could have sworn it used to be smooth. There are no other axies in the tank, nor fish, so nothing is nibbling him. Do you think this could be a problem?

Other than this, he doesn't act ill at all. Still swimming about and eating fine.

Thanks.

 

[kapo]

Have you checked your water parameters - ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[andrew]

I'm going to stop at the pet store today (haven't had a chance lately) and look for a water testing kit. I REALLY need to get one, especially as I didn't even know about cycling the tank until after he was already in there...

I'll Make sure to look for one, and if they don't have it, I'll see if they can test the water for me.

 

[amber]

Get a liquid test - not the strips. Liquids are more accurate.

 

[kapo]

Sounds like your tank is cycling and ammonia/nitrite may be a bit high which is why your axies tail could be looking a bit ragged. If they test your water, then get the no.s from them, of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and keep a record of it. Once you have the results if ammonia/nitrite is high do a 20 or 30% waterchange to bring it back to safe levels for your axie. Also,if your axie remains in tank while cycling you will need to test every few days and do 20-30% waterchange if necessary.

 

[joan]

If you're going for high-quality tests, dry-tab tests are better than the others. Liquids are better than strips. Strips are better than nothing. But for accuracy, dry tabs are best.

Most LFS's also test your water for free.

 

[andrew]

I will get one of these as soon as possible; preferably the dry tab.

Also... the river rocks make it hard as Hell to keep uneaten things off the bottom. They fall in the cracks... can anyone else recommend a good substrate? I know not to use pea-gravel or anything... would sand work? Or just plain bare glass bottom?

 

[karrie]

I had plastic plants and a few other rough things in with mine. His tail all most looked like it had little cut on it. Try taking these things out it might help it did with mine. Pool filter sand or Tahitian moon sand. Hopes this helps

 

[jennifer]

If you read through the posts in other parts of the axie forums, you'll find a lot of discussions about various kinds of sand. If beige sand seems too boring, you can improve it by studding it with pebbles (large enough not to be swallowed). If appearance isn't an issue, then a bare bottom is just fine, certainly the easiest to keep clean.