Soon-to-be Axolotl owner. A few questions!

If nitrates are high your cycle sounds like it's in full flow and it's quite possible that in a week it would be all good.

Remember the bacteria is on the surface of objects in the tank, not in the water, the toxins are in the water.

To get Nitrates down I'd just do large daily water changes, your bacteria will be unaffected by this and nitrates levels will then be hospitable.

Remember when in doubt just do a water test.

Hope that helps, I'm no veteran but to the best of my knowledge that should help.

I brought my axie up in an un-cycled tank and daily 20% water changes did the trick for me.
 
Aw I'm sorry to hear the fish guy is giving you the run around, I think I've been really lucky to get a local fish guy who knows his stuff, loves fish and has been very accommodating of us and our growing aquatic collection!

Don't give up on your axolotl dream though, you are almost through the cycle, your little axy should be fine in the tank while it's finishing the cycle, just keep on top of the water changes and pretty soon you will have a nice stable tank and happy little creature. Keeping axolotls, as I have discovered, is absolutely worth all the hassle and expense! We've spent a very decent amount of money getting our girl's home setup, cold, and at optimal chemical level, and enough time being entertained by her weird antics that it's well worth it. She makes my hubby and I very happy!

Now that the tank is properly cycled and clear, we do a sand vacuum and replace 10-20% of the water once a week, suck out the poops with a turkey baster whenever we see them, and rinse the filter media in siphoned aquarium water once a month, and everyone is happy! It's really very little work once you get the dreaded chemical cycle sorted out :)

One piece of advice I can offer you is to look around for a larger tank and a chiller for when your girl is ready to move into a bigger home. Large volumes of water are more stable, but harder to cool down. The chiller is a very good investment considering how long a healthy axolotl will live, you need to consider if you will be happy changing her ice bottles every summer's day for the next 10 years. A fan blowing across the surface of the water is fine to keep the temp down for your little 10 gal tank, just keep an eye on the temp so you don't have large fluctuations.

Also, I've noticed that my girl stresses and sheds her slime coat when we do major disruptive stuff to her tank, like recently tackling a green algae bloom. She didn't like it, so I recommend when you have to do stuff to her tank, try and disturb her as little as possible.

There are some very cool, helpful and knowledgeable people here too, at least you're in the right place :D
 
to second what Seona is saying, once you have it setup it's probably the easiest pet to keep.

I don't use a chiller as they're so large and noisy but I have seriously experimented with fans and if your interested I'm more than happy to share my findings on how you can efficiently cool 4-5 degrees using just a fan and a small ice bottle.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I went back to the fish place and I showed him my receipt. He accepted that the Axolotl was in fact mine, so I've no fear of her being sold now. I told him that I'd pick her up next week

I did quite a big water change today. (50%, probably a little bit too much), but I'm hoping that it hasn't interrupted the cycle too much. I'll test it though. I'll leave it for a couple of days and test it then. I hope I haven't interrupted anything. I doubt I'll have to start anything again though, so that's not a worry. After all, all the tank memorabilia is still in fact.

I'll continue to test it, and I'll put her in next week. I'll do a water change before hand, and I'll do one every few days when she's finally in. Then I'll probably consider bigger tank options. Just so I've got one handy when the times comes and I'll be able to cycle it thoroughly without the worry of her going anywhere : )

Thank you everyone. It's been a tricky day today!
 
believe it or not i went from a 60l to a 160l and all i carried across was a fake log and some plants, the old internal filter and a bit of drift wood.

This alone was enough to continue the cycle and the new tank was self sufficient almost immediately, I never had to perform daily water changes at all after the move.
 
they are so full of £"%$£^%$&^$"$***

take in the receipt and get fuming! take your axie home, and have her in a container for abit until you're happy with the water in the tank.
As soon as you bring in the receipt you should be fine. sounds like a really bad pet shop! no records? inaccurate records?
Ergh ignorant so and sos!!!!
I could go on forever O_O

As soon as you get your axie (and you better or Grrrr ect)
I'd have words, on their ignorace, and attitude/bad salesmanship ect with the manager.
After you've got your axie home of course.

As for the different information, as long as you don't follow any from a petshop - you're sure to do fine.
 
Why is that pet shop so disorganized? Anyways, don't give up! From my experience, I actually I cycled the water with my axie in it. Everyday was always 10-20 % water changes. I also tested my water frequently as well and monitored my axie's behavior. He turned out just fine. It took me a little over a month for the water to be cycled so just hang in there :). Like someone has mentioned, you can put them in the fridge as your tank cycles if you feel uncomfortable about cycling with her in the tank. They love the fridge. Good luck!
 
Stupid fish/pet shops, do not take any of thier advice! All the advice and information you will ever need is right here on this forum and all info is provided by experienced axolotl owners that want to help new owners like yourself (thats why theyre here!) All you gotta do is ask, no need to get stressed bout it all, once this first bit is out of the way and you get into your routine it is very easy, and you will have a very happy axolotl who in turn will make you very happy :happy:!

Your doing the right thing (we'll tell you if you are doing anything wrong) If in doubt just ask (like you have been)!

You are doing great at the mo, with all the research and all! Im sure you will make an excellent friend for your slimey little monster (when she arrives!)

Take it easy!
 
Just an update.

Its two days until she comes! My Nitrite levels are still quite high, so some water changes will be necessary! I'll do one today and tomorrow as well as some more water tests. If they're still a bit high when she arrives, shall I just make a point of changing the water every single day?

Big thank you for everyone who's posted in this thread and I look forward to sharing my Axolotl themed joys with you in the future.
 
Apologies for the double post!

In less than 24 hours (Ie: Tomorrow) my new friend will be coming home. Finally liberated from the fish store and in a place where she will be loved and cherished. It's all very exciting.

In terms of my tank and it's cycling, things are looking okay. I think I'm just about to get to the bit where everything drops down to zero!

Ammonia - 0.4mg
Nitrite 0.75
Nitrate: Between 25 and 50.

So obviously, not ideal, but my Nitrite does seem to be going down and my Ammonia has gone up a little bit. I'm 99% sure everything is going to plan. My nitrate seems to be a decent figure which is cool. Is it advisable to do a water change a few hours before she comes home? Just to try and get some of those readings down a little bit or shall I wait until she's been in a while to do a water change.

I can't believe tomorrow has nearly come! I'll let you know how the move goes. In the meantime any advice on my water and how it's looking.

I assume I will have to do a water change every day when she first arrives just to see out the rest of the cycle?

Thanks,

Michael
 
MichaelWB said:
I assume I will have to do a water change every day when she first arrives just to see out the rest of the cycle?
Click to expand...

Yep.

Test the water, if you have any ammonia (0.25 +) or Nitrite reading at all, change at least 20%

If the Amm or Nitrite are very high, change 20% , test it again after the change, and change a little more if need be.

I wouldn't stress, just keep an eye on it every day.

I cycled mine with two axies in the tank, and they were fine.

Bren
 
Adeline is home!

It's all very exciting at this present moment in time!

Thank you everyone who's contributed to this magical day. She seems pretty chilled out at the moment. I guess she's just getting used to her environment. The temperature is at 20 at the moment. I've put in a few ice cubes just to bring it down. Winter will be here soon, so hopefully that will bring the general temperature of things down. If not I'll invest in some small bottles so I can ice water the tank every day.

Plus, I'll be changing the water quite regularly at the moment because I'm in mid cycle. So, 20% water changes every day for the next 10 days or so. That'll keep things down. If I have any problems you guys will be the first to know!

Thank you so much!
 
ummmm, make sure your ice cubes are made with dechlorinated water...... if you are just using the tap water ones, you are going to undo your good work
 
Don't worry they are dechlorinated!
 
Nice one! Yep as you said, 10-20% daily changes untill you get that ammonia down to zero. Once thats done only 10-20% once as week (with daily spot checks with a turkey baster of course!) Youre nearly there, keep up the good work!

Just a thought....
Although I wouldnt really reccommend live plants in an axie tank (except for really hardy ones) because of high temp, light requirements and the axies ability to destroy them but they can help keep your nitrates/nitrites (one of those maybe both?) down while oxygenating the water, might just be worth it even if just for a bit of piece of mind while your tank is still cycling with an axie in it (heavily planted tanks may never cycle as the plants will do all the work!) but a few plants may take the edge off any "higher than should be" readings making things a little more comfortable for your axie!
Might be worth considering if youre worrying too much! (just watch out for bits of rotting or decaying plant that might be hiding about the place if you decide to get some!


Some photos of your new little friend would be very much appreciated!

Good luck with your axie adventures!

>ed<
 
I like to keep live in my axie tank, makes the water quality much better (as long as you don't leave bad/rotting leaves around)
Just have to make sure they're in nice and tight, maybe with a few rocks around the base to keep it where you put it.
 
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