Temperature

[brendan]

Set up a new tank as most of you know, but have noticed that my temperature is constantly between 23-26 averaging around 24. I read that this is too high and can cause stress and disease in axolotls. Any tips on how to keep the tank cooler or is 24 acceptable.

My axolotls seem to be fine with this temperature range and no signs of stress or disease. 2 have been in it since sunday and the other 2 since today.

What are signs of heat stress or any kinds of stress for that matter.

Any tips on keeping my axolotls stress free and healthy?

Yes i know you may point me in the direction of

www.axolotl.org and i have already been reading it since i got my babies before Christmas, and getting advice first hand is better then reading it from a stationary material.

Only reason i am posting this is because my mother is worried.

Thanks.

 

[dot]

Setting up a fan to blow cool air over the tank is a good way of keeping the temperature down, though I've never tried it. When I was having trouble keeping my tank temperature down, I used frozen water bottles, but you have to be careful about not letting the water get too cold too quickly.

Just because your axolotls "look" fine with 24 degrees doesn't necessarily mean they are, and the time you've had them at that temperature isn't long enough for them to be exhibiting extreme temperature stress. Try to lower the temp in your tank.

Did you quarantine the new animals you've gotten? From the posts I've read, you've purchased seven axolotls within the span of about a month without prior knowledge of them, and put them all in the same tank as you got them. It's always best to quarantine any animals you plan on adding to a tank for about a month before introducing them, to make sure that the new animals are healthy (they may be carrying pathogens or illnesses that you cannot see.) Not quarantining new animals, (despite them "looking" healthy in the pet store,) puts your current animals at risk of infection.

And regarding http://www.axolotl.org, John keeps axolotls, so a lot of the information on his site is first hand, and most of the people here will tell you exactly what's written there.

 

[brendan]

Ok...

1. The axolotls i received prior to xmas where babies. They where purchased from the same aquarium store and they where introduced to the same tank at the same time. They are going terrific.

2. I got a newer, larger tank last week and i purchased 2 adult axolotls from a local breeder. Those axolotls are healthy and in good shape.

3. Today i purchased another 2 adult axolotls from the same breeder. The axoltols i brought today where housed in the same place as the other 2. Same tank and everything. Only reason i had to wait a few days was becuase i was short on cash. So again like the babies if there had of been disease then it would have an affect on all. But they themselves are healthy and well in good shape.

This breeder will not sell any axolotls that have a disease or anything wrong with them. All the axolotls i have purcahsed (4 adults in total) are and where in good health when i received them and showed and are still showing no signs of stress. The breeder is also one of the most respectable in newcastle.

4. I have 4 adult axolotls in the large tank.

5. I have 3 babies in the smaller tank.

6. I check over their bodies regularly, test ph, nitrite and nitrate and ammonia regularly.

7. After feeding i clean out all the left overs.

8. I clean 25% of the water each week.

9. I did have prior knowledge about axolotls before i got them. I was just not and still not a "FULL AXOLOTL PROFESSIONAL"

10. Yes the babies are in the same tank together. BUT... They where purchased from the same store on the same day from the same display tank. So if anythign was wrong with one it would affect the others. BUT... NOPE. the babies are all in good shape. NOTHING is wrong with them.

Yes the 4 adults are in the same tank together even though they where purchased a few days apart like i said they where house in the same tank at the local breeder. But it was known to me prior to purchase that the 2 i brought last sunday and the 2 today are in tip top condition and... NOTHING wrong.

11. All my axolotls are healthy, show no signs of disease or stress. And i know this for a fact.

12. [snip]

Now lets get some things straight...

[snip]

I READ THE FORUMS EVERDAY AND GAIN NEW INFORMATION. I ALWAYS CHECK THE AXOLOTL.ORG WEBSITE TO CONSTANLY PUT THINGS INTO MY HEAD AND IF IVE MISSED SOMETHING I PICK IT UP.

I DID HAVE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AXOLOTLS BEFORE PURCHASING MY FIRST LOT OF 3 BABIES, [snip]

LIKE EVERYTHING, YOU LEARN IN TIME.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUTS AND EVERY DETAIL OF EVERY SECTION TO KEEP A PET. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS HOW TO LOOK AFTER IT SUCCESFULLY...

Now that i have blown off some steam.

1. Think and read things before you post something without the proper facts.

2. Before you decide to criticise someone, think to yourself. I was once in this persons shoes.

3. I might be a newb, but i sure do know a hellofva lot. I have kept 4 cats and 3 dogs all with offspring (but they where sold) riiiiiiiiiight up until 20years of age (in dog and cat years).

Now the only reason i have no dogs and only 1 cat now is simple.

The 3 dogs had to be put down because of severe inoperable cancers/tumours. But they did live very healthy long lives.

1 cat had to be put down because of physical damage and cancers but also lived a long life.

1 cat some how escaped but she, was still living long and healthy.

1 cat had to be sent the way of my aunty because we moved to a smaller location where there was not alot of room for 2 cats.

So i still have 1 cat here with me and the other with my aunty and they still are in very healthy condition.

Yes i know an axolotl is different to a cat or a dog, and yes i know they require more maintainence. But with the skill and expertise of looking after animals such as feeding them and cleaning them and keeping them healthy i think i can handle axolotls.

I have the time. I have the dedication and if i ever for some reason cannot clean their tank or feed them my mother or grandmother are more then willing to help out as they themselves are wrapped up in axolotl wonder.

Now hey... Dont take this to heart. Its the internet.

I will try the fan method and i will try the bottle of ice method and i will do that carefully. Thank you for that help.

(Message edited by apples on January 13, 2005)

 

[pin-pin]

Brendan,

Please refrain from shouting and attacking people in this forum. If you need to type things to "calm down," please also delete them before posting if they have little to do with the topic.

This is *indeed* the internet, and I am sure that the advice Dot has given can be misread to be attacking. HOWEVER, you came here on your own free will, asking for advice. You were free to ignore her post instead of posting a reply to defend some imaginary "slight."

Some of the advice you've given, those are great ideas for all of us to follow. While I enjoy the freedom of debates and heated discussions about salamanders, public attacks do not belong here. This forum is as good as it is because of the experts from top universities and institutions come here expecting a level of decency. If you think someone is behaving out of line, please deal with the person privately or e-mail a moderator. Do not assume that just because "she did it so I can do it" rule.

If you continue to shout and flame, I will be forced to take other actions besides editing your posts.

P.S. If you have problems, take it up by contacting me or the administration. I will remove subsequent posts by you on this topic and }also lock this thread.

 

[john]

I stand behind what Pin-pin says 100%. The same goes for Dot.

Dot was attempting to help you Brendan and you slapped her down. Please think before you post your thoughts here. This is not a place to "blow off steam".

If you have a problem with someone or someone's message here, let the moderators know. It isn't appropriate to unload on someone as you have done. Your message is going to be left here only because we think it will serve as a good example to people of how not to behave.