Question: Tubbing juvenile axolotl help

[hannarm06]

So I got a juvenile axolotl (Lychee) a week ago and I was originally doing in-tank cycling but read up on it more and decided it was better to do tubbing until cycling was done. Lychee has been in there a few days and I've been doing 100% water changes every 24 hours and putting ice packs underneath to keep the little one cool. I don't have a net so I've been using a very fine mesh metal sieve to gently coax them into and scoop them up when switching containers (they were scared the first time but didn't seem to mind the next few times). In the tub, Nitrite and Nitrate levels are at 0. Ammonia is at 0.25 and I tried bringing it down and adding extra conditioner but so far no change. Could using filtered water instead of tap water help with that maybe? Or an Indian almond leaf? As for tank conditions, ammonia is about 1.0, nitrite is higher than 0 but not quite 0.5, and Nitrate is about 5, so I think the cycling process is just barely taking (I forgot to add turbostart/nitrifying bacteria at first so it took longer than it should've lol)

I did a tub change about an hour ago and as for the little one, they seem mostly ok. Swimming some, but much more sluggish than in the tank, seems to gravitate towards the ice packs, gills seem ok color. Tail seems to be switching between straight and curled but that could just be part of maneuvering around the container . I just fed Lychee and 2 out of 3 worm pieces got eaten quick but I tried to offer them the 3rd piece and they spit it out. Lychee usually eats slowly so the third one will probably get eaten later. Anything I can do to help my axie while tubbing? My main concern is the ammonia levels but I don't know how to change that and I'm not sure if I can get any extra products like ammo lock as of right now as I'm on a tight budget.

 

[Dangerlady72]

So I got a juvenile axolotl (Lychee) a week ago and I was originally doing in-tank cycling but read up on it more and decided it was better to do tubbing until cycling was done. Lychee has been in there a few days and I've been doing 100% water changes every 24 hours and putting ice packs underneath to keep the little one cool. I don't have a net so I've been using a very fine mesh metal sieve to gently coax them into and scoop them up when switching containers (they were scared the first time but didn't seem to mind the next few times). In the tub, Nitrite and Nitrate levels are at 0. Ammonia is at 0.25 and I tried bringing it down and adding extra conditioner but so far no change. Could using filtered water instead of tap water help with that maybe? Or an Indian almond leaf? As for tank conditions, ammonia is about 1.0, nitrite is higher than 0 but not quite 0.5, and Nitrate is about 5, so I think the cycling process is just barely taking (I forgot to add turbostart/nitrifying bacteria at first so it took longer than it should've lol)

I did a tub change about an hour ago and as for the little one, they seem mostly ok. Swimming some, but much more sluggish than in the tank, seems to gravitate towards the ice packs, gills seem ok color. Tail seems to be switching between straight and curled but that could just be part of maneuvering around the container . I just fed Lychee and 2 out of 3 worm pieces got eaten quick but I tried to offer them the 3rd piece and they spit it out. Lychee usually eats slowly so the third one will probably get eaten later. Anything I can do to help my axie while tubbing? My main concern is the ammonia levels but I don't know how to change that and I'm not sure if I can get any extra products like ammo lock as of right now as I'm on a tight budget.

If you adding Prime to your water when you change you are fine. The water conditioner binds with the ammonia to make it non toxic and it’s effective for 48 hrs. He will still detected on your testing kit but it’s non-toxic at that point. Even though it’s good for 48 hours you are doing correctly by changing it every 24. That’s the recommended timing for doing the water changes. My girls a lot more sluggish in the tub when I do have to tub her because I think frankly, she’s bored. There’s not a lot for them to do in there where the entire tank they have the room to be their derby selves.