Question: Use of filters with young axolotls linked with deaths?

[Madderz]

I have some axolotl larvae, they are around 3.5cm long now, just starting to get their hind legs. When they were newly hatched i used a small filter, however in a single weekend when they were a couple of weeks old 12 of my 14 larvae died, I decided to take the filter out and just clean then out every other day. Now They are bigger I decided to put the filter back with a clean cartridge in it but I'm still a little concerned as to whether it is a good idea. The filter is set up with a spray bar pointing at the side of the tank, the tank is a plastic tank around 40cm x 20cm The filter is an Aqua Flow 50 and I don't think the flow in the tank is too strong. The problem is the sides of the tank vibrate slightly I don't know if that is a problem. I can't find a lot of info on how to use filters with very young axolotls. I'd appreciate everyone's opinions.:happy:

 

[Vidofner]

Ive never bred axolotls but i don't think vibration is good... for any animal really. Will probobly cause stress to them. I would probobly buy an air stone for the oxygen and then just do regular waterchanges. From what i understand you need to do water changes frequently anyway so you dont have food rottening on the bottom.

While im at it... how is the tapwater in UK? Here in sweden we are blessed with one of the best tap waters in the world so we dont need to do anything special when putting it in the water really.

 

[Madderz]

Lucky you! Ours needs dechlorinating, its not the worst water I've ever seen but its not good enough to use straight from the tap.

Its not really bad vibration, its just a very gentle one from the motor of the filter I'd really like to hear from other people who have bred them and used a filter, its been in there for a couple of hours now and they seem OK and they're eating and everything. I have a tank vacuum to clear food from the bottom of the tank, it'd just be nice to only have to do partial water changes as I'm going to Africa for 2 months and my boyfriend is looking after them, he is used to taking care of them so I know they'll be OK with him but the less he has to do the better.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Madderz,

I think there might be other factors that are contributing to the high death rate. Have a read through this article. It might provide you with some insight.

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/why_larvae_die.shtml

Regards

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I agree with Rayson, however, it could also be you are changing your filters too often. A water test for ammonia may be in order here.

 

[Madderz]

Thanks for the advice everyone, the larvae seem to be doing fine. I will keep a closer eye on the ammonia but I'm sure I wasn't changing the filters too often, I cleaned the filter properly often but I didn't change it much.
I had seen that article at the time when the larvae were dying to try and find a solution but I still don't really know why they died.
I think they'll be OK now, I was really just wanting to check that the vibrations from the motor wouldn't upset them too much.

 

[Ed]

Did you check the nitrite levels after you changed the filter (particuarly about 2 days after the filter changed?)

Ed

 

[Madderz]

No I didn't

 

[Madderz]

I took the filter out today. Not because it was making them ill or anything, but because one of them is a bit of a dope and got stuck behind it :wacko:. They're both doing really well and ate their first non-live food today, feeling rather proud .