Question: Warm water

[angus]

Hello.

I need some help.
I live in Mozambique and the water at room temperature is 28c or 82f. Note that we are in summer and this is the hotest the water at rooms temperatures will get.

I got my axies from south African. Where the room temperature was just below 70f.
Ive had my 8 axies from when they were hatchlings. Now they are 3 months old and are 10cm/4 inches long.

My question is. Since they have been raised at these temperatures 82f and a little lower .do i need to keep them at lower temperatures regardless?
I can either use an aircon or convert an old refrigerator into a chiller.

What is the reason we need to keep them at lower temps? And can they not get used to warm water?

Thanks
Regards
Angus

 

[wolfen]

this is quite a good question.
I don't think axolotls can adjust permanently to warmer temperatures as their bodies would be under constant stress, this can then lead to susceptibility to bacterial and fungal issues which can then lead to infections ie.. septicaemia, red leg etc.., axolotls are also different from other animals as in they require colder temperatures to heal and regenerate.
axolotls have what is known as a wide tolerance to different conditions but straying to far from ideal for too long tends to have consequences whether it be organ failure from being too cold or skin sloughing from being too warm.
it should be noted that there has been cases where treatment for some conditions have included the increase in temperature but these are rare instances.
if you have time you can try going through the news articles as there might be more information regarding axolotls and effects of temperature, link here.. https://ambystoma.uky.edu/genetic-stock-center/newsletters.php also for tolerable ranges etc.. link here.. Water Quality Explained: How It Can Affect Your Axolotl's Health - WSAVA 2015 Congress - VIN

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Get that Aircon converted to a chiller!

 

[axolotl nerd]

Hello.

I need some help.
I live in Mozambique and the water at room temperature is 28c or 82f. Note that we are in summer and this is the hotest the water at rooms temperatures will get.

I got my axies from south African. Where the room temperature was just below 70f.
Ive had my 8 axies from when they were hatchlings. Now they are 3 months old and are 10cm/4 inches long.

My question is. Since they have been raised at these temperatures 82f and a little lower .do i need to keep them at lower temperatures regardless?
I can either use an aircon or convert an old refrigerator into a chiller.

What is the reason we need to keep them at lower temps? And can they not get used to warm water?

Thanks
Regards
Angus

i highly recommend getting fans to blow over the top of your water. i have one and it sits on top of the screen lid- lowers the water temperature wonderfully. the chiller will obviously take time to construct, so i strongly implore you obtain some fans to help lower temperatures. i suspect that your axolotls are surviving, but not thriving. lower temperatures will allow them to be in better health overall.

 

[angus]

Thanks all.
Just yesterday I converted my extra fridge into a chiller, i baught 100 metres of quarter inch transparent hose, connected it to a small bump it goes through the freezer and back into the Axies tub. The water temp in now at 19c/ 66f.

I see the 1 Axie is now floating. Not sure it from the drop in temp which happened over night. Or from the pieces of beef I fed them this morning for the first time because all my earth worms and pellets finished. Will keep an eye on it.
And will keep an eye on the temp to keep it as stable as possible

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Is his rear up? He might be constipated. Also, at three months, they can be more floatful than other ones.

 

[angus]

Is his rear up? He might be constipated. Also, at three months, they can be more floatful than other ones.

No,
It's not floating now, i was watching them an they are gulping air more than normal.
And the only thing that's changed in the last 2 day is temp drop.

Will watch them..

 

[wolfen]

the easiest way to convert a fridge into a chiller is to get a large tub (storage tubs/box's are ideal, make sure it fits in the fridge) put the pipe coils in the tub and fill tub with water, this will cool the tank better then just exposing the piping to the air in the fridge. this also prevents pipe freeze which can happen when the flow is too low and the pipe is touching the back of the freezer, it also reduces compressor burn out because of having to work to hard to cool the fridge compartment.
if they are gulping air quite frequently make sure that the water is oxygenated with a couple of air-stones to prevent/reduce surface gulping (they may gulp when very active as this is the equivalent to gasping for air after exorcise) if the water isn't oxygenated enough it will also affect your filtration as well as your axolotls.