Question: What should I feed my axolotls?

[LakeJeffler]

I posted a question a couple of weeks ago about a dirty/cloudy tank. I have since upgraded to a filter rated for 40-gallon tanks while my tank only contains 12 gallons of water. The problem, however, has not subsided. My tank is still just as cloudy and brown as ever.

So I have determined that the issue must be the type of food that we're feeding our axolotls. Currently, we are using Sinking Pellets with Spirulina from Ken's Fish. I like these because they sink and my axolotls will suck them right up. That way, I don't have to hand feed them. The problem is, though, that if the pellets are not eaten soon after hitting the water, they break apart and leave particles all over the sand at the bottom of the tank. We are constantly vacuuming these particles as best we can, but it's impossible to get them all. And they sit on the bottom, so my filter has a very hard time cleaning it out. So I'm attributing our cloudy, brown tank water to these annoying little particles of food.

So, my question is (after that long-winded backstory): What food do you feed your axies? What do you find they like best and keeps your tank crystal clear? I'd like to find something that will sink so that we don't have to hand feed them, but that is easily cleaned out by the filter. I don't mind spot cleaning with a turkey baster every night, but I need my water to be clear.

Thanks to everyone in advance for sharing their experience and expertise!

 

[SnotOtter]

Just curious, do you have driftwood or corkbark in your tank? If so that could be the source of the brown coloration and its nothing harmful if thats the case. Its actually beneficial to be honest.

Cloudiness is usually a bacterial bloom,(not detrimental, just your beneficial bacteria trying to get to the right population to handle the waste), or high phosphates/mineral/sand content in your water. If youre constantly siphoning water the free floating bacteria dont have time to attach to surfaces and become established, (which is where they live), and never get the foot hold they need. If its phosphate/mineral/sand content there are products that help small particles clump together, (a flocculant), so your filter can remove them more efficiently. The most common one I know of is accu clear (Welcome to API Fishcare: ACCU-CLEAR®), its harmless to fish, plants, inverts and amphibians.

I personally use salmon pellets and massivore delite by hikari as my staple pellet. You can get the salmon pellets for a very reasonable price from a vendor in the FS USA section of this sight. Food alone shouldnt cause cloudiness, its a result of multiple factors.

Hope this helps! :happy:

 

[SnotOtter]

Just fyi, it takes 4-8 weeks for a tank to fully cycle, and longer if the tank is overstocked, overfed or disrupted, (water changes, filter media replacement/cleaning, glass/ornament cleaning) too often. You cant expect biology to balance from scratch in a couple weeks. I've found the most important and sometimes hardest to obtain ingredient when dealing with aquatics is patience. :happy:

 

[LakeJeffler]

Just curious, do you have driftwood or corkbark in your tank?

Nope, no wood in the tank. The only things in the tank are the internal filter, 3 plastic plants, and 2 small-ish terracotta pots.

Cloudiness is usually a bacterial bloom,(not detrimental, just your beneficial bacteria trying to get to the right population to handle the waste), or high phosphates/mineral/sand content in your water. If youre constantly siphoning water the free floating bacteria dont have time to attach to surfaces and become established, (which is where they live), and never get the foot hold they need.

My tank has been established for a couple of months, and my water parameters have been fine, so I'm not sure that it would be bacterial bloom. It's a possibility, though...

If its phosphate/mineral/sand content there are products that help small particles clump together, (a flocculant), so your filter can remove them more efficiently. The most common one I know of is accu clear (Welcome to API Fishcare: ACCU-CLEAR®), its harmless to fish, plants, inverts and amphibians.

I've thought about trying this, but I've thrown so much money at my tank already that I'm reluctant to make another purchase if it's not going to solve the problem. I can see particles floating when my axies stir the sand, but they float right back down to the bottom. That's why I think I should change the food. Your opinion on this?

I personally use salmon pellets and massivore delite by hikari as my staple pellet.

Do these deteriorate quickly in the water? Food particles sitting on top of the substrate is so frustrating and unsightly.

Food alone shouldnt cause cloudiness, its a result of multiple factors.

Forgive my ignorance, but could food with algae in it cause a brown cloudiness? The food I'm using has Spirulina algae in it.


Thank you SO much for your detailed answer. I would appreciate any help you can continue to contribute.

 

[SnotOtter]

Nope, no wood in the tank. The only things in the tank are the internal filter, 3 plastic plants, and 2 small-ish terracotta pots.

Sometimes new terracotta can leach the pigment into the water and cause cloudiness. It should subside over a few months if thats the culprit.

My tank has been established for a couple of months, and my water parameters have been fine, so I'm not sure that it would be bacterial bloom. It's a possibility, though...

A couple months is within the normal range for cycling. In a small tank like that, there can be post feeding spikes of ammonia/nitrite. Sometimes thats all it takes to initiate a bloom. In new tanks I've tested 30 minutes post feeding and had mild spikes that are gone an hour later.

I've thought about trying this, but I've thrown so much money at my tank already that I'm reluctant to make another purchase if it's not going to solve the problem. I can see particles floating when my axies stir the sand, but they float right back down to the bottom. That's why I think I should change the food. Your opinion on this?

Around here a small bottle of accu clear is around $4-$6 so at least its a small purchase. It may not resolve things totally but will increase the efficiency of your filter. On a side note, aquarium filters are rated for fish use and are overestimated and unreliable. Your axolotl, assuming its a few inches, produces the waste equivalent of 15-20 small fish/1 hand sized fish and its waste is more complex and difficult/time consuming to break down.

The food youre usings primary ingredient is soybean which could also be the source of the brown coloration. Although it has an adequate protein % its primarily plant based protein and formulated for herbivorous fish. This also could be the particulates you see so often that sink back to the bottom. With herbivorous fish this isnt an issue because they will forage and typically clean up any particulates. Basic shrimp pellets would even be a better alternative short term if the budgets tight.

Do these deteriorate quickly in the water? Food particles sitting on top of the substrate is so frustrating and unsightly.

The massivore holds together better than any other pellet I've personally used. Usually only when left in the tank for long periods or when chewed on do they flake apart. The salmon pellets do a little as well but arent typically sitting long enough to do so before being eaten.

Just a tip, but I use airline tubing to spot siphon. It reduces the amount of water removed and is easy to store. I keep a large plastic cup and rolled up airline under most my tanks just for this purpose.

Forgive my ignorance, but could food with algae in it cause a brown cloudiness? The food I'm using has Spirulina algae in it.

No forgiveness necessary, thats what questions are for. :happy: Spirulina is typically stable and firm in aquatic foods, again more likely the soybean content is the culprit. Spirulina is also a green algae so no brown pigment.

Cheers!

 

[auntiejude]

What is the exact composition of the pellets? Axies don't need spirulina.
And TBH pellets are known for breaking up and causing water quality issues.

The cleanest food is earthworms - no leftover foods to mess with water quality, best nutrition.

 

[LakeJeffler]

Around here a small bottle of accu clear is around $4-$6 so at least its a small purchase. It may not resolve things totally but will increase the efficiency of your filter.

The food youre usings primary ingredient is soybean which could also be the source of the brown coloration. Although it has an adequate protein % its primarily plant based protein and formulated for herbivorous fish. This also could be the particulates you see so often that sink back to the bottom.

I've attached a couple of pictures of the tank with the cloudiness and brown color. Not sure how much you'll be able to get from them, but I suppose pictures can't hurt.

In your opinion, would a combination of the Accu-Clear with replacing my pellet with the salmon pellets you suggested solve my issue?

 

[SnotOtter]

Thats where I would start. The accu clear will definately reduce that cloudiness. If I were to guess that looks like its primarily your sand. Thats fine particle stuff.

 

[SnotOtter]

What is the exact composition of the pellets? Axies don't need spirulina.
And TBH pellets are known for breaking up and causing water quality issues.

The cleanest food is earthworms - no leftover foods to mess with water quality, best nutrition.

The link he posted at the beginning of the thread, for the food, has the composition. I agree pellets are messier and more likely to cause water quality issues but I'd expect to see elevated ammonia/nitrite levels if that were the case here.

 

[auntiejude]

Accu-clear is not recommended for amphibians because they absorb it through their skin. Most 'fish tank' treatment are not axie-safe, you need to address the problem at source, not treat the symptoms.

 

[LakeJeffler]

Accu-clear is not recommended for amphibians because they absorb it through their skin. Most 'fish tank' treatment are not axie-safe, you need to address the problem at source, not treat the symptoms.

Could you please give some tips on how to treat the issue? I would love to figure out how to keep my tank clean without the need of chemicals.

I should also mention that there's a pretty noticeable smell associated with the cloudy, brown tank water. I'm sure that would help determine the cause of the water issues.

 

[Creepella]

I stopped using the chemicals to manage my water quality after losing my first axie. I suspect she died because I did a water change and added three different chemicals at the same time. She was fine before the water change but died within 24 hours after.

My tanks are still cycling and I get bacterial blooms, especially in my 10 gal tank. My 30 gal hasn't had any so far, I think because the larger amount of water means fewer toxin spikes and bacterial blooms. It doesn't take much for a bloom to start in a smaller tank.

When I get a bloom in the small tank, especially if it's smelly, the first thing I do is stir the sand up thoroughly. Anaerobic bacteria can form in sand, and they're the smelly ones. Move all ornaments and plants, and make sure the sand underneath is stirred up. Give the tank a couple of hours to settle, then do a big water change, like 50%. This will clear a lot of the cloudiness but not all. Wait a day or two. Sometimes it will clear up on its own, if not, do another sand stir and water change. Going forward, make sure to stir up the sand every couple of weeks.

I recently removed the sand from my 10 gal tank so the bottom is bare, and I haven't had any further blooms so far. Plus you know that all of the gunk is siphoned out when you do a water change. The axolotl doesn't seem to mind the bare glass either.

Another thing you could try is Marimo moss balls. They filter some of the gunk and help with water quality. They don't require much light or care, and the axies love to roll them around and perch on top of them. Certainly they don't do any harm. I just squeeze (under the water) and roll them around in my hands once a week so they hold their shape. They cost a few dollars each, I get mine at Petsmart.

Re food - my axies are juveniles, so I alternate them between frozen bloodworms, axolotl pellets I got from their breeder (they must be good because they don't fall apart), and live worms from my composter. I feed them every day, only as much as they can eat in 15 minutes. I've never noticed a difference in how cloudy the water gets with each type of food.

 

[SnotOtter]

Accu-clear is not recommended for amphibians because they absorb it through their skin. Most 'fish tank' treatment are not axie-safe, you need to address the problem at source, not treat the symptoms.

I apolgize if I'm wrong, this product was suggested to me by a very reputable person and I've used it with a variety of amphibians, including axolotls, for more than 10 years with no issues. I've also used it with very sensitive scaleless catfish with no noticable effect. Maybe I'm just lucky. Could you explain or direct me to some information regarding why its not recommended? I cant seem to find any information about it. I appreciate learning as much as I can involving my amphibians.

I by no means was suggesting to take short cuts or using "chemicals" to manage long term water quality as a habit, theres no replacing biology. I suggested the product because I suspected and it looked to me to be cloudiness due to sand particulates and not a bacterial bloom. Thats also why I suggested testing the water a half hour after feeding to see if there is any ammonia/nitrite spike at all. If not it doesnt seem feasable to be having bacterial blooms with no excess nitrogen (ammonia/nitrite) products. How could this be happening?