Axolotl tank setup
- Thread starter Tom the bomb
- Start date
If your having temp it’ll be because of the filter adding heat from the electric motor
Or the lid is not allowing it to vapor coool
why im
Saying sponge filter adds air only no heat Lid less tank allows for the heat to evaporate off
Or the lid is not allowing it to vapor coool
why im
Saying sponge filter adds air only no heat Lid less tank allows for the heat to evaporate off
Just plastic decor
I’d stay away from sand
They will eat it and take the chance of it gettin sick
Not to meantion way easier to clean
Paint the underside of the tank black of anything
I’d stay away from sand
They will eat it and take the chance of it gettin sick
Not to meantion way easier to clean
Paint the underside of the tank black of anything
Second on the bare bottom. Painting is up to you I've never done any of mine, they all end up "mirror" like when viewed through every angle other than though the waters surface thanks to the distortion.
Being able to see under is also nice for injury/illness diagnosis as well as overall tank cleanliness.
Speaking of, cleaning bare bottom is so easy you'll probably want to do it every day!
Being able to see under is also nice for injury/illness diagnosis as well as overall tank cleanliness.
Speaking of, cleaning bare bottom is so easy you'll probably want to do it every day!
Low light hardy plants, I'd go with anubis, haven't killed one yet. Have grown them under every cheap light out there, even not ment for plants, just not very rapidly.
My profile pic is my daughters axolotl, Doja. He is about 3 years old now and outgrowing his 29g tank and about to be moved to a 55g tank.
In my area a chiller is a MUST!
He is in a bare bottom 29g tank.
Filtration is a sponge filter and a corner filter alternately rinsed out in tank water every other water change.
He gets 100% water change every 2 weeks which is the MAX we can push the water changes since we have a bare bottom tank. We are on well water so we have never had to do any water treatments.
A good hiding place is a must! Sometimes he likes to hide and sometimes he likes to come out and be social.
His primary diet is earth worms with some other assorted treats now and again. When he was small we had to cut the earth worms into quarters... then halves... now he eats them whole. The axolotl pellets didn't work well for us. Doja likes his earth worms dangled above his head so he can snatch them out of the tweezers... yeah, he is spoiled.
We have a Eheim 25w heater in his tank that we turn down all the way and keeps the temperature above 58 degrees. The chiller cuts in at 65 degrees to start cooling.
I found the 1/4 hp chiller on Craigslist for $150. The 1/4hp is about right as it is not able to change the water temperature too rapidly. a 1/10hp would probably be fine for a 15g tank.
I would recommend starting without any plants and minimal decor. As you get accustomed to axolotl parenting and it grows and gets stronger you can fill in the tank a bit. The cleaner you keep the tank the healthier your axolotl will be!
I would plan on up-sizing your 15g tank when your axolotl is 6 months to a year old. The smaller the tank the more often you will need to do water changes!
My number one piece of advice is to keep up on regular water changes! Plan on weekly water changes! We use a 25' hose that goes into a venturi attached to our laundry room sink which makes it easy to drain and fill the tank. I would never have the patients to do so many water changes myself but it has done a good job of teaching my daughter responsibility!
In my area a chiller is a MUST!
He is in a bare bottom 29g tank.
Filtration is a sponge filter and a corner filter alternately rinsed out in tank water every other water change.
He gets 100% water change every 2 weeks which is the MAX we can push the water changes since we have a bare bottom tank. We are on well water so we have never had to do any water treatments.
A good hiding place is a must! Sometimes he likes to hide and sometimes he likes to come out and be social.
His primary diet is earth worms with some other assorted treats now and again. When he was small we had to cut the earth worms into quarters... then halves... now he eats them whole. The axolotl pellets didn't work well for us. Doja likes his earth worms dangled above his head so he can snatch them out of the tweezers... yeah, he is spoiled.
We have a Eheim 25w heater in his tank that we turn down all the way and keeps the temperature above 58 degrees. The chiller cuts in at 65 degrees to start cooling.
I found the 1/4 hp chiller on Craigslist for $150. The 1/4hp is about right as it is not able to change the water temperature too rapidly. a 1/10hp would probably be fine for a 15g tank.
I would recommend starting without any plants and minimal decor. As you get accustomed to axolotl parenting and it grows and gets stronger you can fill in the tank a bit. The cleaner you keep the tank the healthier your axolotl will be!
I would plan on up-sizing your 15g tank when your axolotl is 6 months to a year old. The smaller the tank the more often you will need to do water changes!
My number one piece of advice is to keep up on regular water changes! Plan on weekly water changes! We use a 25' hose that goes into a venturi attached to our laundry room sink which makes it easy to drain and fill the tank. I would never have the patients to do so many water changes myself but it has done a good job of teaching my daughter responsibility!
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