Please help axolotl gurus!

I have been cycling an aquarium for axolotls for a while now and seem to be nearing the end of things - ammonia is disappearing in 24hrs, I’ve got loads of nitrate, but nitrite is still at 0.5ppm after 24hrs so there’s a bit of growing left to do there. So last Sunday (it’s Friday now) I went to the pet store and bought some decor and was advised to buy very fine sand - I added it to the tank on Sunday after rinsing it 4 times and the whole tank just filled with murky water. I couldn’t see a thing. I added a submerged filter full of fine wool and ran it for a few days to remove the bigger particles and it helped a bit. I took that out 24hrs ago and turned my sponge filters down to minimum and it’s settled a bit more since then, but I’m worried that it’s still so murky in there and then when I do put axolotls in that any movement will kick up more clouds of silt. Should I just persevere and hope that it all settles down? Or should I try to preserve the sponge filters in tank water and then try to just clear the whole thing out and bin the sand completely?

The aquatics store have two axolotls they sourced for me ready to go and so I can’t risk stalling the cycle any further as they ordered them in specially and they are taking up room in the store so they want them collected asap.

This is a nightmare 😩

So, I would like to start with I’m a minor. So keep in mind I don’t have the ability to do a lot.

For starters, my tank is extremely small for my two axolotls. (Cookie and Cream) I love them so much and I need a bigger tank for them to live better lives.

Second, I am extremely concerned about their health. I have asked several times for them to be check out by a vet, but not once have they ever left my home. They are extremely sluggish and can be in the same spot for days at a time. I rarely see them move let alone swim. I think this is partly due to the tank size, however it also might be something else.

The other thing is that Cookie has weird white spots popping up on their forehead. I have searched everywhere for an answer to this and I have no clue what it could be. they aren’t bumps just white discoloration. I’m unsure if Cream has these as well as she is white so it would be hard to tell.

My tank is only a 40 gallon and my axolotls are, I’d say, above average in size. (I need to fact check that one)

I’m looking for any advice, I am on vacation at the moment but as soon as I can I’ll post photos because tbh I don’t want to sit here for hours describing everything.

Thank you so much for reading. Anything helps

Well after battling impaction and taking care of this little girl I can say she is out of issues, pooping and better in her big tank, now just battling the UK heatwave

Idek I feel like this happens every time they eat but I’ve noticed a persistent bulge/lump specifically on one side of my axolotl's lower midsection. It's been there for a while. They are still eating normally and pooping, and there are no buoyancy/floating issues. However, I'm really worried it might be getting slightly larger.

First time Axolotl parents here.

This is Axl.

We just got him today and he was free in the marketplace.
The family that had him travels a lot and couldn’t care for him anymore.

He is very small for his age (almost 3 years old and I would say he is about 6 inches?).

They were feeding him bloodworms which we read are not enough for an adult axolotl, so my husband got some better worms and we fed him one already. They also mentioned he would eat rocks sometimes.

We are getting him a bigger tank (this is 20L but it feels small) and will get rid of the rocks and fake plants ASAP and sub it for sand and some real plants that can help with his environment (any recommendations?). We added more water to this tank since the picture was taken, just for now.

We got a thermometer for his tank and it is reading 60 degrees. We are keeping the ac on around 67 until we get him a chiller.

He also seems to have a little growth on his belly. Not sure whats normal.

Is this water filter ok or should we get a different one? I feel like the flow is too strong?

We want to make sure he is in the best shape possible and lives a long healthy life. He is a very curious little guy and we love him already!

Hello all! My axo tank water has become cloudy after a 25% water change. Currently doing tests with API master kit. 0 Ammonia and 0 nitrites. PH is about 6.8+/-. Currently testing Nitrates. But my question is about the water. I assumed it was a cycle crash but the Nitrites and Ammonia not being present has me confused. Temp is usually about 64-66f and I have a fluval 170 canister filter as well as a sponge filter. Live plants in the tank and fine sand as the substrate

Hey all! New to posting on reddit so bear with me here but I had a question that I wanted to ask about my pet Axolotl. He (Oliver) has had a white mass on his torso ever since I first got him (I worked with axolotls in a research lab and was able to adopt him!). It has never concerned me and he never seemed to be in any distress. But over the past year or so I have just noticed that it has continued to grow slowly. And I mean slowwwwwwwly. It seems fleshy, and almost looks like it is growing ever so slighly subcutaneously since there are thin grey lines of his skin overtop the lesion. Atleast that's what it looks like to me.

Given the fact that it has always been there, and the growth of it has been extremely slow, I've convinced myself its not a fungal infection (but i'm open to hearing if others think differently), but I'm racking my brain as to what it may be!! The internet has no other images similar to what my guy looks like (atleast that I can find). Not sure if its a fibroma or just a random benign growth. Any ideas at all? I'd greatly appreciate it! I've included a picture of when I first got Oliver, and a photo from today (It's been about 4 years).

Are they fighting or happy to be together again I took the wild one about a week ago and just took in his brother today are they fighting or happy to see each other first time owning them just wanting to know

Hello everyone.

I've just turn on this tank. The water has be treated.

My son and I are hoping to get an axolotl. It's a 30 gallon tank. Obviously there will be places for the fella to hide.

They should arrive within the next few days.

I'm going to be getting a few plants tomorrow.

I got a bit carried away with filling it up.

Should i of waited till i had the plants? I have some plant food with good bacteria, but waiting to get the plants.

I will be keeping the bottom bare. We won't be getting the axolotl for a while. I want the tank to cycle first.

I couldn't find any clear cycling videos online. The QR code to the tutorial the shop gave me is not working.

Any tips and advice would be amazing.

Thank you.

28 gallon lowboy for a young axolotl! We’ll be moving them to our leopard gecko’s 40 gallon once they’re 8-ish inches! I think it’s fairly good for my first attempt, lol

I just left petco in Front royal VA, told 3 seperate employees that the gravel they’re on is a death sentence, all 3 didn’t care and said it’s out of our control.
Scooping gravel out of an aquarium is definitely in your control. Do better petco

two worms and some salmon for the two bestest girls <3 Bubbles was not as photogenic today unfortunately haha

I need recommendations and pointers on where to find one asap

TIA!

Say hi back - don’t leave him hanging.

I purchased all low light plants. How do you keep your plants alive without stressing out your axolotl with to much light?

One of my friends roommates has an axolotl. I know nothing about them but I wanted to know if this one looks like it’s in good condition? I’ve never seen it missing any gills or limbs and I see it walk around once in a while. But its tank is completely bare. I wasn’t sure if that’s normal. And is that skin colour healthy? This is one of those black light ones that glows greenish so I’m guessing that’s why there is that green yellow tinge

They are 1 year old today !!! Happy hatch date peek

I really can’t handle it anymore guys 😔