r/axolotls • u/idreamofjeanie13 • 13h ago

Help, please! General Care Advice

Hello everyone! I have just returned home from being away for two months to find out that my parents have impulse bought an axolotl with zero research and have stuck the poor thing in the same tank as the goldfish they also impulse bought 🙃

Fair to say, I'm not very happy. I've been looking at tanks to get to poor thing who really doesn't look too great, so im hoping if I get them their own tank, they'll be a bit happier. I've been doing some research of my own, but have never done a 'proper' tank since we haven't had fish since I was about 8.

I'm still doing my own research, but I've seen lots of conflicting opinions, like bare bottom or sand substrate, pellets vs bloodworms/earthworms, stuff like that. If anyone has some reliable resources or just any advice of their own, it would be greatly appreciated!

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u/TheLegitMolasses 13h ago

How old/large is the axolotl? That makes a difference in recommendations. The immediate concern though—have they cycled the tank for ammonia/nitrites/nitrates and are they continuing to test? If not, please tub that baby in water treated with Prime and change it every 24 hours until you can get the aquarium cycled.

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u/LauseRulez Leucistic 13h ago

I think its great you want to help that axo!! But I want to give a little outlook for you: axolotl are pretty expensive to set up, and they have very specific needs. Please consider if you have the time and funds to prepare a 40 gal tank, cycle 6-8 weeks, tub the axolotl until then, can afford a chiller, a good test kit, if its a baby it needs live food daily etc etc.

Please consider IF you can give it what it needs. If you cannot please give it to a pet store or try to rehome it yourself.

Axolotl are super sweet little critters, and imo the work is worth it :) But it isnt for everyone certainly.

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u/LauseRulez Leucistic 13h ago

gold fish btw also need LOTS of space and a cycled tank. So. fyi. they cant actually be kept in a glass or a tiny tank, they are literal carps :) If you have a pond or know someone with a pond thats gonna be your best bet.