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The Possession of Water Dragons
(Axolotls) is illegal in the State of California CA and New Jersey NJ.
You
can download, post on the Internet (Facebook), and Publish any of Buy-Axolotls.com content and images.
No permission is needed as long as it states that Buy-Axolotls.com is the source of the content and images.
Enjoy,
Philip Vena
75 degree water temperature is too hot and will kill your Water Dragon (Axolotl)
Is a Water Dragon
(Axolotl) a good college pet? If you live in a dorm you may want to take a look at a Water Dragon (Axolotl) for a pet. Water
Dragons are one of the best and most enjoyable aquatic amphibians. They live their entire life in water (100%). Water Dragons
are eye-catching in appearance; they are hardy and very entertaining too, which makes it one of the most incredible pets in
the world today. A Water Dragons has a bizarre appearance and facial expression has no equal in the animal world. Water Dragons
look like an alien and have a very bold personality, readily to learn to take food from fingers or forceps. They are
easy to keep and are ideal for a 10 gallon aquarium. Providing you maintain the proper water conditions and temperature
they can live up to 15 years. Water Dragons are very popular right now as an "unusual pet" and are
a lot more interesting and fun than just having fish in an Aquarium. Water Dragons do not bite, have no claws and do
not require safety measures as some other pets do. A Water Dragon requires about the same amount of attention as a goldfish,
however, they are a lot more interesting and a lot more intelligent than a goldfish is. Watching them eat is also pretty
cool too. Caring for a Water Dragon is a great experience, one you just might enjoy.
Is a Tropical Fish Store a good
place to buy a Water Dragon? A Tropical Fish Store is the worst place to buy a Water Dragon. When you look in the tank
where the Water Dragon are displayed you will see a tank filled with gravel. Gravel is the number one killer of Water Dragons
because they will eat it and they will die from eating it. If you see a Water Dragons in a tank that
has gravel in it, do not buy that Water Dragon because it will probably die from eating the gravel. Tropical fish
store are selling tropical fish so they need to keep the temperature high at 75 degree. A Water Dragon will not survive
for long at a temperature of 75° degree. The maximum temperature a Water Dragon will survive at is 72° degree.
Tropical fish stores are notorious for bringing in all kinds of different viruses that will kill Water Dragons.
These stores are buying thousands of tropical fish from countries like “China”.
China brings in
a number of new viruses and the number keeps increasing each year; and so does the death total.
You
will also see Water Dragons in community tanks (with other fish), without any gill sacks around their head. The
reason for this is that the fish are eating the gill sacks around the Water Dragon head, because the fish are thinking that it
is food.
Why do you see Water Dragon with missing limbs? If you see Water Dragons that has
missing limbs, do not buy them because they are cannibalistic, and will be cannibalistic for the rest of their life. You will
not be able to put it what any other Water Dragon because cannibalism is learned and remember behavior. Finally, if
you're looking for a “Healthy Water Dragon”, you will not find one at a Tropical Fish Store.
What do I need to know before I buy a Water Dragon
(Axolotl) from the Internet? First of all, the price should not be your only consideration when buying a Water Dragon (axolotl) from the Internet.
Your first consideration should be that your Water Dragon is going to be your pet for very long time; up to 15 years,
so you need to make the right choice. Most low-priced amateur breeders out there on the Internet are inbreeding (brother
to sister). These Water Dragons will have numerous genetic defects because they are inbreed (brother to
sister). What you will see a Water Dragon with a crooked spinal cord and or even one with four back legs; these are
just some of the signs that will show you that this Water Dragons has been inbreed (brother to sister).
We at Buy-Axolotls do not inbreed (brother to sister). We take the time to outbreed our stock with only the best hand-picked Water Dragons
in the United States. We outbreed our Water Dragons to prevent any genetic weakness that can occur from multiple generations
of inbreeding (brother to sister) and also line breeding. We continue to maintain the highest integrity of our Water Dragons
while focusing on their long term health.
Another issue is that the low-priced amateur breeders will
house all of their juvenile Water Dragons are together during the cannibalistic stage, which last one year. During
this time, all of their juveniles Water Dragons will be cannibalistic towards each other. Water Dragons do have regenerative
capability. However, should your buy a Water Dragon that has been cannibalized multiple times on the same leg; that leg will
grow back "DEFORMED". Once a Water Dragon has learned to be cannibalistic towards other Water Dragons; it will remain
cannibalistic for rest of its life, and you will unable to put this Water Dragon with other Water Dragons. The low-priced
amateur breeders do not have the tank space needed separate their juveniles Water Dragons during the cannibalistic stages.
We at Buy-Axolotls.com always separate all our juvenile Water Dragons during the cannibalistic stage. When you
receive your Water Dragon from Buy-Axolotls.com they will have a perfect; tale, legs, feet, and toes.
When buying a Water Dragons (Axolotl) from the
Internet you need to know who you are buying from. There are websites that do not have any “No Contact Information”
no Name, no Address and no Phone Number. All they give you is an email address or just a cell phone number. You need
to avoid these sellers because they are usually a scam. When you don't know who you are buying from; then
it is time to for you to find an honest website. A big problem is when a website allows people to use FALSE names; so you do not know their real identity.
If a person only wants to communicate to you via e-mail; it is probably a scam. If these people are not willing to give you
their Real Name, Real Address and Real
Phone Number; then you need to avoid these sellers.
Another Scam is when
a person does not post the size of the Water Dragon that you are buying. This Scam allow the seller to send you any size Water
Dragon i.e. a Water Dragon egg, or a 1/4 size or even 1/2 in size Water Dragon. These sizes of Water Dragon are almost
impossible for most pet owners to care for and the Water Dragons you purchase will probably die. We at Buy-Axolotls.com do
not sell a 1 or 2 inch size long Water Dragon because they are not hardy enough; (more likely to get sick) and too difficult for
you to care for, also the buyer is at a greater risk of getting a Dead on Arrival shipment. Water Dragon we
sell is 3 inches long or larger. At this size they are easy to care for and are eating 1/4 inch Axolotl Pellets (that
you can buy on this site). Just request a quote on the "How To Order" page on the left side of this website and
we will send you a quote.
Also at Buy-Axolotls.com states the size of Water Dragon you are buying. The size is very important
because the larger a Water Dragon is the harder it is; (the more likely your Water Dragon will not get sick).
Another serious problem is when you see pictures of Water Dragons from the low-cost amateur
breeder; these pictures are of a "Near Perfect Full Size Adult" Water Dragon ("A" Stock). This is false advertising because what they will ship you
is a Juvenile Water Dragon that is 1 or 2 or 3 inches long; which will not be near-perfect ("A" Stock) as they show
in their picture. Instead you will be getting “C" Stock, "D" Stock or
even DEFORMED "F" Stock. Most low-cost amateur breeders do not put their name on these pictures.
So, you do not know if they really have the Water Dragons or just downloaded the Water Dragon picture off the Internet and
are planning to scam you. In either case you need to find yourself an honest person and avoid these sellers.
You should take the time
to find yourself an honest seller. There are lots of people on the Internet looking to make some fast money. There is
an old saying; If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is...
For the past nine years we at Buy-Axolotls.com;
have made it easy for prospects and customers to contact us. Our REAL;Name, Address, Phone Number,
and Email Addresses are located at the bottom of each page on our website. We also have a “Contact Us” page on
our website, on our “Contact Us” page you can ask questions via email and get an answer within one business day.
We at Buy-Axolotls.com carry a full line of Water Dragons inventory during the entire year. Unlike most of the low-priced
amateur breeder; are here today; gone
tomorrow; they will quickly sell out of their Water Dragons supply during the year. Then it will make it
next to impossible to find the amateur breeder for any support that you may need.
When you buy a Water Dragon from
a low-priced amateur breeder, you can expect to get little to no support. We at Buy-Axolotls.com receive a lot of phone calls
and e-mails from people who purchased Water Dragons from these low-priced amateur breeders asking for support. Most of
these low-priced amateur breeders are breeding about 35 different kinds of species of Newts and Salamanders. When you breed
35 species this makes it is next to impossible to be an expert at all 35 species of Newts and Salamanders. For the
past nine years we at Buy-Axolotls.com only breed Water Dragons; that is it, that is all we
do. We have become an excellence source of information pertaining to the care and feeding of Water Dragons. We
at Buy-Axolotls.com freely share our information on our web site. You are welcome to download any content or images that you
need from Buy-Axolotl.com website.
When it comes to guarantees; nearly all of the low-priced amateur breeders do
not guarantee live delivery if your shipment is delivered late. When this happens, then you are personally responsible
for all of the replacement costs including the cost all dead Water Dragons and all shipping charges as well. For all domestic
shipping, we at Buy-Axolotls.com guarantee live delivery no matter how late your shipment arrives. Should you have a dead on arrival
Water Dragon we at Buy-Axolotls.com, will replace all dead Water Dragons for free, and ship your new Water Dragons at
no additional charge to all USA customers.
So what do you get when you buy a Water Dragon from Buy-Axolotls.com? First of all, you are buying a Water Dragon that has no genetic defects, we outbreed
out Water Dragons (we do not inbreed from brother to sister). Our pictures of our Water Dragon are what you are buying. No
false advertising at Buy-Axolotls.com, we don't show you a "A" Stock picture and the ship you a "C"
or "D" or even DEFORMED "F" Stock Water Dragon. Secondly, you will receive a Water Dragon that
has not been cannibalized by other Water Dragons and will have perfect limbs; tale, legs, feet and toes. You will also receive
at no charge the industries best support for Water Dragons; either by phone or e-mail. Buy-Axolotls.com will respond to your
questions within one business day. For all domestic shipments Buy-Axolotls.com DOA guarantee is the best in the industry.
We guarantee against any (DOA) dead on arrival; no matter how late the delivery is made. Should you have a DOA, we will ship
you a new Water Dragons for free; and the shipping charges will also be free to all USA customers. We at Buy-Axolotls.com
want to take the worry out of buying Water Dragons from the Internet. We want our customers to be happy with your new Water
Dragons. Water Dragons is truly an incredible creature. We want you to enjoy your Water Dragon trouble free for many years.
I saw some
Water Dragons at a pet store and some of them had their legs bitten off, are they okay to buy? I would not recommend that you buy these Water Dragons because the breeder has kept them
together during the cannibalistic period. Once a Water Dragons has learned to be cannibalistic towards
each other, they will always be cabalistic and you could never put them together with any other Water Dragon. Cannibalism
is learned and remembered behavior with Water Dragons.
What is the best location for a Water Dragons (Axolotl) tank?When choosing a location for your Water Dragons
(Axolotl) tank you need to take into consideration some very important factors. First being that the water temperature must
remain below 72° any higher and your Water Dragons (Axolotl) will die. You need to keep your tank away from direct sunlight;
heat registers because they are a source of heat. Do not use a tank light because that is another source of heat. The perfect
environment for your Water Dragons (Axolotl) is a basement (below ground level) especially if it is not heated. If you do
not have a basement; I would recommend that you use a non-contact laser thermometer to help you find the coldest location
in your house, apartment, or dormitory.
What preparation do I need to do before I get my Water Dragon (Axolotl)? I recommend that you set up your tank at least one week before ordering any Water Dragon (Axolotl). This will
allow you to see if you can of maintaining the proper environment for your Water Dragon (Axolotl). First fill your tank
with fresh tap water, after 24 hours the chlorine will be out of the water because the chlorine turn into a gas. Once
the chlorine is out of your tank water, it is now safe for the fish to breathe the water. You need
to add at least quantity 10 Rosy Minnows in your tank. You can buy them at that Petsmart for about $.15 each. If minnows
are illegal in the state that you live in, then you can test your tank by buying feeder fish at Petsmart or Petco. These feeder
fish are usually small goldfish. Or you can buy some Guppies at your local Tropical Fish store. This will test your tank
to see if it's free from any chemical contamination. If your Rosy Minnows die, then you have a chemical contamination
problem. You need to find the source of this contamination and correct it. Then test again with more Rosy Minnows. Most of
the time the chemical contamination is coming from a “used” 5 gallon bucket, these buckets are used with cleaning
solutions and are chemically contaminated. What I recommend is that you buy a new 5 gallon bucket. It’s also important
that the water temperature is below 72° for a least one week. If you are having problems staying below 72°
I recommend that you try putting your tank on the floor. Some of the heat sources that you need to avoid are direct sunlight,
heat registers and fish tank lights, all produce heat and will raise the temperature in your tank. If you cannot
maintain a temperature of below 72° I do not recommend that you buy a Water Dragon (Axolotl).
What is the shipping cost? When you pay a $60 Flat Fee for shipping at Buy-Axolotls.com
you are buying Next Day Air shipping and you can ship up to quantity two (2) Water Dragons for the same price. Next Day Air
shipping is the best way to ship a live Water Dragon (Axolotl) because it has the lowest risk for your Water Dragon (Axolotl)
will NOT be Dead on Arrival or Dying when it arrives. When you use 3 to 7 days delivery service; the Water Dragon (Axolotl)
is without any food and light and being bounced around like a basketball for 3 to 7 days. When you ship a via UPS your Water
Dragon (Axolotl) will be in transit for 5 to 7 days and the likelihood that you will have a Dead on Arrival or Dying on arrival
is very high. When ship United States Postal Service; Priority Mail you will receive your Water Dragon (Axolotl) in three
or more days, again the likelihood of you receive a Dead on Arrival or Dying on arrival is also very high. If you want to
buy a healthy Water Dragon (Axolotl) then you need to avoid these low cost carriers because of their long transit time. These
carriers should not be allowed to accept any live animals for a 3 to 7 day delivery. It is extremely cruel way
to die and should be against the law. How would you like to be in a box for up to seven days with no food or light and being
bounced around; if it was you; do you think you would survive?
What about the cannibalistic stage? Juvenile Water Dragons (axolotl) younger than 1 year old will be cannibalistic
towards each other, so it is best raise them in separate tanks or use a tank divider. Adults that are over 6 inches long they
can be housed together. Water Dragons (Axolotl) will grow out of this cannibalistic stage when they reach 6 inches long. However,
if you have a Juvenile that has been raised with other Juveniles; then they will be cannibalistic for the rest of its life
(this is a learned and remembered behavior). Of course, if a leg or tail gets bitten off by a tank mate, a Water Dragon (axolotl)
can usually regenerate the missing part in about 10 weeks.
What is the best way to separate
Water Dragons during the cannibalistic stage? I recommend that you
use an aquarium divider. These dividers are inexpensive and you can buy them at PetSmart , Petco and your local tropical fish
store. You need to keep the water level at least 1 inch below your tank divider this way your Water Dragons cannot climb into
the other partition. You can also put your Water Dragons into 2 separate tanks.
How do I put 2 adults Water Dragons
together after the cannibalistic stage? The cannibalistic stage last one
year. After one year the best way to put 2 adults together is to feed your Water Dragon either a Minnow
or a Worm. After they have completely eaten the food, then put the together. If you see any aggression behavior by either
Water Dragon then you need to separate them for another month and try this procedure again. They will grow out the cannibalistic
stage; it’s just a matter of time.
The best way to separate a Water Dragon that is biting another Water Dragon leg,
is to pick up both Water Dragons and take the out of the water. This will startled the biter and make him release his bite.
75
degree water temperature is too hot and will kill your Water Dragon (Axolotl) As you look for Water Dragon (Axolotl) care instructions on the internet, you will see some
web sites that state that it’s okay to for a Water Dragon (Axolotls) to be at a maintained temperature of 75 degrees.
Water Dragons can not and should not be kept at 75 degree temperature. This temperature is too high and will stress out your
Water Dragon and he will probably DIE. Water Dragons are NOT tropical fish; they are cold blooded amphibian so it is better
to maintain a temperature lower than 72 degrees. These web sites that post this 75 degrees temperature should know better.
They are putting the health of your Water Dragon at risk.
Please maintain your water temperature Below 72 degrees. It is better to keep your Water Dragon (Axolotls) at
a low temperature that it is keeping them at a high temperature.
What
size fish tank should I buy? 10 gallon fish tank is good size for Water Dragon (Axolotl).
How high should I keep the water level in my tank? Water Dragon (Axolotl) are air breathers and do not like to go a long way to take a
breath of air. You should only fill your tank with 11 inches of water.
How many Water Dragons (Axolotls) can I have in a 10 gallon fish tank? If you have an Adult Water Dragon (Axolotl) you can
have two Axolotls in a 10 gallon tank. Water Dragons are social animals so you need to have at least Qty 2 in a 10 gallon
fish tank. If it is not possible to have Qty 2 Water Dragon then put a feeder fish in with your Water Dragon.
It is okay to mix adult females and males Water Dragons (Axolotls) together. Adult males Water Dragon should not be
aggressive to other males or other females. Females have no problems with other females or males.
What kind of filter is best for
a Water Dragon (axolotl) tank? You
do not need a filter if you do 100% water changes 1 per week. Water Dragons breathe the air not the water. However, if you still want to buy a filter, buy a sponge filter they are
not expensive and easy to clean.
Even
if you have a filter in your tank you need do at least a 30% to 100% water change once per week; It is better to change too much water than too little. Whether or not you have a filter
you will need to do water changes every week. By doing water changes every week this will help stop the build up of ammonia
in your tank. The ammonia is coming from your Water Dragon’s urine and if left at high levels; it will kill your axolotl.
Does a Water Dragon (Axolotl) dislike fast moving water? Yes Water Dragons (Axolotls) do not like fast moving water
(water currents). This will cause stress to your Water Dragons (Axolotls) and you will see evidence of this stress when your
Water Dragon Tail starts to Curl.
What about a Tank light? Water Dragons (Axolotls) do not need a tank light. We recommended that you do not use a tank
light because it could be a possible source of heat. Also Water Dragons do not like bright lights. Make sure that your
tank will not have any direct sun light through out the day. Also do not use any black light or UV light for long periods
of time because it could damage your eyesight of your Water Dragons.
What about a tank hood? Water Dragons (Axolotls) do not need tank hood because their legs are incapable of climbing
out of the tank. However it is a good idea to use a tank hood because it will be a barrier for things that could get in your
tank.
Do I need a heater? No you do not need a heater; room
temperature should be fine as long as it does not go above 72°. The temperature range for a Water Dragon (axolotl) is
below 72° and higher than 57°. Water Dragons like cold or temperatures rather than hot temperatures. Cold temperatures
will just slow down the Water Dragon’s metabolism while high temperatures will cause stress to your Water Dragon.
If you cannot maintain below 72 degrees; Then you can either Buy a "Aquarium Water Chiller",
look on eBay, craigslist or just Google "Aquarium Water Chiller for sale"
or you can;
You can Make(DYI) a "Aquarium Water Chiller", to use during the
hot summer months. Making a low cost Water Chiller; just click the link below:
1)- Link for DIY - Water Chiller
2)- Link for DIY - Water Chiller
3)- Link for DIY - Water Chiller
Or you can use an aquarium cooling fan;
Just Goggle "aquarium cooling fan"
Does a Water
Dragon (Axolotl) need a hiding place? Water Dragons (Axolotls) do need a hiding
place. I use a PVC 4" inch size pipe that has been cut in half the long way so that it is about 6"- 8"
inches long. I like using PVC pipe because there is no paint on it.

What
is better than sand or gravel to use on the bottom of my tank? I recommend
that you use Slate. Slate is a natural stone that comes in many different colors. You can buy it at your local home centers.
You can also use Slate to make attractive terraces and hiding place in your tank. Just remember to remove any of the sharp
edges on the Slate so that your Water Dragon can not get injure. By using Slate you can make a very attractive tank
without the danger of your Water Dragon dying from eating gravel or too much sand. Using Slate will make cleaning your tank
easier; when you siphon the waste and old food off the bottom of your tank, you will not siphon any sand or any gravel out
of your tank.
When you use Slate to design the bottom of the tank you can include a terrace, Water Dragon
hiding place and pots where the plastic plants can be put in. To glue your Slate together you will need to buy 100% silicone
rubber sealant clear color; and make sure that it states on the back of the tube; that it is ”safe for food contact”. I recommend
a drying time of 72 hours. You will also need to buy or rent a tile cutter to cut out your design. You can find them at your
local Home Center. Make sure that there are no sharp edges that a Water Dragon can not get injure. When you are done
with your design; you will have a great home for your Water Dragon. It will be very easy to clean and maintain. Your design
will be very attractive too, without endangering the life of your Water Dragon, as sand and gravel do endanger the life of
your Water Dragon if eaten.
Can I use Play Sand in my Water Dragon
Tank? Yes you can use play sand. However, your Water Dragon will eat the sand and by doing so will endanger its
life. This is why I do not use and or recommend it. To clean the sand will take some time because it has a fair amount
of clay and can be quite dirty. So you need to thoroughly rinse the play sand to get the clay out. Play sand is also very
affordable.
Do Water Dragons (Axolotls) eat gravel? Yes your Water Dragons will eat sand, gravel and small river rock and they can die from
it. Water
Dragons will eat anything
they can fit in their months. I do not recommend that you use sand, gravel and small river rock in your tank. You can use Slate
or you can paint the “outside” bottom of the tank any color you want and that will be the color you will see when you look inside your tank. Do not paint
the inside of the tank. The paint colors you choose are important too. I like to use sand color paint. But it's also important to have contrasting
colors; if you have a dark color Water Dragon (black or brown) then you would want your paint color to be a light sand
color. If you have light color Water Dragons (pink, gold, or white) then you would want a dark sand color. If you both
light and dark color Water Dragons then you would want a paint color that is in the middle. Please remember only paint the
outside bottom of your tank. You can also use sand on the bottom of the tank but it makes harder to do water changes because
you will also siphon up the sand too.
How do I clean sand?
Click Here to see how to clean sand
How do I clean my tank/aquarium? You should NOT use any soaps to clean your tank, they
contain chemicals that could kill your Water Dragons. Just use clean water and a new plastic scouring pad. That is all that
you need to clean a tank. If you are using a tank that had another animal in it, then you need to use regular bleach the tank
to remove anything that may be harmful to your Water Dragon. Then give it a good rinse to get all the bleach out of the tank
and your tank it is ready to use.
How do I clean the driftwood? What I recommend that you do is to put the driftwood
in a “New Bucket” that has never had any chemicals in it like soap, etc. Then do 100% water change every day for
a week, this will wash any chemicals that may be on the driftwood. Leave the chlorine in the water. By leaving the chlorine
in your water it will kill any harmful bacteria that may also be on the driftwood. What about Water Dragons (Axolotl) Tank Mates? An important consideration for tank mates is that the Water Dragons (Axolotls) like cold water 57 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Water Dragons cannot be kept with other fish because fish like to
nip at the Water
Dragon gills.
Also a Water
Dragon will eat
any thing they can fit in their month including other smaller Water Dragons. However, you do see Water Dragons with small feeder fish; like Rosy Minnows, small Gold Fish and Guppies, but these fish are
being used as a live food source for the Water Dragon.
What about the water? Water Dragons (Axolotls) like Cold Clean Water. You can use tap water for your water changes but let the water run so that it gets as cold
as possible. You need to change water once per week and up to 100%. It is better to change too much water than too little. If your tap water is safe for you to drink then it will be safe for a Water Dragon that are 3 months or older, so you can leave
the chlorine in your water. However, if your tap water is not safe to drink then it would not be safe for your Water Dragon.
You will need to check with your local government to see how you can make your water safe for drinking, either by using
water filters and or a reverse osmosis water filter.
Water Dragons have lungs like we do and are air breathers,
unlike fish that has gills and would breathe the chlorine in the water. The chlorine will turn into a gas and be out of the
tank within 24 hrs. By leaving the chlorine in your water it will kill any harmful bacteria and fungus that may be on
the Water Dragons or in the tank.
One last point regarding chlorine, as you know swimming pools have
chlorine levels that are 1,000s of times higher than drinking water. Can you please tell me how many people have died from swimming in chlorinated pools? Please include Babies and
competitive Swimmer who swim up to 4 hrs per day in a chlorinated pool; in your total. ... And the ANSWER is 0 ... No person has ever die from swimming in a
chlorinated pool, which has chlorine levels 1,000s of times higher than drinking water; because Water Dragons and Humans are air breather and use their lungs to breath the
Air not the Water. By taking time to do water changes each week this will greatly extend the life of your Water Dragons.
How do I
do a water change? The first thing you need to do is remove the Water Dragon from the tank. You can do this by using a big net so
that your Water Dragon cannot jump out. Put the water dragon in a container that has never been contaminated by soap and any
other chemicals that may harm your Water Dragon. Make sure that this container has enough water to cover the Water Dragon
completely.
Now that your Water Dragon is out of the tank; if you have a floor drain nearby, you can use a long
siphon hose that will reach the floor drain and siphon the water into the floor drain, and will need to buy a Water
Quality Drinking
Hose to fill
your tank.
If you do not have a floor drain, you can use a new 5 gallon bucket. Buy a new 5 gallon bucket
to make sure that this bucket has never been contaminated by soap and any other chemicals that may kill your water dragon. If
you do not have a floor drain near by then you can use a 3-4 foot hose to siphon water out of the tank and into a 5 gallon
bucket. If you have a 10 gallon tank then they should take you to three trips before all the water is removed from the
tank.
In the summer; use only cold water; let it run for a minute or two, so that it gets as cold as
possible.
In the winter; if your tap water is too cold, then try to match the temperature of the water in your
tank.
Then fill your tank up using the New 5 gallon bucket. If you have no filter on your tank I recommend
that you do a 90% water change once per week.
If you have a filter on your tank you need do at least a 90% water
change once per week. It
is better to change too much water than too little. Whether or not you have a filter you will need to do water changes every week. By doing water
changes every week this will help stop the build up of ammonia in your tank. The ammonia is coming from your Water Dragon’s
urine and if left at high levels will kill your axolotl.
My water is cloudy what should I do? If you just did water change and you have Sand at the bottom of your tank, then wait 24 hours and
it should go a way. If your water is cloudy and you did not do a water change then you need to do a water change
as soon as possible. The cloudy water is from too much waste and or too much uneaten food. Your Water Dragon will live
longer if you keep the water as clean as possible.
My axolotl is not moving, is this normal? A Water
Dragon (Axolotl) will typically spend most of their time relatively motionless on the bottom of the tank. However, if you
have live food in with your Water Dragon, like a live Rosy Minnow or live worms, then their predator instinct will take over
and your Water Dragon will try to find a way to get some lunch. Water Dragons will try to catch live food is by ambushing
it, rather than chase it. We at Buy-Axolotls.com we feed our “Water Dragons floating pellets” rather than sinking
pellets. Because Water Dragons have their eyes on top of their head, they are always searching above for possible food opportunities.
When you do see your Water Dragon move it is usually because they need to get a gulp of air. Water Dragons have lungs like
us and need to come to the surface of the water in order to breathe. Water Dragon also flicks their gills from time
to time.
Are Water Dragons Eco-Friendly? Yes, Water Dragons are Eco-Friendly and have a very small carbon footprint because they do not require
the use of electricity. You do not need a tank light or filtration system (if you do weekly water changes); because of this
Water Dragons are one of the most Eco-Friendly pet.
Are Water Dragons Child Friendly? Yes, Water Dragons are completely child friendly; they do not bite, have no claws and are not
poisonous. Also Water Dragons do not breathe fire. Because of this Water Dragons do not require any safety precautions
Can
I hold my Axolotl? I don't recommend that you hold your axolotl. First of all your axolotl has a protective slime coat and by holding
him you would remove some of that protection. Also axolotl's protect themselves by doing a tail flip that turns the axolotl
90° in less than a second, if your axolotl should accidentally fall out of your hand he would probably die. The reason
for this is that the skeleton of the axolotl is very delicate because he spends his entire life in water. So any fall would
probably kill your axolotl.
How often do you feed a Water Dragon? I feed my Water Dragons 3 times per week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After 24 hrs
on; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, I remove all uneaten food and waste to prevent the growth of fungus and bacteria
in your tank. You can remove all uneaten food and waste with a net; or you can use a 1/4 siphon hose (about 4ft
long) to get all the uneaten food and waste out, by siphoning it to a bucket. You can buy the tubing/hose at Home
Depot or any other home center. It is better to feed too little than too much.
How much food do I feed my Water Dragon? The amount will change over time,
for now start feeding Qty 1 Water Dragon (3 to 4 inches Long) 2 pellets or 6 bloodworms per feeding. When you see
that they are eating all of food a majority of time you can start feeding 3 pellets or 8 bloodworms per feeding (and so on).
After 24 hours, you must remove all uneaten food and waste to prevent the growth of fungus and bacteria in your tank.
You can remove all uneaten food and waste with a small net. I find it easier to use a 1/4 siphon hose (about 4ft
long) to get all the uneaten food and waste out, by siphoning it to a bucket. You can buy the tubing/hose at Home
Depot or any other home center. It is better to feed too little than too much.
What is the best food to feed a
Water Dragon? 1)
Live – Rosy Minnows, Californian Black Worms, Red Wiggler Worms, then 2) Frozen Blood Worms, then 3) Water Dragon (Axolotl) Pellets. Use Water Dragons Pellets when you run out of live food or frozen.
You can buy Rosy Minnows at Petsmart or Petco for about 15 cents each. Before you feed Rosy Minnows you need to drain
all the water from the bag because it may be contaminated with bacteria. You should put the minnows is a separate tank/bucket
with water that has been aged for one day; with no chlorine. The best way to feed Rosy Minnows is to use a net and
catch one then use a tweezers and grab the Rosy Minnows buy its tail fin. Then present it to your Water Dragon's mouth.
He should eat it. Depending on the size Water Dragons they will eat 2-3 to Rosy Minnows per week. It is important that
the Rosy Minnows are smaller than your Water Dragon’s mouth. Also make sure that you buy healthy Rosy Minnows that are
not sick. If a minnow is sick, take it out so that it cannot be eaten. Rosy Minnows are a great food source for an Adult Water
Dragon (Axolotl)
When feeding worms like Red Wiggler Worms or Nightcrawlers Worms, you need to chop them up into bite size portions. Any leftover food needs to be removed after
24 hours to prevent bacteria in your tank. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by using a 1/4 inch
tubing about 4 ft long that you can buy at Homedepot or any other home center.
How do I feed live Rosy Minnows, frozen Bloodworms
and Axolotl Pellets to my Water Dragon (axolotl)? The best way to feed Rosy Minnows is to use a net and catch one then use a tweezers and grab
the Rosy Minnows buy its tail fin. Then present it to your Water Dragon's mouth. He should eat it. Depending on the size
Water Dragons they will eat 2-3 to Rosy Minnows per week. It is important that the Rosy Minnows are smaller than your
Water Dragon’s mouth. Also make sure that you buy healthy Rosy Minnows that are not sick. If a minnow is sick, take
it out so that it cannot be eaten. Rosy Minnows are a great food source for an Adult Water Dragon (Axolotl) Only feed one
Rosy Minnow per day and up to three times per week. Remove any uneaten food and waste after 24 hours so that your axolotl
will not eat food that is contaminated with bacteria. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by
using a 1/4 inch tubing about 4 ft long that you can buy at Homedepot or any other home center.
When feeding live
worms like Red Wiggler Worms or Nightcrawlers Worms you must make sure that the worms are bite-size. You will need
to either buy small worms or chop up large earthworms. Feed as many worms as your Water Dragon (axolotl) will eat and feed
your Water Dragon (axolotl) three times per week. Remove any uneaten food after 24 hours so that your axolotl will not eat
food that is contaminated with bacteria. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by using a 1/4 inch tubing
about 4 ft long that you can buy at Homedepot or any other home center.
For a 2-3 inch size Water Dragon it is
best to feed them frozen Bloodworms or live California Blackworms. For frozen bloodworms first let them defrost then
use a tweezers and present the blood worms in front of your Water Dragon (axolotl's) mouth. Feed as many frozen Bloodworms
or live California Blackworms as your Water Dragon (axolotl) will eat and feed your Water Dragon (axolotl) three times per
week. Remove any uneaten food after 24 hours so that your axolotl will not eat food that is contaminated with bacteria. You
can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by using a 1/4 inch tubing about 4 ft long that you can buy at Homedepot
or any other home center.
When feeding Water Dragon (axolotl) pellets you should start feeding three pellets per
Water Dragon (axolotl) three times a week. If your axolotl eats all the pellets then raise of pellets the number by one, and
so on as your Water Dragon (axolotl) gets bigger. Remove any uneaten food after 24 hours so that your axolotl will not eat
food that is contaminated with bacteria. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by using a 1/4 inch tubing
about 4 ft long that you can buy at Home Depot or any other home center.
What is the best way to feed my Water Dragon while
on vacation? I
would recommend that you buy Rosy Minnows. Petsmart and Petco sells these feeder fish for about 15 cents each. You need to
lower the tank water to be about 1 inch above your axolotl's head so that he's able to reach the feeder fish. Also
it is important that the feeder fish are smaller than your Water Dragon’s mouth.
How much waste does an axolotl produce a week and how
often must I clean it? A Water Dragon (Axolotl) produces about 2 to 3 pieces of solid waste per week. The waste can easily be cleaned
up by using a small net.
Is a Water Dragon (axolotl) disease-prone? Water Dragons are very hardy animals, however they are prone to a bacterial and fungal
problem if you do not do change the water weekly or if the water temperature is too high you will be putting your Water Dragon at risk for these
problems. I also recommend
that you keep the chlorine in the water as a preventative to kill any bacterial and fungal problem that may be on your Water
Dragon or in your tank.
My Water Dragon sick and won’t eat what should I do? Try feeding LIVE food like; Rosy Minnows or Californian
Black Worms or Red Wiggler Worms. You can buy them at Petsmart and Petco or your local tropical fish store. If your Water
Dragon is big enough you can feed them Rosy Minnows. Use a net and catch a Rosy Minnow then grab the Rosy Minnows by
the tail fin. Then present it to your Water Dragon's mouth. He should eat it. Depending on the size Water Dragons they
will eat 2-3 to Rosy Minnows per week. It is important that you buy Rosy Minnows that are smaller than your Water Dragon’s
mouth. Also make sure that you buy healthy Rosy Minnows that are not sick. If a minnow is sick you will see a sunken
belly do buy them or feed them. Rosy Minnows are a great food source for an Adult Water Dragon (Axolotl) Only feed one
Rosy Minnow per day and up to three times per week. Remove any uneaten food and waste after 24 hours so that your axolotl
will not eat food that is contaminated with bacteria. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or you can use a siphon.
A siphon is a 1/4 inch tubing about 4 ft long that you can buy at Homedepot or any other home centers. It is a Water Dragon natural instinct to grab and eat the minnow. If he does not eat the minnow the first time try again
in an hour. If he will not eat minnows then try live Californian Black Worms or live Red Wiggler Worms.
What is the best way to take the
Water Dragon (Axolotl) out of the shipping bag? The best way to remove the Water Dragon (axolotl) from the shipping bags is to use a scissors
to cut the top of the bag. Then slowly pour the water and the Water Dragon in to the tank.
I have noticed my Water Dragon
(axolotl) is floating around on top of the tank. Is there a problem? This behavior should not be a problem; most times it is just normal behavior for a Water Dragon
(Axolotl). However, if your axolotl is struggling to reach the bottom of the tank, then you may have a medical problem called
Swim Bladder. Swim Bladder is bacterial infections caused by either you have a poor water quality or the water temperature
in your tank is too high. At Buy-Axolotls.com we recommend the following treatment. First put you Water Dragon in a Sick Tank.
Buy a 2 ½ gallon tank at a local tropical fish store. At Buy-Axolotls.com we like to use the 2 ½ gallon
tank because the tank are easier to move around. Then lower the water level down to about 1 inch higher that the size of the
Water Dragon, so that the Water Dragon does not have to struggle to eat. You do not need a filter or airstone because
you will be changing the water every day. Swim Bladder disease is a type of infection.
You can use API
Aquarium Salt bath treatment. Put your Water Dragon in a 2 ½ gallon tank you can buy at a local tropical fish store. Do
not filter the water. Cold water only, put the water level 1 inch higher than the size of the Water Dragon. This will allow
the Water Dragon to reach the bottom so they can get to their food. Feed live food only; like Rosy Minnows or California Black
Worms. The standard dose one tablespoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every day and add one tablespoon
of API Aquarium Salt for each water change.
Or a medication treatment for Swim Bladder is Kanaplex; you
can only buy this on the internet. The next best medicine is to buy Jungle Fungus Eliminator or Clear, these
can be purchased at your local Petsmart or PetCo and or your tropical fish store. I do not recommend that you use Maracyn
1 and 2 because of the over use and many infections do not respond to this medicine. You need to treat daily for 3 days and
do 100% water change each day. If necessary retreat for another 3 days. Feed only live food like Rosy Minnows, live
worms or live California Blackworms during this time.
My room temperature is around 76F with no cooling what do you recommend? I would recommend that you put the tank on the
floor or buy a Water Chiller or you can make a Water Chiller (See Above for DYI Water Chiller). It should be cooler on the
floor away from any heating vents. You need to maintain a temperature of less than 72F degrees.
My Water Dragons do not move around
is some thing wrong? Water
Dragons (axolotls) do not move around too much because they are cold blooded animals. Most of the time you will see them come
to the surface to get a breath of air, Water Dragons are air breathers and have lungs like us.
How do I know if my Water Dragon (axolotl) is sick
and what do I do? It is very hard to detect a sick Water Dragon (axolotl) and usually when you do it's probably too late to help.
So the preventive is the best cure…you need to maintain cold clean water for your Water Dragon.
I had two
Water Dragon (axolotl) and now they are both dead. Can you tell me what happen? More often than not, when you have two or more Water Dragons die at the same time in the same tank the cause
is usually chemicals based. Either, you did not change the water and there was ammonia build up in your tank or chemicals
like cleaning solutions came in contact with your tank. You need to make sure that you only use clean water to clean you tank
and the 5 gallon bucket you use has never had any chemicals like cleaning solutions in it. Also make sure that you change
your water weekly to avoid the build up of ammonia that comes from your Water Dragon’s urine.
Should I use ice bottles to keep the temperature down? Please do not use ice bottles, you can kill your Water Dragon (Axolotl). Changing
temperature rapidly is an easy way to kill your Water Dragon than if you maintain a high stable temperature. Ice bottles cause the temperature to go down too
fast. After the ice melts the temperature will begin to climb back up once again. This is a very effective way to kill
your Water Dragon because the temperature changes are too rapidly.
I understand that axolotls in the cannibalistic stage
cannot be housed together. Does this apply to all types of Water Dragons (Axolotls)? Yes it does apply to all types of Water
Dragons (Axolotls). If a Water Dragons is under one year of age they are cannibalistic no matter what type they are. If your Water Dragons is less than one year old you will need to either use a tank divider or separate tank
to house these Water
Dragons.
My Water Dragon (axolotl) skin
is peeling off / shedding off. What should I do? This is normal for a Water Dragon (axolotl) peeling off / shedding off their skin. Put your Water Dragon in a 2 1/2 Gallon tank and do
water changes every day. You need to maintain the best possible water quality; Cold Clean Water
every day. Remove
any uneaten food and waste after 12 hours so that your Water Dragon will not eat food that is contaminated with bacteria. During this time feed your Water Dragon (axolotl) frozen bloodworms
until the skin has peeled off / shed off is completely.
What do I do when a Water Dragon (axolotl) gets one of its legs bitten off? The first thing you need to know about Water Dragons
(axolotl) is that if a Water Dragon is cannibalistic; this is learned and remembered behavior and that Water Dragon will be
cannibalistic for the rest of its life. (This is why at Buy Axolotls.com we separate all our Water Dragons at birth so that
they never learn this cannibalistic behavior) You need to remove the cannibalistic Water Dragon from your tank so that it
will not have contact with any other Water Dragons. Otherwise more Water Dragons will be damaged by the cannibalistic one.
It will take your Water Dragon (axolotl) and least 10 weeks to grow back the missing leg. Put your injured Water Dragon
axolotl in a sick tank. A good size for a sick is 2 1/2 gallon tank. At Buy-Axolotls.com we prefer to use 2 1/2 gallon tanks
because they are easy to move around. You will need to do at least three 100% water changes every day and use a water conditioner/stress
coat after each water change. By using the water conditioner/stress coat will help rebuild your Water Dragons slime coat over
the wounded area and help prevent infections. You should also add a teaspoon of API Aquarium Salt in the tank to keep the
bacteria level low and will help as an antifungal solution in the sick tank.
Feed your Water Dragon
(axolotl) three times per week preferably live food, if you cannot find a live food and then feed frozen blood worms.
Any uneaten food needs to be removed after 24 hours. You can remove the uneaten food with a net or siphon it out by using
a 1/4 inch tubing about 4 ft long that you can buy at Home Depot or any other home center. You do not need a filter in your
sick tank because you will be changing water (3) three times a week.
My Water Dragon (axolotl) has been floating upside down what should I do? You may have a medical problem called Swim Bladder
infection. Swim Bladder is bacterial infections caused by either you have a poor water quality or the water temperature
in your tank is too high. At Buy-Axolotls.com we recommend the following treatment. First put you Water Dragon in a Sick Tank.
Buy a 2 ½ gallon tank at a local tropical fish store. At Buy-Axolotls.com we like to use the 2 ½ gallon
tank because the tank are easier to move around. Then lower the water level down so that the Water Dragon does not have to
struggle to eat. You do not need a filter and no airstone because you are changing the water every day. Swim Bladder
disease is a type of infection. You can
use API Aquarium Salt bath treatment. Put your Water Dragon in a 2 ½ gallon tank you can buy at a local tropical fish
store. Do not filter the water. Cold water only, put the water level 1 inch higher than the size of the Water Dragon.
This will allow the Water Dragon to reach the bottom so they can get to their food. Feed live food only; like Rosy Minnows
or California Black Worms. The standard dose one tablespoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every two days and add
a tablespoon of salt for each water change.
Or a medication treatment for Swim Bladder is Kanaplex; you can only buy this on the
internet. The next best medicine is to buy Jungle Fungus Eliminator or Clear, these can be purchased at your
local Petsmart, PetCo or your tropical fish store. I do not recommend that you use Maracyn 1 and 2 because of the over use
and many infections do not respond to this medicine. You need to treat daily for 3 days and do 100% water change each day. If
necessary retreat for another 3 days. Feed only live food like Rosy minnows, earthworms or California Blackworms during
this time.
My Water Dragon (axolotl) has Bloat; what should I do? The first sign of 'bloat'
is loss of appetite which is then followed by swelling of the abdomen. There seems to be no rationale explanation for the
cause of bloat. Once a Water Dragon becomes afflicted it is often fatal. The Water Dragon is not eating must be treated immediately
or it will become incurable and die. It is not certain what this disease is, it is generally believed to be caused by a protozoal
parasite complicated by bacterial infection. The most common cause of this disease is stress and the first sign if illness
is not eating. Stress can be caused by such things as poor water quality, insufficient diet, over feeding, and a lack of hiding
places and being cannibalized by its tank mates. Other causes, that are easily remedied, are an improper diet. Prevention
is of utmost importance, and it is possibly to cure a Water Dragon if treated right away. Once you notice that your Water
Dragon has bloat, you should remove it and begin treatment immediately. Use one table spoon of Epsom salt/API Aquarium Salt
treatment. Put your Water Dragon in a 2 ½ gallon tank you can buy at a local tropical fish store. Do not use a filter.
Cold water only, put the water level 1 inch higher than the size of the Water Dragon. DO NOT FEED ANYTHING during this process.
The standard dose one tablespoon of Epsom salt/API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every day and add salt for each water change.
Another effective treatment for Bloat is Metronidazole (Emtryl or Flagyl), and Clout. The treatment should be after you do
a 100% water change to improve water quality. Change 100% water change daily. The 100% water change is very important because
it provides the best water condition possible. Leave the chlorine in the water, Water Dragons have lungs like we do and are
air breathers, unlike fish that has gills and would breathe the chlorine in the water. The chlorine will turn into a gas and
be out of the tank within 24 hrs. By leaving the chlorine in your water it will kill any harmful bacteria and fungus that
may be on the Water Dragons or in the tank.
Chytrid (Chytridiomycosis) Fungus
Cure First put your Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) in a 2 ½ gallon tank during treatment. Axolotls
can be treated by putting 0.01% of itraconazole (Generic Sporanox)
put directly in to their tank water for a 30 min bath per day for 5 days. Do not use
any filters or any activated charcoal filters during these treatments. This treatment and quarantine procedures is successful
cure for the Chytrid (Chytridiomycosis) disease.
My Water Dragon (axolotl) has a Fungus; what should I do? The cause of this Fungus is due to poor water quality and or the water temperature
is too high. Water Dragons are prone to bacterial and fungus infections. The standard treatment should be to
use Mercurochrome® at the first sign of infection. You can buy this at your local drug store or pharmacy. This
is a topical antiseptic, you will need to take you Water Dragon out of the water and apply to infected area. First
put your Water Dragon in a Sick Tank. You can buy a 2 ½ gallon tank you can buy at a local tropical fish store. Do not filter the water.
Change the water every 3 days and add one teaspoon of Mercurochrome® Medicine to the water every 3 days.
Or you can use API Aquarium
Salt bath treatment. Put your Water Dragon in a 2 ½ gallon tank you can buy at a local tropical fish store. Do
not filter the water. Cold water only, put the water level 1 inch higher than the size of the Water Dragon. This will allow
the Water Dragon to reach the bottom so they can get to their food. Feed live food only; like Rosy Minnows or California Black
Worms. Do not filter the water. The standard dose one tablespoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every two days and
add salt for each water change.
Or you can do the following treatment. First put you Water Dragon in a Sick Tank.
Buy a 2 ½ gallon tank at a local tropical fish store. At Buy-Axolotls.com we like to use the 2 ½ gallon
tank because the tank are easier to move around. Then lower the water level down so that the Water Dragon does not have to
struggle to eat. You do not need a filter and no airstone because you are changing the water every day. The best
medication for a fungus infection is Kanaplex; but you can only buy this on the internet. The next best medicine is
to buy Jungle Fungus Eliminator or Clear, these can be purchased at your local Petsmart, PetCo or your tropical
fish store. I do not recommend that you use Maracyn 1 and 2 because of the over use and many infections do not respond to
this medicine. You need to treat daily for 3 days and do 100% water change each day. If necessary retreat for another
3 days. Feed only live food like Rosy minnows, earthworms or California Blackworms during this time.
Is a
forum a good place to find information regarding the care and feeding of Water Dragons (axolotls)? A forum is the worst places to
find reliable information regarding the care and feeding of Water Dragons (axolotls). When you read these posting on a forum
you will quickly see that there are 20 different people with 20 different answers and all of them believe that they are correct.
If you want reliable information regarding the care and feeding of Water Dragons then you need to go to a website that specializes
in only Water Dragons.
I found Websites that have conflicting information regarding the care and feeding of Water
Dragon (Axolotls), what should I do? There are literally hundreds of Self-Appointed Armchair Water Dragon (Axolotl) Experts out
there on the Internet and some these guys even have impressive sounding names like PhD. If you put 100 of these so-called
Axolotl experts in one room you would have 100 different opinions. A vast majority of these internet posting are only from
book knowledge or from very limited personal experience breeding axolotls. So a good question to ask these so-called Axolotl
experts: Are you currently breeding Axolotls? If so; how long?
More importantly, you need to understand what is
motivating the writer to make these postings. Are these postings emotional? Or are they trying to scare you? Or do they
try to make you think that you need a PhD to raise an Axolotl? Could the real purpose be that they want you to join a
club or send a donation? If so, the information they are posting is probably questionable at best.
At Buy-Axolotls.com
we have over eight years of continuous practical experience in care and feeding of Water Dragons (Axolotls). The information
we provide on our website is time-tested, hands-on practical experience from working with our Water Dragons. We continue
to take a practical common sense approach in the care and feeding of our Water Dragons and hope that you will too.
If
you have any questions please email us at Sales@Buy-Axolotls.com or call
Phil Vena at 1-630-390-7070
All Military Personnel
that are currently serving in the U.S. Military we offer you 10% discount off any purchase of a Water Dragon (Axolotl).
Thank you, for all that you do.
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