|
Water Dragon
(Axolotl) Care Sheet
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 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 Dragons 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 tank that has gravel in it, do
not buy the Water Dragon because it probably eat some of the gravel and it will probably die.
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 if kept 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.
That is why Tropical Fish Store is the worst place to
buy a Water Dragon.
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. The smallest 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 (you can buy here). Just request a qoute on the "How To Order" page
on the left side of this website.
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 (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 a excellent 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.
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. 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 1 year old can be housed together.
Water Dragons (Axolotl) will grow out of this cannibalistic stage when they reach 1 year old. 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 Dragon 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 will last one year. After one year the best way to put 2 adults Water Dragons 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) like fast moving water?
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
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
 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 will 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. Next 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 Homedepot or any other home center. It is better to feed too little than too much.
How much food do I feed my Water Dragon?
This amount will change over time, for now start feeding for 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). 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 Homedepot 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 Homedepot 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.
Would a Water Dragon (Axolotl) be suited for a garden pond?
It really depends on the temperature of your water. If your pond temperature stays below
72° and above freezing and does not ice over during the wintertime; then it is possible to put (axolotls) Water Dragons
in your pond.
I do not recommend
that you put Koi or any other type of Goldfish in your pond, because Koi and Goldfish grow much bigger than the (axolotl)
Water Dragon and they may bully or even look at your Water Dragon as a possible food source. What I recommend
is that you put minnows in your pond. Minnows our excellent food source for your Water Dragons and very entertaining to watch
because minnows like to school together.
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 live food. If he does not eat the live food the first time then try again in 2-3 hours.
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 teaspoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every day and add one teaspoon of API Aquarium
Salt for each water change. It is better to
use too little Salt that too much.
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. It is better to use too little Salt that too
much.
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 Homedepot 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 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 teaspoon of Epsom salt/API Aquarium Salt treatment. It is better to use too little Salt that too much. 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
teaspoon of Epsom salt/API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every day and add salt for each water change. It is better to use
too little Salt that too much. 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.
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 teaspoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every two days and add a teaspoon of salt for
each water change. It is better to use too little Salt that too much.
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.
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 teaspoon of API Aquarium Salt. Change the water every two days and add
salt for each water change. It is better to use too little salt than to use than too much.
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 PH.D. 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 PH.D. 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
|
