Bought a 500 gal "tank"

[brewmaster15]

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Yeah I know.. not the kind of tank you thought. :)

But I needed a place for a ton of Axolotls to hang out in for a few months. Normally I would use my out door pond but the water snakes found the axolotls and cleaned it out. This will be a bit more challenging for them and I can put a lid on it..

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The intent is to have them sold by summers end.These are wild type and Leucistics.. moving forward I am only working on coppers.

[LizStreithorst]

cool idea. I know that these weird looking creatures represent a lot of work and expence.

[Second Hand Pat]

Cool use for a “kiddie pool”? Al
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Liz. They are pretty cool critters. From all that I bred we found 8 "coppers". Those 8 are staying.. they are kind of Rare. It took alot of breeding to get these.

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Every once in a while you find a steal on ebay.. $60 shipping included.. open box pool.. received it and it was literally unopenned.

[brewmaster15]

Cool use for a “kiddie pool”? Al
Pat


My daughter saw me setting it up and I told her I Finally bought her a kiddie pool... but she had to share it with the axolotls... obviously at 22 yr old she was thrilled.:)

[Second Hand Pat]

My daughter saw me setting it up and I told her I Finally bought her a kiddie pool... but she had to share it with the axolotls... obviously at 22 yr old she was thrilled.:)

Somehow that rings true Al lol
Pat

[jeep]

I've seen people keeping koi in those pools.

The axolotis are cool!

[gimaal]

I've seen people keeping koi in those pools.


Goldfish breeders use kiddie pools too.

[brewmaster15]

If I lived in a warmer state I'd have all kinds of pools with critters growing in them. But I can just barely manage to keep Axolotls in them 6-7 months out of the year.

I had a bud a few years back that raised sting rays in them.. in his basement.

[brewmaster15]

Had to put a heater in pool last night as we hit 32F.. just need to keep it temps up to 45 as axolotls can survive being put in a refrigerator a week. Its actually a disease treatment protocol for injuries and bacterial infections. Their immune systems and regeneration capabilities are the stuff of super heros powers. Wish I could grow back a lost arm ,lol. Imagine being able to put your discus in the refrigerator a week if its sick. :) Take it out and its all better.


Covered the pool with plywood last night and put in a 150 watt heater.. temp this morning in the pool was a balmy 50F.:) Tonight will probably be the last night I need a heater.


I need to build a light weight lid to keep the water snakes out.. they can smell amphibians and will eventually find the pool. Being very poor climbers that alone should keep them out but I don't want to take any chances .

I also need to work out a filter. The pool comes with holes for hoses that are located about halfway up. If I want to utilize the full 500 gals of water I need to plug them or better yet add a filter. I probably will try and find a used intex pool filter for sale. I have made pond filters before so may go that route. The current can not be too strong. AXOLOTLS prefer gentle water movements.

Everytank I have rasied or kept them in has been using air driven sponges but with the pools 5×7 foot print.. a power filter or cannister to move water maybe be beneficial.

Whatever I go with needs to be economical.. best scenario would be to reuse repurpose gear here.
Al

[For100]

Pretty cool setup and love your axolotis . You must have a lovely wife, if I just float the idea of doing what you did I would be out of the house!
BTW, I don’t see any filtration or pumps to circulate the pool. Is that your intention or just work in progress kind of thing?

[brewmaster15]

Pretty cool setup and love your axolotis . You must have a lovely wife, if I just float the idea of doing what you did I would be out of the house!
BTW, I don’t see any filtration or pumps to circulate the pool. Is that your intention or just work in progress kind of thing?

I have a really supportive wife . We met and started dating in highschool... Pretty much always had critters... no surprises there for her. :) latter on in life I got a degree in biology. This is who I am... and she is thankfully very cool with it.

I do have filtration but hadnt posted it.. sponges.

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Need to built a filter next.

Al

[Discus Fever]

I would go with 4 or 5 large sponge filters and call it a day, that should be efficient and keep the water movement to a minimum for those guys to thrive.

[brewmaster15]

Been about a month . All is well with my new Tank.:)

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[danotaylor]

Looks great mate. About how old are those guys you're holding there? The copper ones look very cool!

[brewmaster15]

Danny these are about 18 months old. There are 39 Of them in there. The goal is to have them sold by Oct/nov.

[danotaylor]

Danny these are about 18 months old. There are 39 Of them in there. The goal is to have them sold by Oct/nov.

Cool mate :thumbsup:

[Willie]

What's the market for Axolotls?

[brewmaster15]

What's the market for Axolotls?

It used to be great Willie. During the pandemic I sold a ton.. The problem now is the markets flooded.. A few years ago The game Minecraft came out with an axolotl character... the kids went crazy and axolotls were in demand.. so everyone started breeding them... and the market crashed. It was fun for awhile but we got too proficient...I guess if you can breed discus axolotls are easy.

when these are gone I will only work with one mutation I have here.. coppers which are still in demand .

Its a shame more people dont keep them.They are a really great critter and easy to keep once you have the basics.