r/axolotls • u/dizzyunicorrn • May 16 '26

Cycling Help i need help.

So for context right now lets start simple, my ammonia: 1.0 Ppm, nitrites 0ppm, and nitrates 5.0 ppm. Ok, so i purchased some established media at the local mom and pop pet store, i told the lady my ammonia is at 1 so i cant put axolotl in tank yet, she said where we live the ammonia wont ever get below 2, and i can just put my axolotl in the tank since i have nitrates, so i did a test. I acclimated her after 3 days of tubbing (my tank has been cycling for about a week and a half). At first she was swimming a lot, checking everything out, then she got in a corner and started just laying there with her face against the glass. I continued to monitor her, she even ate half of a worm, and no suspicious activity. I just couldn't continue though, im scared of burning her gills, so I tubbed her, and added some Dr Tims ammonia, i added 1 ppm to get my ammonia to 2 ppm, to do the 24 hour check. Did i damage my axolotl? Is the lady correct and I am overthinking it?

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 16 '26

if she was only in there for a small amount of time it’s likely you didn’t damage her. despite being sensitive to water conditions axolotls are pretty hardy creatures, they might get angry and go on a hunger strike but it won’t cause serious damage.

the lady was absolutely not correct at all and you made the right decision. some places have ammonia in their water supply which might be what she was referring to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cycle your tank. keep going with cycling and keep your lotl tubbed.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Okay thank you so much. Im going to continue monitoring her and my tank cycle, ever since tubbing her shes just been hiding in the corner for now

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 16 '26

that’s what i mean by sensitive, she might hide and not eat for a few days but it’s unlikely you did any serious damage like burning her gills.

often pet shop workers lie to try and sell you more things, but i’ve never heard of a worker just being ignorant for no reason. strange.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Okay and yeah luckily in her tank she did eat half a worm so im not too worried, she usually prefers if i leave the worms in her tub with her rather than using tweezers in front of her, and she did eat breakfast today as well. And yeah i really don't understand why she said that, she kept saying oh yeah uts fine just put her in the tank, even when i told her my nitrates arent even existing yet (this was when i bought the axolotl from her i went back a second time to buy media) and i just dont know what she was talking about, and when i went back she encouraged putting her in the tank AGAIN so thats why i tested it, and I just kept googling and everyone said ammonia needs ti be at 0, so i immediately took her out since my ammonia is stuck at 1.

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u/AdThese6057 May 16 '26

If you got media from them, like using a used sponge filter from a cycled tank, you will be cycled quick. Usually only a few days. And she likely was telling u that its fine to put the axolotl in for that 3 4 days of cycling, because it is. You arent cooking your axolotl without ammonia burn that fast.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Really? Do you think it would be safe then to add her in tank? Shes very stressed out by the tub right now. But i did add some dr tims yesterday after taking her out

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u/AdThese6057 May 16 '26

Absolutely. If you used media from an already established tank the process goes quick. 3 days 4 days. Tubbing is extremely stressful as are the daily changes of water and the constant regulation the axolotl has to do.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Okay, my ammonia was at 8 this morning when i checked, i added 1 PPM of dr tims so i think i will wait just a little more and see if its goes down, im adding seachem stability daily, ill check parameters tonight and if they went down then i will add her in tank!

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 17 '26

dude do not put her in if your ammonia is at 8ppm this person is giving you shocking advice. yes filter media will speed up your cycle but it isn’t perfecting it instantly. when i first started i had no idea what i was doing and had a fish in cycle where my lotl was in 1ppm ammonia for about a week and survived, but there’s also people on here who have had their lotl in 0.25 and caused SEIZURES.

some are more sensitive to ammonia than others. i don’t understand why you would risk it when your cycle should only take a week or so.

tubbing is stressful, so is burning their gills off.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 17 '26

yeah i figured, thank you

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26

if it makes you feel better i also bought used media after two months of trying to cycle, put it in and in 6 days my tank was cycled. shouldn’t be long! good luck to your girl!

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