Axolotl Care
Taking care of an axolotl is not difficult, but it is precise. Axolotls are neotenic salamanders that never reach "adulthood" and never step out on land. They are not fish, but always live under water.
How to Care of an Axolotl
Axolotl Diet
Axolotls are carnivores. The optimal diet is worms. Night crawlers, red wigglers, and earth worms are optimal for an axolotl size 5 inches and up.
To feed, you should rinse the dirt off and either blanch them and cut them into bite size pieces or simply cut them and feed. Feed 1-2 worms a day. Axolotls may reject food some days, one day without eating is no cause for alarm if appetite is healthy other days.
Repashy Grub Pie is another great feeding option. Repashy is like a dense gelatin filled with insect powder. Prepare like you would a jello, store in the fridge and cut bite size chunks to feed. They should eat 2-3 bite-size chuncks a day or until full.
As a treat, feeding blood worms and brine shrimp is good on occasion, but mind you, it can be very messy so I would do it before a water change, or in a tub. Some people put these treats in a jar and then submerge in the tank, keeping the treats contained. I was terrible at this but you could be better!
As a reminder, axolotls are freshwater animals, they should not eat any land animal and salt-water fish is not appropriate food. I only fed Axl salmon as a last resort and effort to save him and with instruction from a very knowledgeable axolotl expert.
Quick Shopping Staples
Night Crawlers
Red Wigglers
Repashy Grub Pie
Snacks
Frozen Blood Worms
Frozen Brine Shrimp
Krill
Axolotl Food Nutritional Information
Axolotl Water Parameters
Perhaps the most important piece in caring for an axolotl, is the water parameters. Axolotls live underwater and absorb everything through their skin. Without a healthy water environment, nothing else can work. They can withstand water temperatures from 58-70 degrees Fahrenheit, but ideal temperature is from 63-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher water temperatures increase the chance of fungal infection.
Ideal axolotl water parameters are not something to compromise. They need perfect water conditions, and in a properly cycled tank, this should be easy once established. please review my aquarium keeping page for tips on keeping healthy water parameters.
Axolotl water parameters should stay at Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrate: 20ppm and below.
Reminder, having a Nitrate ppm of 0 means that the tank is not yet cycled. Nitrates beans beneficial bacteria is converting nitrite. Nitrates are less toxic to axolotls, but above 20ppm it becomes too stressful for them.
Regularly check your water parameters with API Freshwater Test Kit or Salifert Profi Test.
Only clean and touch anything in your aquarium (filter, decor, plants) with hands cleaned with aquarium water or plain water. Soap, lotion, perfume will contaminate water quality for your axie.
Clean your filter media when needed by rinsing in old aquarium water about every 3 months or when nitrates are consistently high despite frequent water changes.
Keeping life plants is not for everybody, but they can help keep nitrates down by filtering water and also provide a natural environment for your axolotl.
How to Tub an Axolotl
In an emergency, use a food-grade plastic container that can keep axie fully submerged with cold primed water. Ideally, I aim to give my axie about 2-3 gallons of water.
Use a plastic tub from target or walmart, about $5.
Fill with about 2-3 gallons of cold water, add Prime or other water conditioner with no aloe vera. Aloe vera will burn an axie's gills off.
Use Indian Almond Leaf (optional) to reduce stress on axie and prevent fungus infection.
Install an air stone to provide oxygen and help axie's gills grow.
install an aquarium thermometer to help you maintain water temperature. The one here is my favorite for price and versatility.
Keep tub in a low light zone or provide a hide.
Change water once every 24 hours. I set up an alarm for this.
Common Axolotl Illnesses and their Cures