Many things go into choosing the right pet for the care that you can provide. Below, we’ll talk all about axolotl care and the basics.
Comes the research! We’re here to give you all the information you need to decide if an axolotl is the right pet for you.
Axolotls should have 4 square feet of area to roam. It may overlap with another axolotl’s area, however each axolotl should have 30 gallons (110 Liters) of water per animal to dilute their massive bio-load. This means a 40 gallon (150 Liter) aquarium is acceptable for one axolotl, while a 60 gallon (220 Liter) axolotl may suffice for two.
Cold water is what axolotls thrive in! Keep their temperature below 65F/18C and above 55F/13C.
Ammonia is the waste product of all animals, including axolotls. Ammonia is very toxic, and small amounts will make your axolotl very sick, while larger amounts easily kill axolotls. Due to this, the Nitrogen cycle exists in nature. The army of the Nitrogen cycle includes many species of beneficial bacteria that live on surface areas in lakes, rivers, and streams.
In an aquarium setting, you have to provide the beneficial bacteria with a place to call home. This is your filter! The bacteria needs to be present before an axolotl may be introduced into the tank. Thankfully, correctly cycling an aquarium is easy, though it takes 6-12 weeks on average. Make sure you can properly prepare for your axolotl before getting one, and never fish-in cycle, which is a cruel method of cycling that is to put an animal in an uncycled aquarium, causing them to live in their own waste.
Axolotls need worms! Earthworms, dendrobaena, nightcrawlers, red wigglers - they’re all in the family Lumbricidae, and they offer great protein and calcium contents. Feed them live or feed freshly blanched.
The following foods may be supplemented, but they do not constitute a full diet.
Do not feed the following foods.
Axolotls benefit from enrichment of all kinds. Make sure the enrichment is safe!
Always keep Indian Almond Leaves, Methylene Blue, Black Tea, and Seachem Prime on-hand. Make sure you can treat the axolotl if they get sick, and take them to the vet if you can’t safely treat them yourself. Exotic vet visits run from hundreds to thousands of dollars, so preventative medicine is essential!
Methylene Blue
For extreme fungal infections or injury treatment.
Tub in cold water, dose half or 1/2 tsp per 10 gallons of water, which will result in a sky blue water coloration.
Black Tea Bath
For small fungal infections and constipation.
Tub in cold water. Brew a cup of caffeinated black tea, dilute at a 1:3 ratio of black tea to water, and cool/dechlorinate the water before adding the axolotl. Change water to fresh after 10-15 minutes.
Indian Almond Leaves
For slime coat health and infection prevention.
Add IALs in media bags and allow them to float in the aquarium until the leaves break down. Perform water changes to remove tannins.
Do not treat your axolotls with salt or refrigeration without consulting a professional.
If your axolotl shows signs of impaction or bacterial infection (rashes, blackening of the mouth, bloating, receded gills) go to the nearest exotic vet immediately! They may need treated with antibiotics.
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