Axolotls Guide – Everything You Need To Know
Before you start your Axolotl care journey, you should first learn about the care requirements.
The ideal tank setup and food for your axolotls are covered in this Axolotls guide. You should also understand the recommended temperature range for your tank.
You should read this article to make the most informed decision. Axolotl care is simple once you know the basics.
Care Requirements
Care for an Axolotl is not difficult if you know aquarium maintenance and water parameters.
Axolotls are known for their high sensitivity to ammonia and nitrates. If you experience any of these problems, you may want to consult a veterinarian.
Axolotls need their habitats cleaned regularly to avoid the risk of impaction. Axolotls should be fed at least twice a week.
Tap water is suitable for Axolotls, but make sure it is treated with an Aloe Vera-free dechlorinator. Axolotls do not prefer a strong water flow.
The water pH level should be between 6.5 to 7.5. To maintain the water quality of the tank, use a filter. Use a filter with a slow flow rate, as Axolotls do not have the best eyesight.
Axolotls are very active, but they are not social creatures. You should avoid keeping them in a tank with other pets.
Their aggression may cause them to nip at your other fishes, so be careful who you keep with them.
Axolotls will also attack other fishes, so it is best not to keep them with other pets. Keep axolotls separately from other pets to avoid any fights.
Axolotls are available in two varieties: albino and leucistic. Albino Axolotls are white with pink gills and eyes. Leucistic Axolotls are red-tinted and have a pinkish-white appearance.
Copper Axolotls are the rarest color variant. They have light brown, freckled skin with red-tinted eyes. Other color variants are virtually unobtainable.
Ideal Tank Setup
The filtration system of your axolotl aquarium should be efficient and able to handle the amount of waste the axolotls produce.
You should also consider installing a sponge filter, which works both as a biological and mechanical filter.
These filters increase aeration without causing undue stress to your axolotls. Also, you should perform a 20% water change every week.
The substrate of your axolotl aquarium should be suitable for the species. The substrate can be made of sand, gravel, or a bare bottom.
However, axolotls are sensitive to PH levels and other water parameters. The levels of ammonia and nitrates should be kept under 5 and 20 ppm, respectively.
Changing water temperature can cause gas build-up, so you must monitor the levels to prevent this.
The water should remain between 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and should not be exposed to excessive heat or sunlight.
The temperature of the water in the tank should be kept between 71 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Axolotls don’t require special lighting as they spend most of their time in a dark hiding area.
The water temperature should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, a little higher if possible.
While Axolotls spend the majority of their time on the bottom of the tank, they may move around during feeding time and stalk their prey.
If they are left alone for long periods, they may even dig up the tank decorations. However, digging up tank decorations is normal behavior and can benefit your axolotls.
If you want to get your axolotls to venture out more, train them to swim to the front of the tank.
Ideal Food
The ideal food for your Axolotl will depend on its size and how active they are.
While you can offer live food or pellets, freeze-dried cubes, and other types of frozen treats, you should only feed your pet twice a day until they refuse any more.
Axolotls grow to about 6-8 inches long, so you may want to increase feeding frequency to two times a day once they have matured.
It is important to give your axolotl a variety of food options. While you can give them chicken meat, you should rotate this with other foods to keep their diet varied.
Other suitable food options for your axolotl include snails, worms, insect larvae, small fish, and frog tadpoles.
It is important to provide a variety of food items to your axolotl in order to keep them happy and healthy. Pellets are one of the most common forms of feeding your axolotl.
They provide fat and protein without the mess. Pellets also contain vitamins and minerals, which are vital for your axolotl’s health.
The ideal pellet for axolotl should be a high-quality product with a protein content of around 40%. Some pellets break down too quickly and aren’t recommended for axolotls.
Feeding your axolotl can be done easily using tweezers. Axolotls will come to their food when you wave them. Be sure to supervise your axolotl while feeding them.
They can eat a variety of foods, but you can only feed them a couple of pieces of meat a week.
Large pieces of chicken can cause digestive issues in axolotls, so feed them only occasionally.
Ideal Temperature Range
While axolotls are not generally difficult to care for, maintaining their ideal water temperature can be a bit tricky.
They prefer temperatures between 59 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Water conditions should be consistent at these temperatures throughout the year.
Adding a heater to your tank is only necessary for extremely cold climates, and if you are unsure, a test kit is available.
Axolotls can tolerate temperatures between 10 and 22 degrees Fahrenheit, but they struggle to survive in very cold temperatures.
Extreme temperatures can lead to heat stress, loss of appetite, and even death in some cases.
Unless you are planning to bring an axolotl home for breeding, you should keep in mind the ideal temperature range for Axolotls.
If you are unsure of which temperature is appropriate for your pet, consider purchasing an aquarium chiller to help ensure a healthy and happy environment for your new animal.
To provide the ideal temperature range for your new pet, make sure to use an accurate thermometer.
Some thermometers will display a “safe zone” for tropical fish, but this may not apply to axolotls. The range should be between 60 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Axolotls thrive at this temperature range, but extreme temperatures can cause the hatching eggs to become damaged and unusable.
Axolotls are quite easy to handle in the aquarium. Their skin is made of cartilage and is permeable.
A good filter can help keep their water cool, but they do not respond to high light. Axolotls should not be exposed to excessive sunlight.
If you cannot afford to purchase an aquarium chiller, you may consider purchasing a tank water heater instead.
There are two types of heaters available for your Axolotls: a tank water heater and an aquarium fan.
Can You Keep An axolotl With Fish?
Goldfish and axolotls are not compatible and should be kept apart.
The fish tend to nip at the axolotl’s gills and fins. Even if they don’t bite the axolotl, they can be a potential choking hazard for axolotls.
You can try cory catfish, but they aren’t a good fit for axolotls. You can add a drop-in of fish into your axolotl’s aquarium, but you need to purchase them from a reputable seller.
Axolotls are notorious for being picky eaters, and small stones may be an added hazard. However, fish from Petco is well-taken and won’t pose a health risk.
Besides, if you’re worried about impaction, only feed your axolotl two or three times a week.
Axolotls can live with fish, but you must be careful when introducing a new animal into the aquarium.
You should avoid aggressive fish, tropical fish, and other animals with hard exoskeletons. It’s also best to separate axolotls from fish if you see any damage to their gills.
Remember to feed axolotl regularly to ensure that they don’t become prey for your fish.
To prevent this situation, it is best to choose a tank that is at least 20 gallons. A ten-gallon tank may be suitable for two axolotls.
But if you want to keep a pair, you can use a larger tank. Axolotls can also live in small tanks with tropical fish. Axolotls need a high-quality aquarium to avoid stress and disease.
Axolotls are generally not a good companion for guppies. Their diet consists of dead fish, so you can’t keep guppies or axolotls together. They’re likely to eat the fish.
If you’re worried about the fish’s health, zebra danios are a good choice. They’re not aggressive, but they don’t breed fast, so axolotls don’t eat them.
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