Care Sheet For Axolotl

Care Sheet For Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum)

A few people have asked me about their care so I decided to make a care sheet for them.

Your Axolotl's Home
-They should be kept in a minimum tank size of 20 gallons per axolotl. The longer the tank, the better.

-They need to be kept on fine sand or bare bottom, anything smaller than their head can, and will, be eaten and will put them at risk of gut impaction.

-Their tank décor should be smooth, and larger than their head(with the exception of sand)

-They don't have eyelids, so a cave should be provided so they can get out of the light.

-The lights in the tank should be off 95% of the time. The only time they should be on is during feeding and when taking pictures.

-Try to keep their tank as dark as possible.

-the temperature should never exceed 72 degrees Fahrenheit and should not drop below 60.

- a clip on fan can help lower the temperature a few degrees.

-a lid (mesh works best if you have a fan) should be provided. Some have been known to escape.

Diet
-Live earthworms
-Pellets made specifically for them
-Live blackworms
-Live brine shrimp(gut loaded and as treats)
-Frozen bloodworms(treats)
-Frozen brine shrimp(treats)
-Freeze dried food should be avoided(low nutritional value)

Tankmates
-Nothing except for other axolotls (maybe a snail, but it would have to be bigger than their heads. Tankmates are not reccommended)

Behavior
-They are most active at night when their tank is not as bright

-Sometimes, you will see your axolotl go to the surface and breathe, this is completely normal, they have lungs and gills.

-They will walk on the bottom of their tank, occasionally swimming around.

Sexing
-Males will have a bump between their legs as they mature
-Females do not have a bump

Common problems/Diseases
-Gut impaction from eating gravel - Put your axolotl in the fridge (temp should be between 7-8 degrees Celsius NOT fahrenheit)for a few days(3-5)

-Air in their bellies - Gently rub their belly and the air should come out

Fun Facts
-They are salamanders
-They are critically endangered in the wild
-They are found in Mexico
-There are only 700-1,200 left in the wild
-They can regrow limbs and vital organs

 

Great write up!
Is the reason that they can be in a 20 gallon despite being 12 inches long because they aren't very active? blusshed

 

I'm not quite sure why. If you can go bigger, than definitely consider getting a larger aquarium.

I still need to add some stuff to the original, if anyone has any suggestions on what to add, let me know!

 

Could you add the fact that they are fully aquatic salamanders/newts? That makes them unique, never growing out of their gills.

 

Yeah, i'm going to add that at the end.

 

When I edit it on the computer it gets rid of all the spaces between the lines

 

~20 gal per axolotl is because of their size AND bioload. They are nasty.

It also varies on how active they are from axolotl to axolotl... Some people have said theirs swim a lot, some are like logs who rarely move.

Also note that the "coming up from air" can mean they need to use their lungs more because there is less oxygen in the water, and some people do choose to add aerators but since they appreciate still water, most people exclude that (such as myself).

Good job Flowingfins! Sorry I never got around to writing up the care sheet myself! But you covered the basics!

 

keep up the good work on this. This is a species on my "to get" list

 

keep up the good work on this. This is a species on my "to get" list

Really axolotls are just a "must have" pet as long as you can care properly for them! (Which is easier than it seems, really!)

They are so incredible, and as "boring" as they are my gosh they are SO fun to own. I can just sit and stare at mine for hours if I had the time.

Funny my one is next to the dining table and when we sit down he rushes over to his feeding bowl, but he looks like he is begging us for our dinner!

Fun to give them personalities

 

Thanks blusshed!

 

Does anyone know how to keep the tank cool, my thermostat is often set at 70-72 degrees farenheit?

 

Does anyone know how to keep the tank cool, my thermostat is often set at 70-72 degrees farenheit?

I've read you could get a desktop fan faced toward top of tank... I think that's more for on a budget. Lol. There are also coolers designed for tanks.

 

I've read you could get a desktop fan faced toward top of tank... I think that's more for on a budget. Lol. There are also coolers designed for tanks.

I have a clip on fan behind my tank. Just blowing on the glass.

 

what temperature do you guys keep the tank at?

 

what temperature do you guys keep the tank at?

Mine is at 68 right now.
My heat in my house is at 72 because I don't have insulation... so there's not much I can do.

 

Hows your axie doing w/ that temperature?

 

Hows your axie doing w/ that temperature?

My axolotl does fine.

Our tank fluctuates throughout the year, it's never extreme, only about a 2-4 degree change.

 

Awesome thank you everyone for your help.

 

Awesome thank you everyone for your help.

No problem

 

Sadly,in a search for wild specimens in 2013, no wild Axolotls were found, so they my be extinct in the wild

 

Sadly,in a search for wild specimens in 2013, no wild Axolotls were found, so they my be extinct in the wild

I recently read an article posted to an axolotl fb page that said a few were recently found, and they were trying to make more protected breeding areas for them where they are found, something to keep the other fish and birds out of something.

 

Hey, Corine1, I am so happy that steps are being taken to help the wild population. I hope that the species will bounce back.

 

I am starting my habit on Saturday and my baby will be shipped on the 27th. I am super excited that my husband agreed to this! Any and all tips are definitely welcomed. My breeder is awesome and has set me on the right path already. Do they really escape often? Mine is 3.5 months old currently and will be 4 months when I get it. I will get to pick it tomorrow night.

 

I am starting my habit on Saturday and my baby will be shipped on the 27th. I am super excited that my husband agreed to this! Any and all tips are definitely welcomed. My breeder is awesome and has set me on the right path already. Do they really escape often? Mine is 3.5 months old currently and will be 4 months when I get it. I will get to pick it tomorrow night.

I’ve never heard of any of them escaping.

But they can get bursts of energy where mine has came up out of the water. But I wouldn’t call that an escape attempt as much as an accident.

 

No. They are very sedentary. Sometimes they'll get in a mood to move a bit, but imo, they are the least suited animal for aquatic escape I could fathom. I've owned three for over a year, and I say that I see why they are endangered. Not very evolutionarily advanced. But might cute.

 

For breeding:

Starting at approximately 8 months of age, axolotls begin to become sexually mature. Males will show long, flat bumps under their tail, just behind their back legs.

Mature males begin to drop sperm cones almost immediately after reaching sexual maturity. If they are housed with a female, she will gather the sperm cones to fertilize the eggs inside her body. Once fertilized, she will lay the eggs on various surfaces, especially plant leaves and occasionally the aquarium walls. They can lay 100+ eggs at a time.

Once laid, eggs take anywhere from 10-21 days to hatch. Newly hatched axolotls require small live foods, such as daphnia, until they grow their legs. As hatchlings, axolotls are only attracted to movement, and it is not until they become juveniles (3-4 months) that they will begin to recognize food by smell.

 

Only mention I don't see here is water flow. They do not do well with currents and such even can harm them.
I have a canister and a hob both diffused by plants...

 

Only mention I don't see here is water flow. They do not do well with currents and such even can harm them.
I have a canister and a hob both diffused by plants...

I thought I mentioned the filter output should be dispersed because they don’t do well with currents.

Unsure!

Thanks everyone for all of the extra input!
Love getting people educated about lotls!

 

I have 3 axolotls and they are in separate tanks. I just happened to look at one of them today and he lost his front leg. I know that if we kept them together as babies they will eat each other but can they just lose limbs on their own. I know they will grow back but I want to make sure there is nothing I am doing wrong.

 

I have 3 axolotls and they are in separate tanks. I just happened to look at one of them today and he lost his front leg. I know that if we kept them together as babies they will eat each other but can they just lose limbs on their own. I know they will grow back but I want to make sure there is nothing I am doing wrong.

I know they can damage limbs and such on rocks or sharp objects if they go crazy in the tank. One of mine went nuts one day and smashed a rock really hard... I attribute that to him losing one of his...as long as it does not look infected I would just keep an eye on it .I saw in places if it's dangling or infected best bet is to keep them in the fridge for a few days and lower their activity level and take it off higher with a new razorblade.... I know it sounds gross and painful but with that and regular salt baths kept the infection away . And in the long run I stopped the infection. I have no vets near me that can handle exotic pets really so I'm kinda on my own with it

 

Such a helpful thread, thank you guys. I’ve been thinking for a while of introducing one to my little furry and scaly family (and that’s just my mum :emoji_laughing

 

I too have wanted one since I first saw them. They're a strange animal. After reading top post, I'm still stuck on "put them in the fridge for 3-5 days".
I'm assuming that they're in some water for that? Imagine reaching in the fridge for a sandwich and being half awake, forgetting he's I there and getting freaked out when he moves!
It's very sad to hear the wild ones are gone. We humans suck at being good stewards of the earth. Apparently money means more than a healthy planet.
Has anyone had luck breeding them? Is it difficult?

 

They seem like really fun pets. Now I wish I can have one but I have no room for one I already got to many tanks set up.

 

I heard axolotls like to be kept together but I also heard they can be nippy towards each other?

 

I heard axolotls like to be kept together but I also heard they can be nippy towards each other?

I have 2 and they seem quite content in my 55 gallon never really fight. But if its meal time I feed them on opposite ends of the tank cause anything goes