Axolotl Care – The Basics

This post is going to be a quick glance at Axolotl care (I will have more in-depth posts on certain topics).

• Axolotl – Ambystoma Mexicanum
• Adult Size –  9″-12″ on average
• Life Span – 10 years average in captivity
• Fully Aquatic Species
• Tank Size – 20 gal plus 10 gal for each additional Axolotl
• Water Temperature – Ideal 64-66 degrees F. Anything above 74 is stressful and can lead to illness.
• Water Quality – De-chlorinated tap water or spring water. Never use distilled.
• Lighting – Low or given a lot of coverage from plants/decor
• Diet – Earthworms, Blackworms, Frozen Foods (brine shrimp/bloodworms/krill), Repashy Meat Pie or Grub Pie formulas
• Feeding – Juveniles/Sub-adults once a day, Adults every other day or 3 times a week.
• Tank Substrate – Bare bottom, Sand (aquarium safe, do NOT use sand made for reptiles), stone tiles. NEVER USE GRAVEL -Axolotls tend to swallow gravel and become impacted.
• Filters – Low Flow Power Filters or Sponge Filters
• Morphs (colors can vary) – Wild, Melanoid, Albino, Golden Albino, Copper, Axanthic, Leucistic.