FAQ

Q1

I have been considering purchasing an Axolotl but I am unsure of the best size tank to put him/her in, can you help?

A1

The thing to remember when considering the best tank size for your Axolotl is that bigger is better. Whilst you may spot a tiny Axolotl that you fall in love with, this tiny little baby is going to grow BIG! in fact, one of our Axolotls is a whooping 30cm in length. So with this in mind, you need to consider the room they need to move around. So the general rule when it comes to tank sizes is that the tank should be a minimum of 30 gallons/2ft for a single axolotl. If you want to purchase more than one axolotl, then you will need to add a further 10 gallons/1ft for every additional Axolotl you purchase.

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Q2

What does my Axolotl need in his/her tank to be happy?

A2

Hides are an essential addition to your Axolotl's tank, they love dark hiding places where they can escape to and rest, especially if you have one with a very shy personality. A thermometer is possibly the most important piece of equipment you will need when owning an Axolotl, this is due to them preferring cold water (see below for correct temperatures) and if the water becomes to warm this can cause stress and illness. A filter is required to keep the water parameters at a safe level for your Axolotl to stay healthy, as believe it or not these cute adorable little creatures are MESSY.  The filter should not have a strong current/flow as this causes stress. Sponge filters are highly recommended. Plants are greatly appreciated, whether that be plastic or live plants, but be warned that if you have live plants the Axolotl is almost certainly going to squish it or attempt to eat it meaning you will constantly be buying new plants. One of the most important things to remember when creating a happy and healthy living environment for your Axolotl is that YOU SHOULD NOT USE GRAVEL AS A SUBSTRATE IN THEIR TANK, in fact, a bare bottom tank or slates are better for the Axolotl, however, if you wish to add some kind of substrate this must be very fine sand.

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Q3

What temperature should my tank water be?

A3

An Axolotls ideal tank temperature is between 16-18 degrees.

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Q4

What should I feed by Axolotl?

A4

The ideal diet for a Juvenile/adult Axolotl is earthworms, these contain all the nutrients and protein that an Axolotl needs. If you want to add variety to their diet, there are a number of Axolot pellets available (send us a message if you would like to purchase some). Also, baby Axolotls will begin their lives on live baby brine shrimp until their back legs are developed at which time their sense of smell should be well-formed in order for them to be able to sniff out frozen foods such as blood worm. Babies should stay on bloodworm for a number of weeks until they are of a size where they can safely eat earthworm cut into bite-size pieces. Keep feeding like this until they can safely gobble down a full earthworm.

Adult axolotls can also eat bloodworm in fact its like chocolate to Axolotls so they love it, however, it doesn't contain all the nutrients they need so this should only be fed as a treat

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Q5

Can I keep fish with my Axolotl?

A5

NO! this question gets asked frequently. If you add fish to your Axolotl tank, that fish will eventually disappear, and there are some fish skeletons that Axolotls can't digest leading to impaction which is a serious health concern for Axolotls. Even if your fish don't become your Axolotl's lunch, they will stress them out. Axolotls react to movement in the water to eat, so when something is constantly swimming past your Axolotl is causes them incredible amounts of stress which can lead to health issues. Another reason why you should not house fish with you Axolotl is that fish tend to nipple at your Axolotls gills and slime coat, again causing stress, and infection.