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FYI before you read this is for real-life axolotls and not Minecraft axolotls
Intro :)
We can all agree, that axolotls are adorable. I would say they are so ugly they are cute. They originate in Mexico, where they are critically endangered. Even though there are less than 1,000 in the wild, there are over a million in captivity. Caring for axolotls can be simple, but most axolotls get improper care because there are so many different care guides.
Anatomy
Axolotls are related to salamanders and have a similar body shape. But axolotls, unlike other salamanders live their entire life underwater. Axolotls come in many different morphs (colors). Axolotls are also blind! They can see shadows but will have a troubled time seeing food. Axolotls adapted to the dark lakes in Mexico and have lost their sight. Axolotls breathe through their gill stalks.
Growth
Axolotls can grow up to 12+ inches when they reach adulthood. Axolotls also reach adulthood at 6 months to 18 months. Axolotls can live for up to 10+ years with proper care.
Is my axolotl a boy or a girl?
Axolotls reach maturity at 6 to 18 months. Each axolotl has a different maturity rate. Boy (male) axolotls have a large, round cloaca, while girl (female) axolotls have a small, flat cloaca.
Tank
Axolotls have specific requirements for their tank. First off axolotls need a tank that is 20 gallons or more. Add 10 more gallons for each additional axolotl. Axolotls need their aquariums to be 60-65F to live. Axolotls can be cold by using aquarium chillers for the more expensive option or having the tank with air bubblers and aquarium fans for the cheaper option. If you choose the cheaper option, you may need to replace water often because of evaporation.
Remember to cycle your aquarium!! Cycle your aquarium by letting bacteria grow for 2+ months. You can check into the progress by using pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite test strips. Make sure your pH is 7-8 and ammonia and nitrite 0. Your nitrate should be below 35. Make sure to check the pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite once a week to make sure they are proper. If you want your tank to cycle faster you can buy bacteria at your local pet store or if you have another tank you can put the filter media into the new tank.
Axolotls need to have a substrate that is safe for them. Since axolotls are blind they don't notice that small rocks are not food. The substrate can be sand, slate, or very large rocks (the rocks have to be larger than the axolotl head). The tank can also have no substrate if you want. The substrate CANNOT BE gravel, small rocks, or anything that the axolotl can't digest.
Axolotls prefer low flow. For the filter, I recommend a sponge filter for axolotls. Sponge filters are easy to clean, help water clarity, and help provide aeration. Axolotl aquariums can have other filters, but make sure to modify them, so they have low flow. A filter that has low flow can be achieved by putting a net or a cut water bottle. Axolotls don't like lighting at all. Since they originate in dark lakes in Mexico, they do not like light a lot.
Axolotls' love hides a lot. Axolotls need a dark, safe place for them, and hides help achieve that. I recommend coconut hides, terracotta pots, or 4-in pipes. Coconut hides can help provide a dark hiding space. Axolotls can have plastic or real plants in their aquarium. I also recommend real plants because they can be beneficial for your aquarium.
<-------- Tank Example :)
Tank Mates
Axolotls can have other tankmates! You can have multiple axolotls together, but there are a couple of rules to this. Make sure each axolotl is well-fed, so they don't try to eat each other. Separate any sick axolotls into another aquarium. Also, separate axolotls when they are mature there should be only females or only males in one aquarium. If you have both genders use a super secure glass/acrylic divider or another aquarium.
Axolotls can also live with shrimp and minnows! Keep in mind these many become a snack for your axolotls. Shrimp like neocaridina shrimp, ghost shrimp, and amano shrimp work well. Fish like rosy red minnows and white cloud mountain minnows also work well. If you add these tank mates make sure that they are quarantined for a minimum of 1 month. Also if you add tank mates make sure the axolotl is larger than 6 inches so they can swallow them without choking.
Diet
An axolotl's diet is one of the most important to an axolotl. Without a proper diet, an axolotl's immune system shuts down and that can make an axolotl more prone to sickness. Which can lead an axolotl to its death. The axolotl diet is one of the most confusing for each blog has a different recommendation for an axolotl diet. When feeding your axolotl make sure to hand feed them because they are blind and can miss out on food. If you leave food in the axolotl tank make sure everyone eats, and remove any uneaten food after 1 hour.
Maintenance
Axolotls are quite simple to maintain. When you feed your axolotl spot clean the aquarium for feces or algae. Each week do a 25% water change with water treated with water conditioner or RO water if you have it. Each month clean the filter and/or water chiller tubing. If you use sand, make sure to move the sand around to make sure no bubbles form underneath the sand. Also, make sure to clean tank decorations each week when necessary.
Conclusion
Whether you are an axolotl parent or want to get an axolotl, use this care guide as an outline for axolotl care. Axolotls need a proper diet, tank, and maintenance to live happy and healthy in your care. Make sure to feed your axolotl accordingly and provide proper maintenance. By following this care guide, you can enjoy your axolotl for years to come. :D
Table of Contents
1. Intro
2. Anatomy
3. Tank
4. Diet
5. Maintenance
6. Conclusion
2. Anatomy
3. Tank
4. Diet
5. Maintenance
6. Conclusion
Intro :)
We can all agree, that axolotls are adorable. I would say they are so ugly they are cute. They originate in Mexico, where they are critically endangered. Even though there are less than 1,000 in the wild, there are over a million in captivity. Caring for axolotls can be simple, but most axolotls get improper care because there are so many different care guides.
Anatomy
Axolotls are related to salamanders and have a similar body shape. But axolotls, unlike other salamanders live their entire life underwater. Axolotls come in many different morphs (colors). Axolotls are also blind! They can see shadows but will have a troubled time seeing food. Axolotls adapted to the dark lakes in Mexico and have lost their sight. Axolotls breathe through their gill stalks.
Growth
Axolotls can grow up to 12+ inches when they reach adulthood. Axolotls also reach adulthood at 6 months to 18 months. Axolotls can live for up to 10+ years with proper care.
| Months | Average Length (in.) |
| 1 | 1/2 in to 2 in |
| 2 | 2 in to 4 in |
| 3 | 3 in to 5 in |
| 4 | 4 in to 6in |
| 5 | 5 in to 6 in |
| 6 | 5 in to 7 in |
| 7 | 6 in to 8 in |
| 8 | 6 to 8 in |
| 9 | 6 to 9 in |
| 10 | 7 to 10 in |
| 11 | 7 to 12 in |
| 12 | 7 to 12+ in |
Is my axolotl a boy or a girl?
Axolotls reach maturity at 6 to 18 months. Each axolotl has a different maturity rate. Boy (male) axolotls have a large, round cloaca, while girl (female) axolotls have a small, flat cloaca.
Tank
Axolotls have specific requirements for their tank. First off axolotls need a tank that is 20 gallons or more. Add 10 more gallons for each additional axolotl. Axolotls need their aquariums to be 60-65F to live. Axolotls can be cold by using aquarium chillers for the more expensive option or having the tank with air bubblers and aquarium fans for the cheaper option. If you choose the cheaper option, you may need to replace water often because of evaporation.
Remember to cycle your aquarium!! Cycle your aquarium by letting bacteria grow for 2+ months. You can check into the progress by using pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite test strips. Make sure your pH is 7-8 and ammonia and nitrite 0. Your nitrate should be below 35. Make sure to check the pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite once a week to make sure they are proper. If you want your tank to cycle faster you can buy bacteria at your local pet store or if you have another tank you can put the filter media into the new tank.
Axolotls need to have a substrate that is safe for them. Since axolotls are blind they don't notice that small rocks are not food. The substrate can be sand, slate, or very large rocks (the rocks have to be larger than the axolotl head). The tank can also have no substrate if you want. The substrate CANNOT BE gravel, small rocks, or anything that the axolotl can't digest.
Axolotls prefer low flow. For the filter, I recommend a sponge filter for axolotls. Sponge filters are easy to clean, help water clarity, and help provide aeration. Axolotl aquariums can have other filters, but make sure to modify them, so they have low flow. A filter that has low flow can be achieved by putting a net or a cut water bottle. Axolotls don't like lighting at all. Since they originate in dark lakes in Mexico, they do not like light a lot.
Axolotls' love hides a lot. Axolotls need a dark, safe place for them, and hides help achieve that. I recommend coconut hides, terracotta pots, or 4-in pipes. Coconut hides can help provide a dark hiding space. Axolotls can have plastic or real plants in their aquarium. I also recommend real plants because they can be beneficial for your aquarium.
<-------- Tank Example :)Tank Mates
Axolotls can have other tankmates! You can have multiple axolotls together, but there are a couple of rules to this. Make sure each axolotl is well-fed, so they don't try to eat each other. Separate any sick axolotls into another aquarium. Also, separate axolotls when they are mature there should be only females or only males in one aquarium. If you have both genders use a super secure glass/acrylic divider or another aquarium.
Axolotls can also live with shrimp and minnows! Keep in mind these many become a snack for your axolotls. Shrimp like neocaridina shrimp, ghost shrimp, and amano shrimp work well. Fish like rosy red minnows and white cloud mountain minnows also work well. If you add these tank mates make sure that they are quarantined for a minimum of 1 month. Also if you add tank mates make sure the axolotl is larger than 6 inches so they can swallow them without choking.
Diet
An axolotl's diet is one of the most important to an axolotl. Without a proper diet, an axolotl's immune system shuts down and that can make an axolotl more prone to sickness. Which can lead an axolotl to its death. The axolotl diet is one of the most confusing for each blog has a different recommendation for an axolotl diet. When feeding your axolotl make sure to hand feed them because they are blind and can miss out on food. If you leave food in the axolotl tank make sure everyone eats, and remove any uneaten food after 1 hour.
| Age | Type of Food | How much & how many times |
| 0-2 month | Live or Frozen Brine shrimp, Daphnia, Chopped Up Blackworms | Enough to fill the axolotls head (and a little extra) and 2x per day |
| 2-3 months | Same food as above but introduce Red Wigglers, Chopped Up Nightcrawlers, Axolotl Pellets | Enough to fill the axolotls head (and a little extra) and 1x per day |
| 3-5 months | Only Red Wigglers, Chopped Up Nightcrawlers, Axolotl Pellets, Blackworms | Enough to fill the axolotls head and 1x per day |
| 5+ months | Only Chopped Up Nightcrawlers, Axolotl Pellets | Enough to fill the axolotls head and 1x every other day |
Maintenance
Axolotls are quite simple to maintain. When you feed your axolotl spot clean the aquarium for feces or algae. Each week do a 25% water change with water treated with water conditioner or RO water if you have it. Each month clean the filter and/or water chiller tubing. If you use sand, make sure to move the sand around to make sure no bubbles form underneath the sand. Also, make sure to clean tank decorations each week when necessary.
Conclusion
Whether you are an axolotl parent or want to get an axolotl, use this care guide as an outline for axolotl care. Axolotls need a proper diet, tank, and maintenance to live happy and healthy in your care. Make sure to feed your axolotl accordingly and provide proper maintenance. By following this care guide, you can enjoy your axolotl for years to come. :D
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