Axolotl Care: Complete Owner's Guide

Axolotls are one of the most fascinating and unique pets you can keep – these 'walking fish' (actually amphibians!) have captured hearts worldwide with their adorable smiling faces, feathery gills, and incredible regenerative abilities. But these Mexican salamanders require very specific care that's quite different from fish or other aquatic pets.

Whether you're considering getting your first axolotl or want to ensure you're providing the best possible care, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know. From water parameters to feeding and tank setup, let's ensure your axolotl thrives!

Understanding Axolotls

Species Overview

Meet your axolotl:

• Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum
• Origin: Lake Xochimilco, Mexico (critically endangered in wild)
• Size: 15-30cm, some up to 45cm
• Weight: 60-200g when fully grown
• Lifespan: 10-15 years, some live 20+
• Activity: Mostly nocturnal but active day and night
• Temperament: Calm, curious, solitary

What Makes Axolotls Special

Unique characteristics:

• Neotenic: Remain in larval form their entire life
• External gills: Feathery gills on head
• Regeneration: Can regrow limbs, organs, even parts of brain
• Permanent smile: Adorable facial structure
• Critically endangered: In wild, but common in captivity
• Colour morphs: Wild type, leucistic, golden, melanoid, and more

Are Axolotls Right for You?

Consider these factors:

• Pros: Fascinating to watch, long-lived, relatively easy once established, don't need heating
• Cons: Sensitive to water quality, need cold water, messy eaters, can't be handled, expensive setup
• Not for: Young children (look but don't touch pet), those wanting interactive pet
• Perfect for: Aquarium enthusiasts, those wanting unique pet, patient keepers

Tank Setup and Requirements

Tank Size

Space requirements:

• Minimum for one: 75 litres (20 gallons)
• Recommended: 115+ litres (30+ gallons)
• Additional axolotls: Add 40 litres per axolotl
• Floor space: More important than height
• Long tanks better: Than tall tanks

Water Parameters

Critical for health:

• Temperature: 16-18°C (60-64°F) ESSENTIAL
• Maximum: 22°C (72°F) - higher is dangerous
• pH: 6.5-8.0 (7.4-7.6 ideal)
• Ammonia: 0 ppm (toxic)
• Nitrite: 0 ppm (toxic)
• Nitrate: Below 20 ppm (lower better)
• Hardness: 7-14 dGH

Temperature Control

Keeping water cool:

• Room temperature: Often too warm
• Aquarium chiller: Best option (expensive £200-£500)
• Fans: Clip-on fans across water surface (cheaper option)
• Ice bottles: Frozen water bottles floated (temporary solution)
• Cool room: Basement or coolest room in house
• Monitor constantly: Digital thermometer essential
• Summer challenge: UK summers can be too warm

Filtration

Clean water essential:

• Type: Sponge filter or canister filter
• Flow rate: Gentle - axolotls hate strong currents
• Turnover: 3-4 times tank volume per hour
• Avoid: Strong filters, powerheads
• Baffle output: Reduce flow if too strong
• Cycled tank: MUST cycle before adding axolotl

Substrate

Choose carefully:

• Best option: Fine sand (0.5-1mm grain size)
• Alternative: Bare bottom (easier to clean)
• NEVER: Gravel (impaction risk - can be fatal)
• Avoid: Large stones, sharp objects
• Sand depth: 2-3cm if using

Lighting

Keep it dim:

• Axolotls have no eyelids
• Prefer low light
• Room lighting usually sufficient
• If using tank light, keep dim
• Provide hiding spots
• No special lighting needed

Decorations and Hides

Create a comfortable environment:

• Hides essential: Multiple hiding spots
• Smooth surfaces: No sharp edges (damage delicate skin)
• Caves: Terracotta pots, PVC pipes, commercial hides
• Plants: Live or silk (plastic can damage gills)
• Avoid: Anything small enough to swallow
• Secure decorations: Can't fall and injure axolotl

The Nitrogen Cycle

Critical Before Adding Axolotl

Must cycle tank first:

• What it is: Beneficial bacteria establish in filter
• Process: Converts ammonia to nitrite to nitrate
• Timeline: 4-6 weeks minimum
• Cannot skip: Uncycled tank will kill axolotl
• Test daily: During cycling process
• Cycle complete: When ammonia and nitrite stay at 0

Cycling Methods

How to cycle:

• Fishless cycling: Add ammonia source (fish food or pure ammonia)
• Seeded cycling: Use media from established tank (faster)
• Bottled bacteria: Can help but not instant
• Be patient: Rushing kills axolotls

Water Quality and Maintenance

Testing Water

Regular testing essential:

• Test kit: Liquid test kit (API Master Test Kit)
• Frequency: Daily during cycling, weekly once established
• Parameters: Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temperature
• Keep records: Track trends

Water Changes

Most important maintenance:

• Frequency: 20-25% weekly minimum
• More if needed: Based on nitrate levels
• Temperature match: New water must match tank temperature
• Dechlorinate: Use water conditioner (Seachem Prime recommended)
• Gentle addition: Don't stress axolotl
• Siphon substrate: Remove waste

Water Conditioner

Essential for tap water:

• Removes chlorine and chloramine
• Detoxifies ammonia temporarily
• Seachem Prime highly recommended
• Use with every water change
• Follow dosage instructions

Diet and Feeding

What Axolotls Eat

Carnivorous diet:

• Earthworms: Best staple diet (nightcrawlers)
• Bloodworms: Frozen or live (treats)
• Pellets: Axolotl-specific sinking pellets
• Blackworms: Live (occasional)
• Brine shrimp: Juveniles only (not nutritious for adults)

Feeding Schedule

Age-appropriate feeding:

• Juveniles (under 15cm): Daily
• Adults (15cm+): Every 2-3 days
• Amount: As much as they'll eat in 10-15 minutes
• Remove uneaten food: After 30 minutes
• Fasting day: One day per week for adults

Feeding Method

How to feed:

• Use feeding tongs
• Place food near axolotl
• They have poor eyesight (use smell)
• Wiggle food to attract attention
• Don't overfeed (causes bloating)
• Remove waste promptly

Foods to Avoid

Never feed:

• Feeder fish (disease risk, thiaminase)
• Goldfish (thiaminase)
• Processed human food
• Insects with hard shells
• Anything too large

Handling and Interaction

Minimal Handling

Look but don't touch:

• Avoid handling: Damages protective slime coat
• Stressful: Causes stress and potential injury
• When necessary: Moving tanks, health checks
• Use net: Fine mesh net if must move
• Or container: Guide into container with water
• Wet hands: If must touch, wet hands first

Observation Pet

Enjoy watching:

• Fascinating to observe
• Unique swimming style
• Interesting feeding behaviour
• Gill flicking
• Not interactive like fish
• Perfect for aquarium enthusiasts

Health and Common Issues

Signs of a Healthy Axolotl

What to look for:

• Fluffy, pink/red gills
• Active and alert
• Good appetite
• Smooth skin
• All limbs present and intact
• Swimming normally
• Responding to food

Warning Signs

See vet if you notice:

• Curled gills: Poor water quality or stress
• Pale gills: Lack of oxygen or illness
• Floating: Bloating or gas
• Refusing food: For more than a week
• Fungus: White cotton-like growth
• Red skin: Ammonia burn
• Lethargy: Not moving, lying on side

Common Health Problems

Issues to watch for:

• Fungal infections: From poor water quality or injury
• Bacterial infections: Red patches, lethargy
• Impaction: From swallowing gravel or large food
• Ammonia/nitrite poisoning: From poor water quality
• Temperature stress: From water too warm
• Injuries: From tank mates or sharp objects

Treatment

When problems occur:

• First step: Always check water parameters
• Water change: 50% if parameters off
• Fridging: Cooling to 5-8°C for some conditions (research first)
• Salt baths: For fungus (research proper method)
• Vet care: Find exotic vet experienced with amphibians

Colour Morphs

Common Morphs

Beautiful varieties:

• Wild type: Dark with spots (natural colouration)
• Leucistic: Pink body, dark eyes (most popular)
• Golden albino: Golden/yellow, pink eyes
• White albino: White body, pink eyes
• Melanoid: All black, no shine
• Copper: Copper/brown colouration
• GFP: Glow under UV light (genetically modified)

Morph Care

All need same care:

• Colour doesn't affect care requirements
• Leucistic and albinos more sensitive to light
• All morphs equally hardy
• Choose based on preference

Tank Mates

Best Kept Alone

Solitary animals:

• Prefer solitude: Not social creatures
• Cannibalistic: May bite each other's gills/limbs
• Size matters: Similar size if keeping multiple
• Space needed: Large tank essential for multiple
• Monitor closely: Separate if aggression occurs

No Fish Tank Mates

Incompatible with fish:

• Fish nip axolotl gills
• Axolotls eat small fish
• Different temperature needs
• Competition for food
• Keep axolotls species-only

Breeding Considerations

Before You Breed

Serious considerations:

• Requires experience and knowledge
• Hundreds of eggs (300-1000)
• Need homes for all babies
• Expensive (separate tanks, food)
• Time-consuming (daily water changes)
• Not recommended for beginners

Sexing Axolotls

Determining gender:

• Males: Swollen cloaca (bulge behind back legs)
• Females: Rounder body, no cloacal bulge
• Reliable at: 12+ months old
• Difficult in juveniles: Wait until mature

Legal Considerations

UK Legal Status

Check regulations:

• Legal to keep in UK
• No license required
• Check local council rules
• Rental agreements may restrict
• Cannot release into wild (illegal and harmful)

Where to Buy

Reputable sources:

• Specialist breeders: Best option, healthy animals
• Reptile/aquatic shops: Check conditions carefully
• Online breeders: Research thoroughly, check reviews
• Avoid: Wild-caught (illegal), poor conditions
• Cost: £20-£80 depending on morph

Setup Costs

Initial Investment

Budget for these:

• Axolotl: £20-£80
• Tank: £50-£150
• Filter: £30-£80
• Chiller or fans: £20-£500
• Thermometer: £5-£15
• Test kit: £20-£35
• Substrate/decorations: £20-£50
• Hides: £15-£30
• Initial food: £10-£20
• Total: £190-£960

Monthly Costs

Ongoing expenses:

• Food: £10-£25/month
• Water conditioner: £3-£8/month
• Electricity: £5-£30/month (chiller expensive)
• Test kits: £5-£10/month
• Total: £23-£73/month

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Critical Errors

Don't make these:

• Not cycling tank: Kills axolotl
• Water too warm: Causes stress and death
• Gravel substrate: Impaction risk
• Overfeeding: Causes bloating and poor water quality
• Handling frequently: Damages slime coat
• Strong filter flow: Stresses axolotl
• Tank mates: Fish or multiple axolotls without space
• Bright lighting: Stresses axolotl

Daily Care Routine

Daily Tasks

Quick checks:

• Check temperature
• Observe axolotl behaviour
• Feed (if feeding day)
• Remove any uneaten food
• Spot check water quality

Weekly Tasks

Regular maintenance:

• 20-25% water change
• Siphon substrate/bottom
• Test water parameters
• Clean glass if needed
• Check filter functioning

Monthly Tasks

Deeper maintenance:

• Clean filter media (in old tank water)
• Check all equipment
• Deep clean decorations if needed
• Trim plants if present

Your Axolotl Journey

Axolotls are truly unique and fascinating pets that offer something completely different from traditional aquarium fish. Their adorable appearance, incredible regenerative abilities, and calm demeanour make them captivating companions for the right owner.

Success with axolotls comes down to maintaining cold, clean water, providing appropriate housing, and understanding their specific needs. Get these fundamentals right, and your axolotl will thrive for 10-15 years or more, providing endless fascination.

Remember, axolotls are observation pets rather than interactive ones. You can't handle them or play with them like other pets, but watching them glide through the water, hunt for food, and display their unique behaviours is incredibly rewarding.

The investment in proper equipment – especially temperature control – is essential. Don't cut corners on cooling systems or filtration. Your axolotl's life depends on maintaining that crucial cool water temperature.

Take your time, cycle your tank properly, maintain excellent water quality, and enjoy the privilege of keeping one of nature's most extraordinary creatures. Welcome to the wonderful world of axolotl keeping!

Happy axolotl keeping from all of us at Petziverse!