Are you considering keeping axolotls as pets and you have no idea what to feed them? Worry no more.
Although, they’re amphibians, Axolotls enjoy eating meat and other foods.
With the right water temperature and proper feeding, the axolotls can stay for up to 3 weeks without feeding. Now let’s get down to the specifics.
So, what do Axolotls eat? Axolotls comfortably eat live food such as earthworms, mosquitoes, crickets, and crustaceans. They also eat dry food such as dried shrimp. The food that the turtle eats can also be useful to the axolotls.
The teeth of the axolotls are useful when grabbing their meal. They can’t use it to chew or tear food since they have not developed fully.
They require staying in the water, to help them suck in the diet. If you cook chicken, don’t hesitate to give your axolotls a piece. A cooked liver and beef can provide a good supplement.
Since they swallow food without chewing, you need to feed them at least twice a week.
They can live for over ten years. In captivity, they can live up to15 years.
They are excellent pet and easy to maintain. Since you know what to feed them, learn below how to take good care of them.
1. Provide Proper Environment
a). Buy Tank
Before purchasing the pet, you need to set up a tank. If you are buying only one axolotl, ensure that the container has a capacity of 10 gallons.
Depending on the area, a bigger one is better.
The same way you fill an aquarium for your fish is the same way you should fill it for axolotls. Condition the tap water before using it to fill the aquarium.
Conditioning will help to remove the harmful chemicals that can kill your axolotls.
You have to ensure that the tank has a lid. Ensure that it is always covered. The axolotls are good at jumping. Since the water in the tank is full, the axolotls can quickly jump outside.
b). External Canister Filter
Once you install the external canister filter, it will help to ensure that the water in the tank remains clean and healthy.
To control the water flow, ensure that the filter has a spray bar. If the water continues to flow in your tank actively, the axolotls will get stress.
A massive and continuous flow of water can make them stop eating.
c). Substrate
At the bottom of your aquarium, put some substrates. Ensure that the substrates are bigger than the head of your axolotls.
The smaller ones are dangerous since they can choke your axolotls if it accidentally swallows. Avoid using rough sand instead use the fine sad.
d). Minimal light
Axolotls don’t like bright light. Excess light may cause distress. The lighting is not beneficial to your axolotls. It is useful for you to help you see it.
You can turn it off when not using it. Since your pet requires low temperature, if you leave the light on, it may make the temperature of the water high.
It can cause serious harm to your pet.
Since the axolotls are nocturnal, they are very active during the night.
During the day, they are not comfortable with excess sunlight. You can put a hollow rock in their tank for each axolotl. They will hide in that rock during the day.
2. EnsureThat It Remains Healthy
You can achieve these through…
a). Proper Diet
You can avoid giving it live food and instead purchase frozen blood worms. Night crawlers are also available in the pet stores. You can also give it a treat.
A small piece of chicken and a frozen shrimp can be a sweet treat. If your axolotl is a good eater feed it daily. Ensure that the food you give it, it can finish in no more than thirty minutes.
b). Water
Avoid letting the water in the tank stay for so long. Since you cannot pour everything out, every week remove water up to 60%.
Replace it with fresh conditioned water immediately. Avoid putting water directly from the tap.
Always maintain proper ph. The ph should range at 6.5 to 8.0. You should never let it go beyond or below that range.
Almond leaves or soda ash can help you to regulate the pH. Avoid rapid pH adjustments since they can shock the axolotls. Keep on checking pH daily.
c). Temperature
Some pet reptiles require you to heat tank water. Axolotls are comfortable with a temperature of 16-21 Celsius. Avoid putting it in temperatures above 23 degree Celsius.
That overheating will make your axolotls get stress. Some places or seasons can be cold. During cold seasons, use a heater to maintain the right temperature.
Your axolotls should never stay in a temperature below 4-degree census.
Always check the temperature using a thermometer. If the season is hot, point a fan at the surface of the axolotls’ tank, to make the water cool. You can also regulate the temperature by adding ice cubes.
A frozen water bottle can also help you to adjust the temperature. You can place it at the corner of the tank. Avoid dipping it for more than 2.5 cm.
3. Safety
It’s your responsibility to ensure that your axolotls remain safe. You can achieve these through.
a). Putting It Alone In the Tank
If you think that your axolotls require company, then you are wrong. They are okay being in the tub alone.
If you decide to put small fish inside, axolotls will eat them.
You can also choose to put two axolotls with a similar size. If you put different sized axolotls, the bigger will keep on bullying, the smaller one.
You should not place any other pet in the axolotl’s tank.
2. Separating Them
Your axolotls may breed and have young ones. Avoid leaving them for long in the adult tank since adults cab swallow or bully them.
You should remove young ones and put them in a separate water tank. In case you are wondering how you can remove them, then a net can help you.
3. Stop Handling Them
You should only touch the baby axolotls when putting it in a separate tank. If you start holding the adults, you will only stress them out.
Some people assume that they can bond with the axolotls by holding them. That’s a wrong assumption since the axolotls are not friendly to humans.
Conclusion
When considering axolotls for a pet, you need to know more about them.
You should know what to feed them and their eating habits. Ensure that they remain safe and healthy.
You have to provide your axolotls with the right environment.