Picked up an Axolotl today!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Not much, do a water change here and there. they love worms ( night crawlers ), maybe get him a little cave to go into.

Make sure not to have a lot of iron in the water. I never had luck with mine eating pellets, he liked silver sides, shrimp, and worms.

honestly, its really easy animal.

He ate blood worms and shrimp today. I've read though, that they like cold water, low light, no current, plants...which contradicts low light...what temp do u keep yours at and how has his growth been?

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He ate blood worms and shrimp today. I've read though, that they like cold water, low light, no current, plants...which contradicts low light...what temp do u keep yours at and how has his growth been?

Sent from my MB855 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

Well in the wild, heavy plant cover would cause low light. You could simulate that by only having the tank about halfway full of water with crazy plants in it that grow out of the surface. Give the plants enough light to thrive and they would shield the part that the axolotl lives in.
 
the heavy plant cover in the tank, will cause low light. I got mine at about 4-5" hes pushing 10 or so now. The tank stays around 68 or so, its located under the ac vent in the house. He's in a 40gallon breeder with a 10-20 gallon hob ac filter on the back. he's got a nice natural planted driftwood tank and when the lights on, he can escape and hide under lots of coverage. I never really noticed him get longer, but he got very girthy.
 
I used to keep one in a 2x2x2 cube with live plants. they are probably easier to care for than any fish. they are pretty amusing but they don't really do a whole lot. Not as cool as fish but as far as amphibians go they are awesome. They are actually not that hard to breed either apparently.

Bare in mind they like cool temperatures and do well without a heater. which depends of course on your location. Back when I was in England I kept mine without a heater just fine. But here right now its -20 so I don't think I would leave him unheated this time of year. depends where you live.
 
then yeah you will want to give it some heat. they come from northern mexico you see so if you live in a temperate or arid climate you can leave them unheated year round.
 
He ate blood worms and shrimp today. I've read though, that they like cold water, low light, no current, plants...which contradicts low light...what temp do u keep yours at and how has his growth been?

Sent from my MB855 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

Grow plants that reach for the surface towards the light. Get tall, large anubias, Amazon swords and perhaps anacharis. You can even put anacharis just on the surface of the water for more cover if you don't mind that. You will not have much current anyway. The axolotl looks very nice. How I wish I can have more variety. Lucky you!
 
IMO, axols are one of the easiest aquatic pets. I would never recommend a heater for a tank in the house. They prefer temps in the 60s F and reports of successful breeding has occured in temps as low as the 40s F. Anything in the 70s and youll start having health issues. I grow anacharis and madagascar lace in my tank. The lace is a challenge but the anacharis thrives in every water condition ive put it in. Perform regular small water changes and you shouldnt have a problem. Axolotl.org will give you all the basic info you could ever ask about keeping one. Nice pick up
 
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