Axolotl care??

[Whistly]

I've always wondered what water do you use with axolotls?
Sorry to cut in Justine

[Jenste]

Axolotls are very easy to keep - if you can provide the right water temperature - - They need cool water, meaning under 70*F at all times. Temperatures above 75*F for any length of time can be fatal. In the summer this can prove very challenging in most regions so as long as you are sure you can meet the temperature requirements, then you can care for them easily.

And for the babies - you have to feed newly hatched brineshrimp. Adult brineshrimp are far too large.

[toxxxickitten]

Sorry for the delay in response! I worked last night and didn't get a chance to get on the computer.

Babies don't necessarily need a particular water temperature. They do prefer it colder. If you're hatching out eggs then the colder you keep them the longer it will take them to develop and the warmer you keep them the faster they develop. I think 65*F was what I was told as a good temperature to make sure they develop fully. And as mentioned adult brine shrimp are way too large for a baby to ingest. You have to set up a brine shrimp hatchery and make sure you have baby brine shrimp for a few weeks until they get their front limbs and then you can switch to frozen blood worms or frozen brine shrimp (adults).

[froglover27]

Okay cool(: so adult brine shrimp are too large!? gosh.....tiny babies.....Thanks for the info guys!! Ive heard that brine shrimp are easy to hatch...is that true??

[toxxxickitten]

For a newborn baby axolotl a full grown adult brine shrimp is too large for them to swallow. The babies are TINY, but they seem to grow at a somewhat fast pace. Brine shrimp are super easy to hatch if you have them set up right. Pretty much buy the San Fransico Bay hatchery kit and you're good to go. You can also just make a hatchery yourself. They are pretty simple.

[froglover27]

any idea where to get the kit? haha sorry if I'm bugging you..Oh and can you put an axolotl iin a 35 hexagonal tank?

[Reggie]

I'm not sure what axolotl has do to with tropical fish keeping. They are not fish nor are they tropical. Keep them as you would a Hellbender or Japanese Giant Salamander, cool clean and water with lots of aireation. They will shut down at water temps above 75F. They will only thrive at water temps of 60-68F . Anything 70-74F will put alot of stress on them. Length and width is important , height is not and will consider to be wasted space. A 20 gal Long will be good for one or two specimens , 33 or 40 gal Long will be good for up to four specimens. There are lots of websites online that sell nice healthy animals just google " axolotl for sale " , you'll find four or five business on the first page. Most places sell neonates ( babies ) , so you can use a long narrow Critter Keeper or plastic sweater box PER ANIMAL as young are very hungry and canniblism is a given. Add a small pump and airstone as well as make sure you change the water with Dechlor water on a daily basis. If you choose an online company, they will most likely have customer support and will guide you in the correct way of axolotl husbandry.
I wish I could keep axolotl here in Central Texas but the weather is too hot , they are a fascinating animal. Good Luck !!

[toxxxickitten]

any idea where to get the kit? haha sorry if I'm bugging you..Oh and can you put an axolotl iin a 35 hexagonal tank?

You could try eBAY: San Francisco Bay Brand Brine Shrimp Hatchery Kit | eBay

Or to give you an idea of what it looks like ^ -- your local pet store should carry this kit. My one job (which is a pet store) carries it and it's where I bought mine. It works fantastic. However, be sure to TIGHTLY screw the 2-litre bottle into the base or it will leak. I apparently hadn't screwed it on tightly enough to the base and (good thing I tested it first) the water had leaked out overnight.

And Jenna pretty much nailed it on the head. I wasn't saying you keep an Axolotl like a tropical fish. I was saying that if you have kept tropical fish or any type of fish then you can pretty much take care of an Axolotl.