Interested in axolotls

[MarshallsMom]

I have two Axolotls, Marshall (who gives me my screen name) and Maynard.

A 10 would be okay for a juvenile, but you really wouldn't want to keep one in it long term. They get to be about 10-12 inches long, so picture a ruler in your tank. They also like to swim, and they can't really do that as adults in a ten.

If you do decide to get a juvenile anyways, know that sand can be devastating to filters. I personally use large river rocks, and I have been fine. You just have to move them around to clean it. Definitely no gravel.

I have live plants, BUT they do uproot them every time I turn around. Higher end silk plants would be your best bet, because I know mine like to cuddle into them, and some of the plastics can be pointy and sharp.

Whatever filter you decide on should minimally affect water flow in your tank. Axolotls really don't like moving water.

Also! They should NEVER be above 70 degrees, and your goal should be 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

They are really wonderful pets. Feed them earthworms, store bought Trout Worms seem to be the best. Feed them at night. Leave the light off most of the day. Also, they seem to like to interact, so spend a little time in front of the tank everyday. Please PM me with any additional questions. I love talking about Axolotls!

[Deku]

You should ask in a forum called caudata.org which was also made by the founder of this forum John Clare. But in short---From reading that forum this is all I gather:
1)10 gallons is not enough for even one ADULT(always think of adult size)
2)Axos are territorial. Like pufferfish. If you want to keep them in a tank Id say a long tank 55g in MY OPINION is the best choice for a couple of axos.
3)Live plants and fake plants work well. Either way just make sure they have e nough hiding spots.
4)Use sand because its good for walking about on the bottom and if they swallow it; it passes through easily.

My tips(IMO):
-DO not EVER feed bloodworms, mealworms, superworms, beetles, crayfish.
-1 fully grown axolotl should be kept in a 20long tank. Because they are like turtles in this sense. They need space to roam around. Also look at how big they get. A 10gallon is just simply too small for one.
-If you want a pair I say a 40breeder would be okay, a 55g is best.
-Water should only be at most 1foot deep. It is best if its 5-7inches deep of water.
-Use canister filters
-Foods that you feed frogs work well for axos, but you can also add frozen fish like freshwater fish(trout). Turtle pellets(reptomin are best) also can be part of their diet.
-Dont just use one source of food.

I'd say your best bet is to go over to caudata.org and ask them and look at their caresheets. I may be wrong but I remember reading that they grow up to 12inches. So a tank that is 12inches long isnt the best idea for one. Two is just asking for trouble. Also keep the sides of the tank and the backside of the tank covered(suggestion).

Good luck and hope this helps.

[John]

DO not EVER feed bloodworms

Why is that?

[Deku]

Why is that?

Blood worms are known to be bad for frogs. Because they sometimes contain parasites and such.

[John]

Blood worms are known to be bad for frogs. Because they sometimes contain parasites and such.

Not the frozen kind. I have used them for over a decade.

[Deku]

In my experience, unlike puffers, it hasn't been the territoriality of the Axolotls, so much as they just need room to do their thing. My Golden Albino, Marshall, loves to swim laps, which he couldn't do in a ten. Marshall lives with another Axolotl named Maynard, and, please, someone correct me if this is an anomaly, but they genuinely seem to enjoy each other's company. I keep mine in a 36 x 12 inch tank so they have the full run of a three foot long tank, but they hang out with each other most of the time. When they were little babies (3 inches) they shared the same chunk of food. It really is fun to observe an obvious bond between the two creatures.

I am interested in why you say not to feed bloodworms. I feed mine bloodworms, and have never had a problem, other than the fact they are messy, which I remedied by using a small ceramic reptile bowl in the bottom of their tank for the worms.

The general rule for Axolotls is a square foot per creature, and, in my opinion, a little extra wiggle room. I have my two juveniles (6 inches each) in a tank with 36 x 12 inches of floor space, and I feel that they can grow up just fine in that. I wouldn't add another Axolotl to that tank, although, technically speaking, I have the floor space.

As for feeding your Axolotl, in my experience, and the collective knowledge of the people I've spoken with, earthworms are a solid choice for the brunt of their diet. I feed mine Trout Worms, which are smaller than nightcrawlers, and they have been perfect. My Axolotls have been growing wonderfully since I switched them onto earthworms at the advice of my dear friend Shannon, who currently has 11 thriving Axolotls. I would be extremely hesitant to feed my boys Reptomin. It is a great source of nutrition for turtles, the animal it was developed for. However, since Axolotls and any kind of turtle are vastly different animals, it stands to reason that they have vastly different dietary requirements. The same goes for saying that frog food is appropriate for Axolotls. I've heard wonderful things about sinking salmon pellets, although I have yet to try them. I have only found them available in fifty pound bags, which would be a little ridiculous for my two Axolotls.

My water is about 13 inches deep, and I have never had any sort of problem. My oxygen levels are very good. However, I do use a waterfall style filter which circulates the water. But, the bright side of having deeper tank water is that the water at the bottom is perfectly still. I also positioned their driftwood directly underneath the fall to help combat some of the disruption to the water.

Again, though, in my humble opinion, a 10 is simply too small for an axolotl long term. Along those same lines, perhaps a small variety of newt would be fun? I kept fire bellies, which were adorable and engaging to watch.

I sincerely hope this helps, and, again, feel free to PM me with any concerns, questions, or comments.

Hannah

Not the frozen kind. I have used them for over a decade.

They come frozen? I didnt know that. Well I guess thats not as bad. I was assuming you guys ment live bloodworms(I know stores that sells them, and blackworms).

[MarshallsMom]

You should ask in a forum called caudata.org which was also made by the founder of this forum John Clare. But in short---From reading that forum this is all I gather:
1)10 gallons is not enough for even one ADULT(always think of adult size)
2)Axos are territorial. Like pufferfish. If you want to keep them in a tank Id say a long tank 55g in MY OPINION is the best choice for a couple of axos.
3)Live plants and fake plants work well. Either way just make sure they have e nough hiding spots.
4)Use sand because its good for walking about on the bottom and if they swallow it; it passes through easily.

My tips(IMO):
-DO not EVER feed bloodworms, mealworms, superworms, beetles, crayfish.
-1 fully grown axolotl should be kept in a 20long tank. Because they are like turtles in this sense. They need space to roam around. Also look at how big they get. A 10gallon is just simply too small for one.
-If you want a pair I say a 40breeder would be okay, a 55g is best.
-Water should only be at most 1foot deep. It is best if its 5-7inches deep of water.
-Use canister filters
-Foods that you feed frogs work well for axos, but you can also add frozen fish like freshwater fish(trout). Turtle pellets(reptomin are best) also can be part of their diet.
-Dont just use one source of food.

I'd say your best bet is to go over to caudata.org and ask them and look at their caresheets. I may be wrong but I remember reading that they grow up to 12inches. So a tank that is 12inches long isnt the best idea for one. Two is just asking for trouble. Also keep the sides of the tank and the backside of the tank covered(suggestion).

Good luck and hope this helps.

In my experience, unlike puffers, it hasn't been the territoriality of the Axolotls, so much as they just need room to do their thing. My Golden Albino, Marshall, loves to swim laps, which he couldn't do in a ten. Marshall lives with another Axolotl named Maynard, and, please, someone correct me if this is an anomaly, but they genuinely seem to enjoy each other's company. I keep mine in a 36 x 12 inch tank so they have the full run of a three foot long tank, but they hang out with each other most of the time. When they were little babies (3 inches) they shared the same chunk of food. It really is fun to observe an obvious bond between the two creatures.

I am interested in why you say not to feed bloodworms. I feed mine bloodworms, and have never had a problem, other than the fact they are messy, which I remedied by using a small ceramic reptile bowl in the bottom of their tank for the worms.

The general rule for Axolotls is a square foot per creature, and, in my opinion, a little extra wiggle room. I have my two juveniles (6 inches each) in a tank with 36 x 12 inches of floor space, and I feel that they can grow up just fine in that. I wouldn't add another Axolotl to that tank, although, technically speaking, I have the floor space.

As for feeding your Axolotl, in my experience, and the collective knowledge of the people I've spoken with, earthworms are a solid choice for the brunt of their diet. I feed mine Trout Worms, which are smaller than nightcrawlers, and they have been perfect. My Axolotls have been growing wonderfully since I switched them onto earthworms at the advice of my dear friend Shannon, who currently has 11 thriving Axolotls. I would be extremely hesitant to feed my boys Reptomin. It is a great source of nutrition for turtles, the animal it was developed for. However, since Axolotls and any kind of turtle are vastly different animals, it stands to reason that they have vastly different dietary requirements. The same goes for saying that frog food is appropriate for Axolotls. I've heard wonderful things about sinking salmon pellets, although I have yet to try them. I have only found them available in fifty pound bags, which would be a little ridiculous for my two Axolotls.

My water is about 13 inches deep, and I have never had any sort of problem. My oxygen levels are very good. However, I do use a waterfall style filter which circulates the water. But, the bright side of having deeper tank water is that the water at the bottom is perfectly still. I also positioned their driftwood directly underneath the fall to help combat some of the disruption to the water.

Again, though, in my humble opinion, a 10 is simply too small for an axolotl long term. Along those same lines, perhaps a small variety of newt would be fun? I kept fire bellies, which were adorable and engaging to watch.

I sincerely hope this helps, and, again, feel free to PM me with any concerns, questions, or comments.

Hannah

[Deku]

In my experience, unlike puffers, it hasn't been the territoriality of the Axolotls, so much as they just need room to do their thing. My Golden Albino, Marshall, loves to swim laps, which he couldn't do in a ten. Marshall lives with another Axolotl named Maynard, and, please, someone correct me if this is an anomaly, but they genuinely seem to enjoy each other's company. I keep mine in a 36 x 12 inch tank so they have the full run of a three foot long tank, but they hang out with each other most of the time. When they were little babies (3 inches) they shared the same chunk of food. It really is fun to observe an obvious bond between the two creatures.

I am interested in why you say not to feed bloodworms. I feed mine bloodworms, and have never had a problem, other than the fact they are messy, which I remedied by using a small ceramic reptile bowl in the bottom of their tank for the worms.

The general rule for Axolotls is a square foot per creature, and, in my opinion, a little extra wiggle room. I have my two juveniles (6 inches each) in a tank with 36 x 12 inches of floor space, and I feel that they can grow up just fine in that. I wouldn't add another Axolotl to that tank, although, technically speaking, I have the floor space.

As for feeding your Axolotl, in my experience, and the collective knowledge of the people I've spoken with, earthworms are a solid choice for the brunt of their diet. I feed mine Trout Worms, which are smaller than nightcrawlers, and they have been perfect. My Axolotls have been growing wonderfully since I switched them onto earthworms at the advice of my dear friend Shannon, who currently has 11 thriving Axolotls. I would be extremely hesitant to feed my boys Reptomin. It is a great source of nutrition for turtles, the animal it was developed for. However, since Axolotls and any kind of turtle are vastly different animals, it stands to reason that they have vastly different dietary requirements. The same goes for saying that frog food is appropriate for Axolotls. I've heard wonderful things about sinking salmon pellets, although I have yet to try them. I have only found them available in fifty pound bags, which would be a little ridiculous for my two Axolotls.

My water is about 13 inches deep, and I have never had any sort of problem. My oxygen levels are very good. However, I do use a waterfall style filter which circulates the water. But, the bright side of having deeper tank water is that the water at the bottom is perfectly still. I also positioned their driftwood directly underneath the fall to help combat some of the disruption to the water.

Again, though, in my humble opinion, a 10 is simply too small for an axolotl long term. Along those same lines, perhaps a small variety of newt would be fun? I kept fire bellies, which were adorable and engaging to watch.

I sincerely hope this helps, and, again, feel free to PM me with any concerns, questions, or comments.

Hannah

Bloodworms are known to harbor parasites. Agreed 10gallons is too small for one. Id say your tank is a 40breeder? Personally Id prefer to give the amphibian more room to swim but thats just what I think. I dont know its more like if you take a few steps back from the tank and you see the swim space the animal is offered is not too big. I was reading somewhere about they being aggressive towards each other. Again I cant verify that because I dont own any(its illegal here). But what I do know is its better to be safe than sorry. So I would provide visual boundries for them. They are good swimmers, but itd be a pain for them to constantly gasp for air? Although Iam comparing this to african clawed frogs(the water level). Reptomin is a good source of calcium, but agreed it shouldnt be the staple diet of the axo. Earthworms are always great to feed to any reptile and amphibian. Never had any problems with them.

[MarshallsMom]

Bloodworms are known to harbor parasites. Agreed 10gallons is too small for one. Id say your tank is a 40breeder? Personally Id prefer to give the amphibian more room to swim but thats just what I think. I dont know its more like if you take a few steps back from the tank and you see the swim space the animal is offered is not too big. I was reading somewhere about they being aggressive towards each other. Again I cant verify that because I dont own any(its illegal here). But what I do know is its better to be safe than sorry. So I would provide visual boundries for them. They are good swimmers, but itd be a pain for them to constantly gasp for air? Although Iam comparing this to african clawed frogs(the water level). Reptomin is a good source of calcium, but agreed it shouldnt be the staple diet of the axo. Earthworms are always great to feed to any reptile and amphibian. Never had any problems with them.

Axolotls have gills, so they don't have to gasp for air. The 6 frills on their heads are their gills.

Again, just because something is ideal for one animal doesn't always mean it translates to another animal, especially two as varied as ACFs and Axolotls. Look at the difference in care requirements between different frogs, or even different breeds of dog. In my opinion, it is important to approach each animal as an individual, and not to make assumptions about the care.

As for the Reptomin, I wouldn't feed it to my Axolotls at all. It has a lot of ingredients that, while good for turtles, are unnecessary for Axolotls. Also, Axoltols' skeletons are mostly comprised of cartilage, so not much calcium is required. A turtles shell is actually made up of many fused bones, so a turtle requires a lot of calcium to keep its shell healthy. This is just one example of how these animals differ.

Let's talk about bloodworms!
Piiglet, if you are still considering an Axolotl, know that frozen bloodworms are readily available in almost any pet store, and in all of the packages I've gone through (which is a LOT, believe you me) I have never had a problem with parasites. If you did decide to go with a live worm feeding route, you could culture your own, minimizing the chance of parasites.
I also think that is unfair to single out bloodworms as a predominant source of parasites. Earthworms, feeder fish, blackworms... All routinely fed to pets, all have parasite potential.

If anyone reading this has any questions about Axolotls, please don't hesitate to PM me. I don't consider myself an expert (yet ) but I will certainly do my best to help.
Hannah

[BEETLE]

I have kept axoltls for many years, just got 18 at the moment. Overcrowding causes them to bite at each other,dim lighting seems to reduce this. Live bloodworm is my food of choice for young animals that still require food that is moving but have got past the brine shrimp stage. I have had good results feeding top end (expensive) fish foods designed for predatory fish. Some of these are well balanced with vits and minerals and, in the UK at least, give detailed breakdowns of the nutritional values. I also use as wide a variety of other foods as I can, cut up raw freshwater king prawns give good growth rates but work out expensive!
This year I had more young axolotls than I could easily keep in doors so I put a few into a large plastic tub in my garden that I use for growing pondweed and daphnia, there are lots of things swimming around in there and they have done very well, they are not quite as big as those I kept inside, but I selected the bigger ones anyway, but they are much more interestingly and heavily marked, including some that seemed to be pure white when I first put them in.