Axolotl Care SheetCare sheet for the Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).

By John Clare

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Unlike most salamanders, axolotls remain in their aquatic form for life.Leucistic axolotls are white with dark eyes, and sometimes they have a few black markings along the top of the body.

Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) Axolotls are large salamanders that come from the remnants of lakes Xochimilco and Chalco in Mexico City, Mexico.Axolotls live their entire lives in water, never emerging onto land. Axolotl care requirements are minimal, and providedtemperature and water flow are well controlled, they are hardy, easy-to-care-for captives that breed readily in captivity. It isdifficult to think of a more unusual display animal than the axolotl, and its bold and tame nature makes it an interactive pet.

Axolotl AvailabilityAxolotls are often available from private breeders, often via the Internet. Axolotls are not commonly available in reptile storesor at reptile shows, owing to their incompatibility with most reptile-friendly temperatures. Some suppliers may be able tospecial order them for you, but generally the best sources for healthy axolotls are other hobbyists.

Axolotl SizeMost axolotls reach about 10 inches total length (from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail). A few will pass 12 inches, butthis is rare. I have personally seen and photographed a 17-inch axolotl that had to be seen to be believed, but suchmonsters are highly unusual. Axolotls reach sexual maturity when they reach about 8 inches. This can be in as few as sixmonths, but generally it takes about a year of good care to reach this size.

Axolotl Life SpanAxolotls have been known to live past 20 years, but it is unusual to find an individual older than 10 years.

Axolotl HousingA 10-gallon aquarium can accommodate a single adult axolotl, but due to the large amount of waste produced by thesemessy creatures, a 20-gallon aquarium is a safer choice. Axolotls do not emerge from the water, so a land area would gounused. Fill the aquarium to the depth of your choice, but it will be easier to maintain good water parameters when theaquarium is filled, as you would for aquarium fish. A lid or aquarium hood should be kept in place at all times becauseaxolotls have been known to jump out of their aquariums.

A filter will help maintain safe water parameters. The best choice is an external canister filter, but ensure the water outlet tothe aquarium is fitted with a spray bar or other flow-spreading outlet. This is necessary because axolotls do not toleratedistinct water flow like fish. Axolotls that live in a noticeable water flow for a few months will go off food and developstress-related diseases. Lack of appetite and forward-curled gills are usually a sign of stress from too much water flow.

Axolotl Lighting and TemperatureLike the vast majority of amphibians, axolotls do not require lighting, and indeed, new axolotls may be shy if kept underbright lighting, though they will become accustomed to it if provided with some hiding places (the usual aquarium “furniture”such as caves, wood, plants, etc.). Lighting is generally for our viewing pleasure and for the benefit of aquarium plants.Choose a plant-friendly bulb, such as those sold for freshwater aquarium fish. Keep in mind that lighting fixtures oftengenerate a lot of excess heat and this can be detrimental to axolotls.

Temperatures up to the low 70s Fahrenheit are tolerated well by axolotls. An ideal temperature range is the low to mid 60s.Temperatures above 74 degrees will invariably lead to heat stress, loss of appetite and death. If you cannot provideyear-round temperatures below this limit, axolotls are not the ideal pet for your circumstances. If you must have an axolotlbut you have temperature problems, consider buying an aquarium chiller for the warmer parts of the year.

Axolotl SubstrateThe ideal substrate for axolotls is aquarium-safe sand. Axolotls have a bad habit of ingesting gravel and mouth-sized objectsif they are available. This can lead to gut impactions and the death of the axolotl. If you wish to use gravel, consider largepebbles instead. Anything the size of an axolotl’s head or smaller can and will be consumed!

A substrate is not essential – many keepers use no substrate at all – but it is certainly more pleasing to the eye in a displayaquarium if a substrate is used, and it will also help to keep water parameters stable by providing surface area for beneficialbacteria.

Axolotl FoodGood staple foods for axolotls are nightcrawlers (large earthworms) and frozen bloodworm cubes. Good treat foods foraxolotls include frozen shrimp from the supermarket (cooked), and lean pieces of beef and chicken. Avoid live food such asfeeder fish because of the risk of parasite and disease transmission – axolotls are vulnerable to many fish diseases andparasites. Pinkie mice and other fatty foods are best used only as a rare treat for axolotls and preferably not at all.

As is the case with most salamanders, axolotls have no need of vitamin/mineral supplementation, and indeed it would behard to deliver this to an aquatic animal. In my experience, axolotls fed solely on nightcrawlers will never develop anyvitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Axolotl Water and QualityTap water is fine for axolotls, provided it is pretreated with aquarium water conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramines.Axolotls are far more forgiving than aquarium fish when it comes to water quality, but a good filter and regular waterchanges should be employed nonetheless. If you’ve ever kept aquarium fish, follow a similar routine.

Ideally, a new aquarium and filter should be allowed to cycle for several weeks prior to the introduction of axolotls to let thewater conditions settle and filter bacteria develop. Be sure to keep an eye on water parameters using the test kits sold ataquarium stores.

Axolotl Handling and TemperamentAxolotls have virtually no true bone in their bodies, particularly when young. Much of their skeleton is made up of cartilage.Axolotls are delicate and soft-bodied amphibians with permeable skin. As such, axolotls should not be handled unlessabsolutely necessary (they are tricky to catch in a net). If you use a net to move an axolotl, avoid nets with mesh that wouldlet an axolotl’s fingers get damaged. Use a soft, very fine-mesh net.

Young axolotls tend to nip at or bite off the legs and gills of their tankmates, so youngsters should only be kept together iffed well and given plenty of space. Axolotls larger than 5 inches tend to be safer tankmates, and adults will rarely have anyaltercations. Contrary to the advice of some sources, axolotls are not social animals and do not benefit from having acompanion axolotl. Keeping multiple axolotls is purely for the keeper’s benefit and for breeding.

Due to the tendency of nipping, fish should not be kept with axolotls. In fact, an axolotl aquarium should contain onlyaxolotls!

John Clare is the author of Axolotl.org, and the founder of Caudata.org and FrogForum.net.