Axolotl Care Guide: Habitat, Water & Health for a Thriving Pet

Typical axolotl appearance and behavior

• Fully aquatic salamander that has frilly gills
• Lives permanently in water
• Not very active, tend to rest on bottom of the aquarium
• Referred to as “the walking fish”
• Can regenerate a limb
• Voracious carnivores
• Are nocturnal
• Come in different colors morphs
• Have poor eyesight

Characteristics

Habitat

Habitat size

Keep an axolotl in an appropriately sized aquarium. A minimum of 20 gallons, for an adult axolotl, is recommended. Length of the aquarium is more important than height, a 20 gallon long would be a more ideal choice than a 20-gallon high.

Building your pet’s habitat

Water health:

• Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health. Slow water circulation should be provided to mimic water currents found in the axolotl’s natural habitat.
• Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life. Axolotls are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, and nitrate levels should be maintained at less than 20ppm. If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing.
• Axolotls will tolerate a little freshwater aquarium salt in the aquarium; the specific gravity should not exceed 1.004. Do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than 0.001 in either direction in a 24-hour period

Substrate: Axolotlscan ingest any that will fit in their mouth.Provideabout 1 - 2” of nonabrasive substrate such as sand or a smooth pebble that is larger than their adult mouth and will not hurt their soft skin

Décor: Plants, caves, hollow logs or other safe hiding spaces should be provided to help reduce stress.

Feeding

What to feed your axolotls

Axolotls are voracious carnivores

A well-balanced axolotl diet consists of high-protein foods, such as frozen and freeze-dried bloodworms, krill, mysis and brine shrimp, and live foods, such as earthworms and black worms.

Things to remember when feeding your axolotl:

• Feed young axolotls daily however their appetite will diminish as adults. At around 1 year old they only need to be feed 3-4 times per week.
• Axolotl typically feed at night
• Thaw frozen foods before feeding

Axolotl care

Water care: Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your axolotl healthy

Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment

Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week

Weekly to monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every 2–4 weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly

• Avoid overcrowded conditions, which are a major cause of stress and disease
• Ensure your axolotl has hiding places in their aquarium
• Provide an appropriate and varied diet
• Axolotls are nocturnal, too bright of lighting can cause stress

Where to buy

Various axolotls are available at select Petco locations and Petco.com. Offerings vary by location, so call ahead to check availability.

Axolotl supplies

· Appropriate size aquarium

· Appropriate food (dry and frozen)

· Hiding décor

· Live plants

· Artificial plants

· Water conditioner

· Filter

· Water test kit

· Hood

· Aquarium net

· Thermometer

· Freshwater substrate

· Refractometer

· Freshwater salt

· Air stone

· Air pump

· Airline tubing

· Check valve

Aquarium mates

Axolotls can be kept together if they are similar in size, in an appropriately sized aquarium. Axolotls may live with larger nonaggressive species that will not pick at their delicate gills but they may try to eat any fish that fit in their mouth.

Health

Signs of a healthy axolotl

• Clear eyes
• Remains on the bottom of the aquarium
• Out in the open, no excessive hiding
• Eats vigorously
• Smooth coloration
• Free of parasites or disease

Red flags

If you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian.)

• Loss of color
• Loss of appetite
• Spots or fungus on body or mouth
• Red streaks or patches
• Open sores
• Cloudy eyes
• Labored breathing
• Weight loss
• Bloating

Common Axolotl health issues

* Some aquatic medication products are unsafe for axolotls and should be avoided such as, malachite green, copper-based treatments and tetracycline.

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical Mycobacterium and Salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical Mycobacterium and Salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.