Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant safe: With Caution

General Description: Axolotls are fully aquatic salamanders that remain in their larval form, with external gills, even as adults. They are originally native to lakes surrounding Mexico City, Mexico, specifically Lake Xochimilco, but their numbers in the wild have since decreased dramatically due to pollution and urbanization. They are now critically endangered in the wild. Wild type Axolotls have a mottled olive-brown coloration and may exhibit gold speckles. In captivity multiple color morphs exist including albino, leucistic, and melanoid. They have the unique ability of being able to regenerate limbs, gills, and even parts of their eyes and brains. Adult Axolotls typically reach 8 to 10 inches in length.

Diet Requirements: Axolotls are carnivores. We recommend a high quality sinking carnivore pellet or appropriately sized earthworms. Baby Axolotls should be fed every day, while adults can be fed every other day. The amount fed should be based on what they can eat in a sitting (or approximately the size of their head). Any extra food should be removed promptly to avoid fouling the water. Black worms, ghost shrimp, and frozen blood worms can be used as treats once a week for variety.

Care Requirements: Axolotls do best in an established  species only aquarium. Baby Axolotls should not be kept together as they are cannibalistic and may bite each other’s legs, tails and gills. Adults may be housed together in an appropriately sized tank. For one adult Axolotl you will need no less than a 20L tank (30×12 inch footprint). Add 10 more gallons for each additional individual. The preferred tank shape is long and wide. They prefer low lighting and low water flow, with good oxygenation. Providing aquarium safe, non-sharp, hiding places for each individual is important. We do not recommend using gravel with Axolotls due to risk of accidental ingestion. A bare bottom tank or sand for larger individuals is safe. Live plants may be an unrealistic option based on Axolotl lighting and substrate preferences. Axolotls are sticklers for proper water temperature. A tank kept too warm will stress them and lead to illness. Water temperatures below 70F are required, with 60F to 65F being ideal. Recommended water conditions, 65-70° F, KH 4-8, pH 7.0-7.5

Purchase Size: Small: 2″ to 3-1/2″; Medium: 4″ to 5-1/2″; Large: 6″ to 7″

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase size is approximate.