Hello Megan,
There are various good sites that will answer all your questions in great detail. Please take a look through these sites in particular. They would prove very useful.
http://www.axolotl.org/faq.htm (MUST READ!)
http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Ambystoma/A_mexicanum.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/articles.shtml (Must read the 4 headings as shown below)
For the above site, take a look under Housing, Water Quality, Feeding and Reproduction especially.
However just to give you the salient points.
Water condition
By using a water chemistry test kit (and its worthwhile investing in one but preferably not the inaccurate dipstick type), your water chemistry should read no ammonia, no nitrite and less than 60 for nitrate level. Water pH ideally 7.5 but a range of 6.5-8 is ok. Water temp is ideally 17-18 degrees celsius. There should not be strong water current flow such as from a filter. Axolotls also thrive better in hard water (presence of dissolved salts) over soft water. If using water from tap the first time, always treat it with a good quality water ager that will remove harmful chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals.
Housing
House only axolotls and avoid mixing in other species such as fish and snails. Use clean fine sand (you can buy from aquarium shop or wash the sand you get from childrens' playground, NOT beach sand) if you like to have a substrate for the axolotls to crawl on although you can just leave it bare bottomed without anything. Do not use pebbles and gravel, especially those of pea sized and can be swallowed by the axolotls. Provide plenty of hiding places such as logs, caves, water plants, pipes etc. Ideally two hiding places per axolotl. It is also worthwhile investing in a filter that would help keep your water clean and healthy for the axolotls. If you keep live aquarium plants, you would also need to provide lighting (6 hours per day is enough). Also avoid overcrowding. An extract from the abovementioned sites is as follows:
"A 10-gallon tank can support about 12 inches of animal (three 4-inch newts, for example), and a 15-20 gallon tank can easily support about 16 inches of animal. These figures assume that the tank is at least 2/3rds full of water. Any fish or other animals in the tank also count toward the total. Any animals beyond this could result in overcrowding."
Nutrition
It is always best to provide a variety of food. Nutritionally optimal food sources include earthworms and bloodworms as well as good quality axolotl pellets. You can also offer your axolotl occasional treats such as bits of shrimp, mussels, beef heart. Take a look at these sites for a compilation of food sources and nutritional values.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/worms.shtml
Water plants
There are pros and cons of keeping live water plants versus artificial water plants such as those made from silk or plastic as well as keeping any plants in the first place.
Advantages of keeping plants in tank
- Provides hiding places
- Beautifies the tank
- Allows eggs/spermatophores to be attached to
- Provides larger surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonise
- Can buffer against ammonia and nitrite spikes
Disadvantages
- Well its alive so you got ensure you provide at least 6 hours of lighting.
- They can rot and die and if unremoved, can contribute to nitrogenous wastes.
- They can sometimes introduce unwanted parasites and other microorganisms, therefore you would need to quarantine your new plants first.
- There are some species of plants that can thrive better in a cold water tank such as the anubias over other species of water plants (especially some plant cuttings) that would tend to die quite easily. You would need to research the plants available to you whether they are suitable for your tank.
- Your axolotls may rip the plants out when snouting or digging around.
If you want a half way compromise, try artificial plants, they have a lot of the advantages of live plants without the hassle of keeping them alive!
Cheers
