Food for my axies

I've been wondering, is it safe to feed the axolotls these they're everywhere in mexico and they're really cheap too.

Hi Asprine,

For a thorough guide to axolotl nutrition. Have a look at these links.

http://www.axolotl.org/feeding.htm

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods.shtml

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/worms.shtml

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/microfoods.shtml

In general, it is highly recommended to feed your axolotl a staple of earthworms, bloodworms, blackworms and/or pellets. Other food types like fish and shrimp pieces can be offered occasionally as a treat. Suitable feeder fish (guppies, minnows, platys) can be used after a quarantine period of at least 30 days.

The photo shows what looks like a shrimp of some sorts. I would say the general rule applies to quarantine if you intend to feed shrimp. I would not recommend feedling live shrimp though. You can try feeding pieces of shrimp meat instead. Live shrimps can be really evasive and hard to 'catch' by the axolotl. Furthermore, crustaceans have these sharp carapace and rostrum (pointy sharp nose) that could possibly injure your axolotl.

Cheers

Hi Mario,

These tiny freshwater shrimp are a great food for axolotls. People here in Germany very quickly branch out from breeder fish tanks to breeder shrimp tanks because the shrimp are often easy to raise, do not require an awful lot of space, can be kept in a tank for breeding snails as well, and are a welcome addition to an axolotl menu.

I do not recognize the exact type of shrimp in your picture but if you can find out its (Latin) name, I am sure to be able to find lots of information on it for you.

-Eva

Hi!

Thanks both for your replies! I think i'll offer them as a treat, I believe that in the wild the axies eat little crustaceans from the bottom of the xochimilco lakes, being from there I've seen little shrimps and even lobster-type animals in the lake.

Also, the biologist (who breeds the only axolotls that are legal to buy here in mexico) told me that he uses crickets on the diet of all his axolotls, because they're really balanced in all the nutrition facts, plus they're so cheap and easy to grow.



I have fed them a bunch of these, and they seem to love it, but well, being that I'm as curious as always I wanna get more second opinions!

Yes, people here feed crickets (and cockroaches!) to their axolotls, too. The problem I have with crickets is that they float and so you have to handfeed them. Also good are isopods (look, I found it in Spanish here). These are crustaceans and as such even have gills, which allow them to live for several days underwater. They are also easy to find under logs and leaves and such outside in your garden or the woods, and they are also easy to breed in a box at home.

-Eva

That's such a good idea! THANKS! How did i not think of that before

Don't thank me, thank the Forum. Donate, donate, donate!

-Eva