Best way to feed an axie

[squiddon]

I just got my first axolotl after a few months about reading up about them. I was just wondering what the best methods of feeding him and what are good foods to feed?

The lady in the shop sorted me out with some frozen mosquito larvae, I'll be picking up some more foods soon too.

I'm so excited about being an axie owner!

 

[Jake]

I feed my adult axolotls nightcrawlers by hand. They love them! You can also use trout chow, or salmon pellets too. Frozen mosquito larvae are good for young juveniles, but when it gets older, it'll be better off on a diet of mainly earthworms.

 

[squiddon]

He is a little juvie at the moment, he's a 5/6cm little babber. I'm worried that the other fish may eat the food before him. I've fed him Tetra Delicia Daphnia and the Larvae today, making sure it sinks near him.

 

[miluhe]

If you have the possibilites put him in a tank of his own. The other fish may chew on his nibbles, or when he is bigger he eat the fish. Earthworm is very good food.

 

[kapo]

I'm a bit surprised that as you had read up on them you put them in with fish. I agree with miluhe, earthworms are best if you can get them. If they're too large chop them from the tail end and drop it in (a worm can survive without a tail - they eventually regrow it.)

I've fed my small axies live mosquito larvae, live bloodworm and live daphnia.

 

[squiddon]

I think I was getting a bit over-zealous. All of the inhabitants get on fine but I will be investing in a new tank for the little fellah very shortly (I'm also trying to find the 40 litre floating around my parents' house somewhere).

When you mean earthworms you do mean the ones living in a garden? Would I be able to breed the worms and then feed them?

 

[kapo]

Yes as long as you don't use pesticides or garden sprays in your garden. They're very easy to breed.

The inhabitants may get on fine, but what temperature is the tankwater at - axolotls do better at cooler temperatures (under 20degrees cel). See: www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml

A good size tank for one axolotl (basing it on adult size of 30cm - few of ours are 32cm), is 2ft long, 3ft if you think you may get another axolotl.

 

[squiddon]

I've been keeping the tank as cool as possible, especially now that it's summer, and keeping the temp below 20 as much as possible, making sure it doesn't get any higher.

We used to grow vegetables in the garden and use slug pellets on the patch but that was a few years ago (maybe 3-4), I think the chemicals should've washed away by now. I'll have a look for some worms when it rains next, or use the watering can technique!

 

[ianclick]

Kia Ora squiddon,

I started feeding our 2 axies earthworms and they love them. Kapo told me if you chop them from the tail end they will keep wriggling in the tank and stay alive in the fridge for about a week.

I know thats what I thought, just watch which way they wriggle the tails the opposite end to the way the are heading.

Freaked my boys out to see worms in the fridge they thought it was for dinner.

Both our axies take food from our fingers or from some long tongs (blunt tweezers). They also have a feeding bowl in their tanks.