Question: How much food?

[TacitGrunt]

I have 2 Axolotls, both are about 6.5" long and approximately 9 months old. I'm currently feeding them Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets. How many pellets should I feed a day and how many times a day? Thanks!

 

[Nmshuhart]

From what I've read, you kind of have to eyeball it. Feed as much as they will take in 20 minutea or so and remove the uneaten food. You can try this again later if it's a juvenile, but make sure their body does not get bigger than their head. Otherwise, you'll have to cut their food intake back, as they are overweight. Adults only need to eat once every few days.

 

[AxolotlChris]

I wouldn't feed as much as they will take in 20 mins, that's a long time to continuously feed an Axolotl. I judge the amount to feed based on the physical size of the Axolotls body and the size of the pellets, realistically you wouldn't want to be feeding so many pellets that it would fill its body causing it to bulge, then not exactly making it easy to digest, potentially causing a sort of impaction. This is just my theory though. I feed in smaller amounts but once in the morning and once at night, I like to feed only once a day if the Axolotl hasn't passed the food from the previous days. Again this is just my theory

 

[xxianxx]

Axolotls dont generally overeat so just drop in a few, clear away any left after 20 mins, add more if the axolotl eats all the first lot and is still looking for food. There is no evidence to indicate that excessive consumption of pellets causes impaction.

 

[AxolotlChris]

Axolotls dont generally overeat so just drop in a few, clear away any left after 20 mins, add more if the axolotl eats all the first lot and is still looking for food. There is no evidence to indicate that excessive consumption of pellets causes impaction.

That's good to hear, I suppose they just regurgitate if they eat too much