Question: Newbie questions from a future axolotl owner.

[atomicferret]

I will be getting my axolotls this coming Wednesday(4 days anc counting woohoo!) and wanted to ask a few questions as I keep finding more things to wonder about as I wait on them!

So far I have had my tank set up and running for a week to monitor the temperatures. Using sand as a substrate and have plants etc so they can feel all safe and snuggly.

I'm just using my rooms natural light as a light source as I don't want to chance an aquarium light heating up the tank.

Food I have so far includes frozen bloodworm cubes and sinking salamander pellets(willing to buy more if anyone can suggest anything). I know I sure would get tired of eating the same foods all the time haha.

The ones arriving will be about 3 inches long. How often and how much should I feed them each? I've found plenty of info on how often and what to feed adult ones but small ones the info seems a little scarce.

When they arrive will they be in bags sort of like when you get a gold fish? If so, do I let them float in the water to adjust to the temperature slowly before releasing in to my tank? Do I release one at a time giving each one time to explore and get used to everything before releasing the second one?

Any thing I should initially watch for in them the first few weeks behavior and looks wise?

Thanks in advance and also thanks for the forum as its been a wealth of information and help in preparing everything in advance for my future buddies.

 

[Mr Poseidon]

First Welcome!!!!

i dont have all the answers for ya, but i do know that as juveniles you should feed them everyday untill they are closer to 6in then you can cut down. also you can feed them earth worms, if the worm is to big just cut it.

When i got mine yes they came in a bag like goldfish. how to realesae them i dont know! i was bad and did not think about it i was to excited!!!

watch for hind legs folating, this means they need to poop. there are a few things you can do to help them, cool down the tank a little, or put them in a shallow container with water that just covers them.

gills turned forward or tail curreld up.

but it sound like your well on your way to being a good owner.

how big is your tank? water conditions? how many axis are you putting together (its important to remember that axolotls are opportunistic eaters so if they are not well fed they most likely will nip at each other)


GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[atomicferret]

Excellent and thanks for the welcome and information!

How many frozen blood worm cubes per axi at 3inches is suggested daily?

Also I have noticed in tank set ups some people have them cluttered with plants and some are sparse but with hiding places for the axolotls?

What is preferred by the little guys more? I don't want it so crowded he cant move around good but I do want them to feel safe and have enough things to crawl under and over to not be bored.

 

[Mr Poseidon]

This it what my tank looks like, two terracotta pots, some plants a sponge filter and a pirate ship.

i find that my axi spends most of his/her time chillin half in half out of one of the hides


Edit: ive reaganed the tank since this pic and added the sponge filter.

also i feed earthworms thats it, when i did do blood worms it was half a pack but ive never used frozen food

 

[atomicferret]

I like your set up a lot, looks really nice!

I'll have to post a picture of mine when my buddies arrive.

I'll probably do earth worms as a main source eventually. Especially if its safe to feed them the ones from my yard(not treated with chemicals or anything, just rain water haha). We have plenty of night crawlers that are really easy to catch. That was my next question if worms from the wild are safe food. These are however a lot bigger than normal earth worms.

Thanks again for all the help and tips too!

 

[Mr Poseidon]

as long as you dont use chemicals you should be fine feeding your axi earthworms from your yard


how many are you getting?

 

[Aaran]

melt a cube down, and just hand feed for abit. If it starts refusing leave a couple down come back in an hour and see if its eaten them, if not take them out.

Feed them daily until they are around 6 inches. Then go for every 2 days, you will find your axies will eat more and more. You will work out how much to feed them, just dont be stingey i melt a whole cube down and feed as much as i can; rest i give to my goldfish. even if it eats more than one rather melt down more than not enough.