A Few Axolotl Questions...

[spookyvibes]

Hey guys! I have a few questions about axolotls (as noted in the title,) and I was wondering if anyone here could answer them for me.
1.) I know strong water currents are not good for axolotls, so what kind of filter would you recommend? Feel free to DM me any specific brands/models if you want.
2.) Can axolotls eat dubias? It'd be nice to cut down on colony numbers.
3.) Room temperature for me in the 70s which is too warm for them, how am I supposed to keep the tank in the 60s?
4.) Any tips/suggestions would be helpful, even if it's as simple as what your axolotl's favorite food is

 

[Hermes]

I don't personally own any, but a coworker actually breeds these guys, so I'll answer to the best of my knowledge off what she's told me.

1. Sponge filters are incredibly useful, or a good HOB filter with something to buffer the flow, like a piece of sponge filter stuck in the out take or a plastic water bottle with the top and bottom cut off and a slit down the side so you can place it on the lip of the out take to push the flow to the sides.
2. No idea but I would be cautious and say no, the majority of their natural diet usually consists of softer-bodied organisms. I know mealworms are a no-no. As far as I know, earthworms, bloodworms, and the like are good for them.
3. She uses a chiller on the tanks that she can, and the rest are kept in the basement where it is cool enough. Chillers are expensive though, so if your basement is cold enough then definitely go with that option. Otherwise, I would avoid them and maybe go with a Spanish ribbed newt, as they like their water a little warmer, below 78.
4. Main thing she always says is no substrate, just a bare bottom. These guys are pretty clumsy and can sometimes take in huge mouthfuls of sand or gravel and get impacted. Safest way is to just do a bare bottom, and they're much easier to clean. Also, they can be cannibalistic/aggressive, so one by itself or carefully putting in animals all the same size is key. Also, these guys are nocturnal, so if you insist on having a light source, make sure they have plenty of places to hide in. That being said, lights can also increase the temperature in the tank, so if you're struggling with temperature then just avoid lights in general. Additionally, avoid the temptation of adding fish. They'll either end up being lunch, and you'll risk giving your beloved pet parasites/diseases, or they'll bite at their fragile gills.

 

[spookyvibes]

I don't personally own any, but a coworker actually breeds these guys, so I'll answer to the best of my knowledge off what she's told me.

1. Sponge filters are incredibly useful, or a good HOB filter with something to buffer the flow, like a piece of sponge filter stuck in the out take or a plastic water bottle with the top and bottom cut off and a slit down the side so you can place it on the lip of the out take to push the flow to the sides.
2. No idea but I would be cautious and say no, the majority of their natural diet usually consists of softer-bodied organisms. I know mealworms are a no-no. As far as I know, earthworms, bloodworms, and the like are good for them.
3. She uses a chiller on the tanks that she can, and the rest are kept in the basement where it is cool enough. Chillers are expensive though, so if your basement is cold enough then definitely go with that option. Otherwise, I would avoid them and maybe go with a Spanish ribbed newt, as they like their water a little warmer, below 78.
4. Main thing she always says is no substrate, just a bare bottom. These guys are pretty clumsy and can sometimes take in huge mouthfuls of sand or gravel and get impacted. Safest way is to just do a bare bottom, and they're much easier to clean. Also, they can be cannibalistic/aggressive, so one by itself or carefully putting in animals all the same size is key. Also, these guys are nocturnal, so if you insist on having a light source, make sure they have plenty of places to hide in. That being said, lights can also increase the temperature in the tank, so if you're struggling with temperature then just avoid lights in general. Additionally, avoid the temptation of adding fish. They'll either end up being lunch, and you'll risk giving your beloved pet parasites/diseases, or they'll bite at their fragile gills.

Thank you very much for the information! I'll see what I can find as far as chillers and sponge filters If not I'll look into some other options. Spanish ribbed newts are very cool as well!

 

[AnimalNewbie]

Hey guys! I have a few questions about axolotls (as noted in the title,) and I was wondering if anyone here could answer them for me.
1.) I know strong water currents are not good for axolotls, so what kind of filter would you recommend? Feel free to DM me any specific brands/models if you want.
2.) Can axolotls eat dubias? It'd be nice to cut down on colony numbers.
3.) Room temperature for me in the 70s which is too warm for them, how am I supposed to keep the tank in the 60s?
4.) Any tips/suggestions would be helpful, even if it's as simple as what your axolotl's favorite food is

I don’t keep any either but I’ve heard of several ways to keep them cool such as putting them near a fan which isn’t the most effective or in severe heat some people “fridge” them. Or maybe just putting an ice cube in there.

 

[Andrea82]

I keep them since half a year now.
They can thrive with a bit of a current actually, it fluffs up their gills nicely
Put a diffuser on the outlet and keep it pointed horizontally.

Axolotl can absolutely not eat dubia, mealworms or supers, or crickets. Way too much hard parts, and axolotl are very prone to get constipated or impacted. Waxworms could work but squeeze the mouth parts really hard, because it could eat itself out of an axolotl stomach, and that is not a nice picture.
Nightcrawlers are perfect, soft and nutritious, and you can cut them to size.
For really small larvae you can use bloodworms, artemia or daphnia work well.
I also feed pellets, specifically for axolotl when I run out of worms .

Keep the temp as low as you can, preferably under 18°C. They can survive up to 24/25°C for a few hours, but not for long. They'll get overactive, prone to fungus and bacterial infections. If it gets too hot for a few hours and you can't get the temp down, put your axo in a curver with clean water and put it in the cooling section of the refrigerator. But generally, these options work fine:
You can get chillers for aquariums, ventilators like these work as well:

They can be expensive, but if you have access to aliexpress, you can get them for a few dollars and they work just as well.
When it gets hot real fast, frozen bottles of water can help cool it down fast. Make sure to remove any labels and glue before you put them in the water though.

Be sure to cycle your tank before adding them and wait until the nitrate peak has come and gone, or waterconditions can get real bad real fast, resulting in ammoniaburn which again, is not a nice sight.

The size if the tank for 1 axolotl should be at least 112 liters. For every axolotl added you should add 30, maybe fourty liters on top of that.