How to Keep an Axolotl? Detailed Guide to Care and Precautions

The axolotl generally refers to the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), an amphibian famous for its unique appearance and neoteny. It is kept as a pet around the world, so how do you keep it?

How to keep an axolotl?

1. Preparation

Prepare an aquarium with a filter, with the size determined by the number of animals being kept. Inside the aquarium, provide a hiding spot and a spacious cave; for the substrate such as aquatic plants and stones, do not choose anything smaller than the axolotl's mouth, as they are very nearsighted and may easily swallow it by mistake.

2. Water Quality Control

Keeping axolotls requires slightly alkaline hard water, and the water quality must be good. The suitable water temperature is 16 to 20°C; it must not be lower than 3°C or higher than 30°C.

3. Feeding

The Mexican axolotl is a carnivore. Its main foods are worms, insects, or small fish and shrimp. Generally, during the juvenile stage they can be fed water fleas or small shrimp, and as they grow, the fish and shrimp offered can also be larger. In addition, any food they have not finished must be removed promptly to avoid polluting the water quality and affecting their health.

4. Other Matters

Axolotls are timid and like quiet, and they have no scales on their bodies, so they cannot be kept together with other large, aggressive tropical fish. In addition, the keeping environment should be kept dim, and it is best not to have strong light shining on them.

Axolotls are not difficult to keep, and with their cute appearance, they are very suitable for keeping at home.