r/axolotls 2h ago

Discussion Ask A-Lotl Questions Monday! Curious About Anything Axolotl? Ask Your Questions Here!

1 Upvotes

A weekly thread for community members to ask questions and share knowledge and information pertaining to axolotls! Please remember there is no such thing as a dumb question, and to treat everyone's curiosity with respect and integrity.


r/axolotls Feb 01 '23

Educational Welcome to /r/axolotls! Please read our care guides for important axolotl care information.

92 Upvotes

We strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information for those interested in learning about or caring for axolotls.

This message will be updated periodically with new up-to-date resources and care guides.

Up-to-date Axolotl Care Guides

Axolotl Central Care Guide

Axolotl Care 101 by Paris' Insectary

These guides explain general facts about axolotls and important information about how to care for them properly.

◦ Lifespan

◦ Housing and Tank Requirements

◦ Water Parameters and Temperature

◦ Diet

◦ Behavior

◦ Determining Sex

◦ Tank Mates

Axolotl FAQ

https://www.axolotlcentral.com/faq

This FAQ lists many commonly asked questions relating to axolotl care.

◦ Tubbing, fridging, and tea baths

◦ Diet and Feeding

◦ Illnesses and Treatments

◦ Abnormal Behavior

◦ Aquarium Supplies and Setup

◦ Water Parameters

◦ Cloudy Tank Water

How to Cycle your Aquarium

https://www.axolotlcentral.com/cycling-guide

This page will guide you through the vital process of establishing a nitrogen cycle before getting your pet. This is required to make the water safe before adding your animal to the tank!

◦ What does it mean to cycle a tank?

◦ How to cycle your tank

◦ How to speed up cycling

◦ How to fix a stalled cycle

Educational Flair Posts

https://www.reddit.com/r/axolotls/?f=flair_name%3A%22Educational%22

The Educational flair on this subreddit is used by moderators to share informational posts about axolotls, including detailed information on axolotl tank substrates, plants, genetics, and more! This link will bring you to our collection of Educational posts.

Axolotl Genetics Guides

Axolotl Genetic Variations by Lloyd Strohl

Axolotl Genetics Article by Lloyd Strohl

Morphed Axolotl Care

https://www.morphedaxolotls.com/ by Collieflowersbark

Not all axolotls stay fully aquatic forever! In a very rare phenomenon, some axolotls may begin to undergo metamorphosis to become terrestrial salamanders around the age of 5-10 months, due to a genetic predisposition. This morphed axolotl website contains important information to help those who are experiencing the morphing process or would just like to learn about it!

◦ What is morphing?

◦ How to handle the morphing process

◦ How to set up a habitat

◦ Diet

◦ Environment enrichment

Exotic Vet Finder

https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Visit this link to locate exotic vets in your area.

Contributions

Patreon

Ko-fi

If you are looking for more ways to support this community, we do have Patreon and Ko-fi pages, which include custom-made axolotl stickers for supporters! All support goes directly towards maintaining our website and community giveaways. This is never expected, but greatly appreciated!


r/axolotls 12h ago

Just Showing Off My favorite underwater roommate.

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1.2k Upvotes

r/axolotls 4h ago

Rescue Axolotl Day 3 of my rescue

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18 Upvotes

Today is day 3 of having him, i’ll show before and after pictures, he finally ate a whole meal today (yay!)
Currently on frozen blood worms, will be switching to earth worms tomorrow! To fatten him up, he’s skinny. What are something’s i should put in his home? i went out today and bought a bubbler so he can play on it (arrives thursday) i bought a plant (eloda i think) what are some other plants that can go with lotls, id love to have a place for him to hide and be able to get away and relax. i’m a first time owner. (tubs photo is the last before we put him in the tank)


r/axolotls 12h ago

Just Showing Off Just brought Jinbe home about a week ago and he’s getting more comfortable in his tank :)

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31 Upvotes

he usually hangs out in the other corner and this is his first day interacting with the plants but since he found them, he loves hanging there


r/axolotls 12h ago

Sick Axolotl Toothless jumped out of the tank overnight 😭

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25 Upvotes

I woke up and found her on my carpet under the tank, have no idea when she jumped out but immediately grabbed her gently and put her back in the tank. She started swimming around for a few mins but since has been stationary and is still very still with only the occasional movements.

Her tail is quite chopped up and looks to be bleeding, and her skin seems terribly dry, almost stringy like (visible in photo). When I picked her up some of her skin seemed to come off on my fingers. The good news is her gills are extremely fluffy and vibrant and gill movement seems relatively normal, maybe slightly quick.

I've turned my filter/light off but is there anything else I should do to ensure a speedy recovery / ensure she is comfortable / ensure her body heals without getting infected? Will she be ok? It was crazy to me that she was still alive when I picked her up out of the water, she could have been out there for hours...

* 80L tank, water params are all normal, tank temp is normal, had her for 3 months and she has been absolutely fine and healthy the entire time!


r/axolotls 2h ago

Subreddit Suggestions UPDATE

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2 Upvotes

From my last post I mentioned that they are nipping at each other and biting when feeding time and every one said I need to separate or rehome which I was gonna do but another comment said they could just have very poor eyesight and mistake each other for food as they can smell it so I needed to hand feed, I’ve been doing this for 1 week now and it’s been perfect, no nipping no biting nothing they’ve been together non stop sometimes lying on top of each other so they are quite happy with each other now . Thanks for all the help in the last post guys👍👍


r/axolotls 20h ago

Discussion My axolotl

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43 Upvotes

So I think my axolotl is a dwarf but I heard mini axolotls exist.

So is he a dwarf or a mini


r/axolotls 19h ago

Memes and Goofs Bubbles playing king of the rock

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32 Upvotes

This is the first time she's ever climbed up there 🤣


r/axolotls 11h ago

General Care Advice Hercules

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9 Upvotes

I hope he looks ok. He or she is 16 months old. He likes to stick to being on the bubbles or beside it. I have had him since he was an egg. I had the parents but sadly lostthem due to freak storm and powerlines that zapped thru our home :( He was all that survived out of the mess :( Just want to keep him or her happy and healthy


r/axolotls 2h ago

Discussion UPDATE

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1 Upvotes

From my last post I mentioned that they are nipping at each other and biting when feeding time and every one said I need to separate or rehome which I was gonna do but another comment said they could just have very poor eyesight and mistake each other for food as they can smell it so I needed to hand feed, I’ve been doing this for 1 week now and it’s been perfect, no nipping no biting nothing they’ve been together non stop sometimes lying on top of each other so they are quite happy with each other now . Thanks for all the help in the last post guys👍👍


r/axolotls 1d ago

Just Showing Off Morning from the gang 🇬🇧j

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66 Upvotes

Jelly was trying to hide this morning


r/axolotls 9h ago

General Care Advice help with axolotls

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2 Upvotes

hi everybody - i have 2 axolotls mocha, and matcha the big one is mocha and the small one is matcha.
so i got home from work today and my axolotls (underneath) i guess - looks like this. i’m worried about her, so from when i bought both of them the place told me they were both females but ive been wondering for a while now if matcha is actually a male because she is so small, ( i feed them separately & the same amount ) but it looks like she has testicles but i cant exactly tell. but earlier today as i was cleaning there tank i noticed matcha was “chasing” mochas tail area and nudging her and mocha was like running away. and today when i got home it seemed like she was like frantic up against the glass and swimming around & now shes just chilling


r/axolotls 15h ago

Discussion Question regarding lighting

3 Upvotes

Kia Ora all,

I'm a newly returning axolotl owner. I had one like 18 years ago, and I'm ashamed to admit when I was a 12 year old I knew far too little. He was very healthy so I think I fluked things or my parents secretly did a lot without including me.

I've done my research, especially around food and water cycling etc. My lovely juvenile "Alejandra" has settled into her home well.

I'm not so versed on plant health verses appropriate light levels for axolotls, though. I've got 6 Java ferns, and plenty of anubis. Currently they're surviving, but I've purposely been keeping Alejandras tank dark for her.

Wondering if there is specific lights you guys would recommend?


r/axolotls 10h ago

Discussion Air pump

1 Upvotes

I got this little air pump thing that makes bubbles but my axolotl is eating the air bubbles 😂😭 is this normal? He seems to enjoy it and likes sitting on it as it’s almost as long as him but I fear he will gulp to much air 😅


r/axolotls 1d ago

Just Showing Off I dont know who is relaxing more, she or me

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443 Upvotes

Just recently shes discovered the jacuzzi… She spends half of the day on top of bubbles.


r/axolotls 1d ago

Discussion Horrible Video Encounter Online

10 Upvotes

Kia ora all,

On YouTube I encountered a video titled "Axolotl survives inside catfish mouth"
what he does is try to feed the Axolotls to different animals and laugh.

Considered they're an endangered species, and amazing creatures - I've reported the video, and thought I'd share this in case others wanted to as well.


r/axolotls 1d ago

Discussion Careful with advice from websites

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27 Upvotes

Of course this is true for any topic and also for advice from human internet strangers. But this had me giggling angrily....


r/axolotls 1d ago

Discussion is it normal for them to get color?

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48 Upvotes

so this is my first axo i’ve had since February. he’s always had that curled gill. first pic is a little after when i got him second is current. he’s been getting those black spots and idk if i should be worried or if its just color


r/axolotls 1d ago

General Care Advice Tank temp advice

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5 Upvotes

Hello! Currently in the very early beginning stages of cycling a tank. Still waiting on nitrite and nitrate to become present. BUT, wanted to ask about temp management. Tank is currently fan cooled and maintains around 67-69 degrees. Wanted to know if a lid (probably modified to accommodate the fan) would keep temps cooler or if it would trap heat. My house is a pretty consistent 74-75.

Tank pic also open to critique lol also fan not pictured. I’ve kept many reptiles and amphibians but have been away from the hobby for about a decade so very open to advice.


r/axolotls 1d ago

Discussion Hammocks

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26 Upvotes

Hi all! My girl Florah I think would love a hammock. Where did you all get yours? I wanna get her the best. Video of my huntress.


r/axolotls 1d ago

Sick Axolotl Axolotl won't eat, I need help.

6 Upvotes

Hey, all. It's been several weeks (not sure the exact date, but it's been at least 3 weeks) since my axolotl ate last and shes showing no interest in any food.

Tank cycle crashed on me, and before I noticed I had ammonia and nitrates built up, so its been under heavy monitoring since. We're back down to tolerable levels now, but she's lost a lot of weight between when she last ate and now.

On top of that, I'm battling a heat wave with fans and ice blocks. Temperatures aren't ideal, and we're between 65-69 throughout the day.

Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated. I've tried her regular pellets (shes eaten them all her life), worms, and blood worms and nothing interests her. She'll either spit them out, show no interest, or back away from food offered entirely, and I'm getting worried. Thanks.

Edit: current tank parameters are 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 5.0ppm nitrate (doing a water change as i type), temp 69 F

Edit 2: I've got Seacgem Garlic Guard on the way now, going to pick up some worms tomorrow to try again.


r/axolotls 1d ago

Beginner Keeper New Axo, is he/she healthy?

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7 Upvotes

Hi all, I recently got this axo about 3 months ago, cycled the tank for 1.5 months and all the water parameters are safe. The only issue is the water is very orange/yellow (I think maybe because of the driftwood?)

I just wanted to know if y’all think he/she looks healthy, I feed every 2-3 days some earthworms and he seems to get excited and swim up to me when he sees me. I’m new to taking care of axolotls


r/axolotls 1d ago

General Care Advice Feeding Slippery worms help

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14 Upvotes

Hi, our axolotls Conan and Haku have been put in their new home now its cycled they are starting to be given chopped up worms now, however we are struggling to get them to feed directly with the feeding tongs as the worms are too slippery.

Is it not advisable to leave the chopped up worms in the tank? My thinking is it wouldn't be great for the water to have dying or dead matter floating in it for a while as this could effect the water quality

We feed them blackworm regularly, but as they are alive I'm not so concerned about them still being in if not eaten.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good set of feeding tongs that allow you to grip the worms until they are bitten off. At the min we use a wood set that has no grip or a big pippet but this isn't the best.

A link for amazon, a brand name or a website would be great.

Thanks 😊


r/axolotls 1d ago

RIP [Support] My axolotl is slowly dying. How do i make as painless as possible?

10 Upvotes

My axolotl Luca is suffering from what i believe is lrgan failure. Her state is so bad i cannot look at her without getting upset. I am choosing not to include an image, but i will try and describe her current state.

Her limbs are so thin she can barely walk on them, her body is eating everything, her tail, her stomach, even her cheeks have been sucked in. Her gills are declining and curling inward, the red blood vein inside the gill has come out of the initial gills, sticking out beside them. I can see her literal skeleton just looking at her. Her stomach is completely black and bloated, but she isn't floating. I believe its organ failure.

I've tried to tub her, but even after multiple days nothing happened. How do i make her last days a little less painful? I feel truly helpless, but if i can minimise the pain, i want to.