The title says it all! Here I cover enclosure setup, water quality, maintenance, diet, and tips for picking out a healthy axolotl. Enjoy! Music: www.bensound.c...
Reminder to everyone that axolotls are critically endangered in the wild! Usually it's okay to get them as pets as long as, as said in the video, they come from a reputable seller that does not use wild ones, but also consider donating or helping protect the axolotls themselves!
No axolotls in the pet trade come from the wild. They're so endangered in the wild, they're pretty much never found. They're on the verge of being declared extinct in the wild. And they're super, SUPER easy to breed in captivity. People end up with hundreds of eggs in their tanks 1-2 times a year without even intentionally breeding them. Taking them from the wild--even if it were possible, and it's not, since they're THAT endangered--would be 100x more difficult and costly than just selling captive bred ones.
I need therapy after infinity war it's debatable. People have found "pet" axolotls in the Mexican lake where wild ones are found, but there is debate on whether to call these captive bred pet ones that have been released, actual wild axolotls. Scientists usually specify how the actual wild ones are extinct/ probably extinct in the wild however reintroduced ones have taken their place.
Considering truly wild axolotls are only found in the Mexican lake/river, I sincerely doubt anyone, except for Mexicans, will ever have the ability to buy a wild caught axolotl. Especially because they usually die in transportation. Unfortunately the pet trade has probably contributed largely to the decline in wild axolotls for obvious reasons, as with hunting on purpose and accident, and then the famous salamander mucous scam.
I remember seeing one of these in a petshop one day. Both my mom and i were infatuated by it. However i refused to take it home because i didn't know how to properly take care of it. I really didn't expect it to be this simple.
It's not, 10 gallons rll isn't enough I recomend at least 30 gallons for one of em. They need a very good diet with live food frozen and pellets I recomend live food feeding earthworms locusts and
@@Living.Fossils sorry I know I’m late but can axolotls actually eat locusts because I have some for my frogs and I was wondering if it was safe to feed him a couple
Here is a basic axolotl careguide for prospective owners! Tank size: 20 gal minimum water volume +200 square inches of floor space for one adult axolotl. 10 gallons + 200 sq in for every added adult. (20 gal long is great for one axie and easily available!) _ Temperature: 58-68 degrees f. 58-65 is ideal. Never higher than 70 degrees f _ Diet: earth worms (nightcrawlers/red wigglers or other varieties.) or sinking salmon pellets. _ Treats: krill, prawns, raw fish, mussels, crustaceans. Under no circumstance should you feed any type of mammalian or poultry meat. _ Size: 8-14 inches fully grown _ Lifespan: 10-20 years _ Substrate: bare bottom or sand. Slate, tile or false grass is also an option. Juveniles under 4 inches shouldnt be kept on sand due to impaction risk. Absolutely no gravel or rocks. Gravel and rocks smaller than approx 2x your adult axies head pose a choking and Impaction risk. _ Filtration: low flow with a speed of 10x gph minimum (canister, hob, or sponge filter) I personally recommend fluval aquaclear filters. I've been using them for years and they are the best hobs on the market! _ Tank mates: species only! Cannot be kept with other fish or amphibians. Axolotls housed together much be of the same head size or they will cannibalize each other. Males and females should not be housed unless breeding _ Other considerations: how to complete the nitrogen cycle before you get your lotl. How to effectively cool your tank in summer or in case of a power outtage. Purchase a liquid aquarium test kit to monitor parameters and schedule appropriate water changes. Exotic vet and medication.
I feel like axolotls need more space? Like the one in the vid seems tiny? Is city like snakes, they don’t really need much space. If I got an axie I would think they needed like 1mx1m
I wanna get an Axolotl, and I think this comment is really useful, but I want a second opinion, coz it's nice to have. So If any Axolotl keepers have any comments, it would be really helpful!
Most of this is pretty accurate, but a few things were off. Minimum 20, not minimum 10. Also, you don't just treat your tank them plop your axolotl in. You have to cycle the tank FIRST or else you'll risk ammonia spikes, incorrect nitrate and nitrite levels, etc. If you acquire an axolotl before you have a cycled tank, do not put then in. Keep them in a tub with daily 100% water changes while your tank cycles to ensure there are no ammonia spikes.
Very important right here!! Also important that once it's cycled, you NEVER want to change all the filter media at once like this video is suggesting. That can crash your cycle which will also result in ammonia/nitrite spikes which can kill your pet.
Also never use wood, there are organisms that harm the axolotls. And never any water additionals, if there is chlorin in your tab water, find another source. Only because those things don‘t harm fish, it‘s not the same for amphibians. Grown up axolotls enjoy company, best is to keep one male with two females.
Some stuff she forgot to mention: Make sure your tank cycles for at least 3 weeks before putting them into the tank. Get your water tested at a local pet store OR you can test it yourself with water testing strips/kits, which I suggest. Also, don’t feed your Axolotl every day. They take at least 24 hours to digest their food. Only feed them 3-4 times a week. And finally, don’t use frozen brine shrimp or frozen bloodworms for a regular meal for your Axolotl. Only a young Axolotl can eat those as a regular diet. Once your Axolotl reaches about 4-5 inches, switch their diet to earthworms and sinking carnivore pellets. If you feed your adult Axolotl bloodworms, then they can get over weight very fast.
It's not up for debate. Anyone who keeps aquariums knows that there are other factors besides water temperature. You have to cycle your tank for a month or two before you get your pet or it will die. If it doesn't, then you got lucky.
@signoguns uh...why? And why so strongly? Particularly since tank cycling to establish healthy bacteria is essential for most, if not absolutely all aquariums, what alternative are you suggesting that there is?
I have an axolotl, his name is Perry and I'm thinking of getting another one because they're so cute. Thanks for making this video, it helped me out a lot!
oh no, he got spooked by his worm XD I love them so much, they're so silly and cute. I like it when they try to eat, but they aren't very good at hunting accurately sometimes.
Man, I love love love these animals! I wouldn’t buy one for myself because if anything happened to it I would be devastated. These are actually my favorite aquatic animal because they are just so unique and I always find myself appreciating the obscurity of animals like axolotls :)
You should definitely put very very very very very very very fine sand because it won't cause impaction and axolotls get stressed if the have nothing to grip on to at the bottom of the tank.I recommend using a sponge filter because they does not move as munch so it does not stress them out.
While these are some pretty neat advises, I disagree with a couple of them. First, a "no substrate" strategy is not a good strategy when maintaining an axolotl. Axolotls are nocturnal animals, they don't like strong light. The floor of the aquarium being made of glass, it reflects a lot of light, which can stress the axolotl. You also mentioned some product to get rid of the chloride in tap water. While you are perfectly right about getting rid of the chloride, I don't think anyone should use products to do this when maintaining an Axolotl. It just may be me being an old fart, but I would not recommend it. Unlike fishes, Axolotls don't have scales to protect themselves from their environment. In fact, Axolotls use their skin to "breeze", thus exchanging a lot with their environment. Putting chemicals in the water can be dangerous for Axolotls unless clearly stated on the products that it is Axolotl-safe. To get rid of the chloride, just let the water rest for 36-48 hours ; the chloride will evaporate by itself. You mentioned it in your video, but water changes should be every week, not every month. Just wanted to make sure this part is clear to everyone. NO DRIFT WOOD IN AN AXOLOTL TANK. These release tannin in the water, which is slightly toxic for Axolotls and decrease the pH of the water. However, as you already stated, real plants are an absolute yes in an Axolotl tank, because Axolotls pollute their water a lot, making a fuckton of nutrients for plants to grow. They also help keeping your water and substrate clean, and pretty much the whole aquarium well-balanced. And they're perfect supports for eggs. It's also a great way for your Axolotls to hide from daylight. The tank you show in this video is a little small for an Axolotl. Axolotl tend to stay on ground level, but they also like to swim, and for that they need a long aquarium. I'd say your aquarium is a 60x30x40cm. The bare minimum for an Axolotl would be 80x30x40cm. DO NOT feed them once a day. This is extremely bad for their health. Axolotls have a slow metabolism. Feeding them once a day would be like having a person eating snacks all day long. At the very most, adult Axolotls need to be fed twice a week. And finally, you did put your Axolotl directly into the tank in this video. It is important to note that this is NOT the correct way to do this, as it severely stresses the Axolotl. You have to give them time to accommodate to their new water, make sure the change in temperature and chemical composition is not too brutal before putting them in the tank. I don't know if you did this beforehand, but since this video is for new/future Axolotl owners, it is important to note. Other than that, I pretty much agree with everything else and I think these are some good baselines for new Axolotl owners.
As long as it is not cedar, pine or oak, driftwood is not really an issue. If you are really worried about tannins you could always soak or boil it ahead of time to remove them.
Darnetal Çayprivay I agree with what you’ve said, I’d like to add in information on filter care. Using cartridges and throwing them out is getting rid of bacteria that take a key role in the nitrogen cycle and bleaching filter material does the same thing causing ammonia spikes etc.
A lot of your information is false. Axolotls are not nocturnal animals. The reason strong light isn't suggested is because they have no eyelids but hides or plants allow them to leave the light when they need to. Also, you Absolutely need to remove chlorine from your tank. Just like a fish, it will burn their skin and gills. Chloramine doesn't not gas off in 24-48 hours and requires treatment to remove. Tannins are not toxic to them at all. Not sure where you got that info seeing as tannins are very heavy in their natural habitat. Leaves, wood, dried grass, nuts etc all release tannins. All which is found in their native habitat. Axoltols thrive in a range of pH. What's important is the mineral content and hardness of the water.
Also glass does not reflect on their side. On your side, yes because the water causes reflection off the glass but it's no different than when you're looking down into the tank. There is no reflections.
Finally! An axolotl guide that is short yet thorough! I just got mine today, and the breeder got me all confused on how to take care of them. Thanks so much!
I've been doing research and trying to set up a tank off and on for about a year now. I have a 20 gal long tank (that I bought all the correct decor and water care for) and tried to cycle the dechlorinated water for 3-4 weeks and the ammonia and nitrite levels were extremely high and wouldn't come down. I decided it was best for me to take my tank down and wait for a more opportune time to try again because if I hadn't checked the levels, the axie most likely would have past away or at best have been stressed and gotten very ill. It's important to do your research and test the water thoroughly everytime you do a water change or even just forget to clean the tank after some leftover food has been floating around. While some fish may seem like they never die even in the worst conditions and some axies may be durable, they're typically more sensitive creatures and it is of the upmost importance that you watch the pH and other chemicals in the water regularly. While she does a great job at making it simple to set up a tank, she did not go in depth enough for the viewers out there who may want to impulse buy an axolotl who have the means to do so. These lil guys live up to 15 years. That's the same as a dog. They're not just cute and cool to look at, they're literally a water puppy that you need to have the proper environment for in order for them to live their life to the fullest. I'm moving away to college soon and while I have tried to set up my tank and failed in the past, it's for the best because adopting a pet (even a fish) is a big responsibility and I would not have been able to provide the proper care for one if I were to move away now. Sorry this comment is so long but these guys are my dream pet and while it really sucks not being able to get one while I have all the resources available to me. You need to do extensive research on a pet before buying it so you know the proper care and are able to give them the happiest life possible. Thanks if you made it this far :)
wow, the only pet that would adore my room, i keep my a/c set for 60 but the door is open to cool the room outside my room a bit too. so my room is probably 64 degrees.
My parents have had a total of 6 axies (two passing from catching ick), and as we house all four of them in the one tank we need a *TON* of room for them. I'm not sure the volume of the tank, nor the dimensions, but it's huge and takes up a decent portion of the living room. We keep four at a time, so when they do pass, we acquire a new one in its place as well. I've named all six of them, but the longest living axies are Camo and Speedy. RIP Pinkie and Batman. Newest additions are Toothless and (Jon)Snow, though Snow is quite aggressive so we've had to split him from the rest. At first, it was a smaller tank, but now we have a tank divider to keep him from the other three. Whilst this was a good, informative video, the information is slightly wrong; the tank needs to be cycled before the axies can be put in the tank. Plus, the more axies, the more frequent the cleaning, same as cleaning a litter box more frequently if you have multiple cats. Another thing, the feeding schedule is off, as depending on the meal you should space them. Axies tend to chub up pretty fast, so daily feedings aren't recommended unless they're receiving small meals. Usually, we space meals anywhere from 3-6 days, as they'll be fed pellets in the day and either a few bloodworms or an earthworm each at night. There should have also been some mention of breeding habits and signs of when males are ready to mate, as some people may be looking into getting more than one and could either be surprised at the sight of eggs or worried if they spot their male's tail bent upwards. And knowledge on a stressed axie would have been helpful also, as many beginners don't know that a bent tail is a sign of stress, or that if they're floating and can't touch the floor they'll stress too. Plus some info on illnesses they can catch is a topic all axie owners should know. It's quite sad to lose them, especially to something like ick, which can be treated. However you covered the contents of the video quite well, and it's pretty accurate as a beginning guide. Anyone wanting axolotls should, however, look into other resources just to get a wide variety of knowledge.
Thank you for making this video because I have been wanting an axolotl but I don’t know where to find information it I have learned so much from your videos so I know that this is true information and what I should use.
That's basically what Axolotols are. They are Salamanders that *lack the ability to create the enzyme that makes them metamorphosize so they stay looking like juveniles for their entire lives. *I've heard that they very rarely will morph but it's so rare I'm not 100% sure it isn't just an urban legend. They also apparently won't do it right and will die shortly after.
A-X-O-L-O-T-L MY TIME HAS COME TO BURN I ENVOKE THE ANCIENT POWER THAT I MAY RETURN! Am I the only one who understands this reference? Probably. Do I care? Probably not. Am I a theorist? Yes. Hotel? Trivago.
A lot of this information is wrong, especially with filtration. Some of this information is good but I recommend doing research on fish/axolotl care. Be careful with the information you receive however for snake care I do recommend this channel.
Tetra Aquariums not really I did a fact check. She is good the only part she is missing is that they are social creature so it's better to buy then in pairs and of course get a longer tank.
Completely missed cycling, literally the most vital part of keeping any aquatic animal alive and healthy. Didn't mention anything at all about testing ammonia/nitrite/nitrates. She's great with snakes, but this video is pretty dangerous for axolotls. It's adequate in most senses (temperature is great, tank size is a popular recommendation even though I personally think it's too small from my experience, feeding is good, substrate info is good, etc.) but the things that aren't accurate are life-or-death important.
@@janedeaux7385 maybe she didn't mention it because it's common sense to cycle even if it's fish or other aquatic animals. Pet stores hand out the pamphlets and most will tell anyone seeking a aquatic animal to cycle. Further more even the testing is common sense as well. If you are seeking to buy a aquatic animal you cycle and test its COMMON sense the info is literally everywhere so honestly it's no excuse and maybe that's why she didn't include it cause maybe she figured that people have common sense to do all these steps before hand. So before you bash on video or make a comment that seems like low-key bash just account the practical common sense first.
Mikado Ryūgamine “it’s common sense to cycle” it’s really not if she even talked about avoiding shocking your axolotl, or any aquatic animal. By that I mean- everyone knows about shock- not everyone knows about cycling the water. I’m not even sure she knew to cycle because she goes on keeping live plants to cut down on nitrate and nitrite levels rather than telling people how to cycle water.
@@taproductions4377 It's an axolotl she is miseducated. Her axolotl has GFP which is a telltale sign that it is in fact an axololt. She believes it's a neotenic tiger salamander (ambystoma tigrinum) but she is mistaken. There are several anatomical factors along side the fact that it's GFP that prove it is indeed an axolotl.
Yes, they have a slime coat to protect them and if you touch it to much it will irritate the skin, but you can let it swim into the palm of your hand some times.
❤❤ I love ur vids and yes I have a recommendation for the lil guys. Use sand when the lotol is more than 3 inches, or the lil guy will consume the sand.
here is what comes up if you google "natural axolotl color" www.google.com/search?client=opera&hs=PkS&biw=1662&bih=804&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=PiTvW9jgCY35wAKQ2IFY&q=natural+axolotl+color&oq=natural+axolotl+color&gs_l=img.3...17903.21287.0.21582.21.19.0.2.2.0.178.2102.1j17.18.0....0...1c.1.64.img..1.15.1601...0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i8i30k1j0i30k1.0.smpvgkth118
and here is the wikipedia article for axolotls, where there is a picture of an axolotl that looks virtually identical to the one in the video :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl
If you still have it, try shining a blacklight on him. I know they don't like light, but I noticed that his eyes are green. I think he is gfp (green florescent pigment), so he should glow green if you shine a blacklight on him. Just a thought.
I really need one of them they are sooo cute I have many tanks in stock from old hamsters and passed hamsters I will definitely get one asap once I see one in my local petstores 🤍
Hi Emily my name is Madison and I'm really considering getting a axolotl however I live in Minnesota and I don't plan on moving anytime soon and since they need a very specific temperature I'm wondering how can I make it more livable for them in my home state? I really love your content in this video was really helpful hold for most of the information I need except for that one question that I have have just commented on if you could get back to me that would be lovely love your work and I hope to see you in the next video.
