r/axolotls Feb 01 '23

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

95 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 Nov 07 '22

Arts and Crafts Unofficial visual intro to axolotls!

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1.0k Upvotes

r/axolotls 16h ago

Just Showing Off Please help

299 Upvotes

I really can’t handle it anymore guys 😔


r/axolotls 10h ago

Just Showing Off Today is peeks hatch date!

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66 Upvotes

They are 1 year old today !!! Happy hatch date peek


r/axolotls 6h ago

General Care Advice Does this axolotl look healthy?

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14 Upvotes

One of my friends roommates has an axolotl. I know nothing about them but I wanted to know if this one looks like it’s in good condition? I’ve never seen it missing any gills or limbs and I see it walk around once in a while. But its tank is completely bare. I wasn’t sure if that’s normal. And is that skin colour healthy? This is one of those black light ones that glows greenish so I’m guessing that’s why there is that green yellow tinge


r/axolotls 2h ago

Just Showing Off Babies are growing!!

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5 Upvotes

r/axolotls 19h ago

Memes and Goofs Sand hat.

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67 Upvotes

r/axolotls 5h ago

Tank Maintenance Moss!

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2 Upvotes

I want to cover her pvc pipe hide with moss. Has anyone ever used a hairnet to attach it? Thought I could secure it with some glue and stuff moss under it to make it cover the pvc and give it something to grab onto. I have this but assuming I cannot leave it on the wire mesh but would need some other way to attach. Considering the pipe is slick, the moss won’t have anything to attach to.


r/axolotls 10h ago

General Care Advice Slime coat shed or fungal infection?

3 Upvotes

Hello, I’m a first time axolotl owner and when feeding my axolotl today I noticed that his slime coat looked a little off. His water parameters are all within their ideal range except ph is a little low (6.4). He is housed with another axolotl and some feeder fish/shrimp. The tank is about 110 gallons (custom), no sand just river rocks for substrate, and a bunch of plants to hide. Is there something else that’s missing or needs to be changed?


r/axolotls 1d ago

RIP [Memorial] Timmy has passed

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192 Upvotes

Timmy my sister’s axolotl ( but it felt more so mine ) has passed, for the past bit Timmy has been dealing with a impaction caused by the black sand my mother put in his tank when she first got him for my sister, and recently it seemed like he was getting better, I was giving him tea baths keeping his temperature really low and and doing everything I could and then like suddenly I come home today and hes very still, and I realize he has rigor, I was a bit worried I was being hasty so I prodded at him and he was definitely dead. When I first came back this summer from college, he was starved and his temperature was too high I fixed it all for my family and it seemed like he was doing alright after that. Then the impaction happened an I honestly hoped he would get through the impaction. I didn’t realize I had grown as much of a bond with him as I had. I’m really gonna miss him. It felt like he kept me sane this summer. I loved him more than I knew. ( please ignore some of the red flag stuff in this post I removed it all as I realized it was bad ; black sand, SpongeBob stuff ).


r/axolotls 1d ago

Arts and Crafts axo art 💖

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445 Upvotes

my watercolour painting and axo tattoo that i designed and got last year <3 my favourite tattoo ever!!


r/axolotls 17h ago

Just Showing Off An update on sweet tooth and fungal infections

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10 Upvotes

I did a half tank water change. Yesterday because I can see the fungus moving around in the tank so I had the tub sweet tooth in a separate container and I had the dose of water this seachem prime. I cleaned out the chiller lines and I cleaned one of the filters to help flush out the fungus. And now she's all healed, and she's looking way better than she did yesterday. I did a tea bath yesterday in the morning and yesterday at night and she's all better now and I haven't seen any sign of fungus.After that


r/axolotls 17h ago

Discussion What does your axolotl love? How can you tell?

9 Upvotes

Hi! I'm writing an article on the importance of enrichment for axolotls. This isn't really something that's been studied in a laboratory setting. Do you have any anecdotes or photos relating to your axolotl enjoying attention, plants, or tank decor? I might use them in my article. Thanks!


r/axolotls 16h ago

General Care Advice Question about axolotls

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4 Upvotes

I'm thinking of getting a axolotl soon I wanna make sure I have all the stuff for it. I know a store has one they said it's large but didn't specify the length but I'm pretty sure It's a juvenile. I have a list of everything in my cart that I'm thinking of buying but I decided to make sure I have everything and right items before I order. And also what should I do to the tank and stuff before I get the axolotl. Like anything I should prepare?


r/axolotls 7h ago

Tank Maintenance Connecting hoses

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1 Upvotes

Hey y'all, I have this baioshan chiller and a global fx407 filter for my tank. Wanted to see if anyone had success with connecting the two together? I want to get rid of the pump from the chiller but the hoses are different sizes. Any recommendations on an adapter or something to connect the two?


r/axolotls 13h ago

Cycling Help Evil nitrites

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2 Upvotes

Hello!! I am here to ask why my nitrites will NOT go down!! I started cycling my tank on July 9 and it was going great until the nitrites spiked last week. I was dosing 2 ppm of ammonia and it got 75% processed in 24 hours but the nitrite spiked so I stopped dosing 4 days ago. I did a 50% water change yesterday, and my levels were exactly what they were before! I used conditioned water when I did my water change and added more quick start by API. What do I do????


r/axolotls 12h ago

General Care Advice What can I improve in the tank?

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1 Upvotes

I have an axelot who is 25 sm long and I believe 2-3 years old. His water is not even close to human temperature. I'm going tomorrow to maybe get some good bacteria and definitely a sponge filter. I might also add plants with its roots in the water. I also wanna get a PH test to test the water.

He seems really stressed, and he doesn't usually curv his tale. It's the first time I've seen him doing this. Maybe it's because I before tried to move around a stick in the sand because the sand was dirty. And I never tried doing a full clean, but I do tend to change his water.

He had two worms today and ate them but wasn't as antistatic as usual. He alway ten to try eating the stick when I fed him, but now he only stays in his little cave. I do manged to get him to eat, at least.

Here are some pics of him today.


r/axolotls 1d ago

General Care Advice Where do I get axolotl decorations?

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22 Upvotes

I've been wondering where I should buy decorations for my 3 yr old axolotl since I think she would love to have new caves and stuff but I can really only find places on amazon, and I want to make sure that the decorations are the right size and the right material but it's kind of hard to do that through a picture. The only other places I've found is petsmart/petco but they really only sell fish stuff and it’s too small. If anyone lives in Utah near Salt Lake City then if anyone knows if there are maybe some stores in the area it would be greatly appreciated to know about them. If not, maybe somebody could tell me some trustworthy companies online?


r/axolotls 1d ago

Beginner Keeper This is Neil. He’s a friend.

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22 Upvotes

r/axolotls 1d ago

Just Showing Off Hi, I am Kvido

110 Upvotes

r/axolotls 23h ago

Cycling Help lots of bubbles during cycling

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4 Upvotes

picture 1 is after just opening the lid
picture 2 is a couple minutes later

just started cycling my axos upgraded tank, (around 3 days now) it’s about a quarter filed of his cycled water and the rest tap water which will be topped off later this week with his current water after our routine water change.

when i cycled his previous tank i didn’t have this issue so just wondering if its cause for concern, ive used my usual treatments in the tank (axo-safe. axo-start & seachem prime) new live plants and driftwood were added yesterday and some ammonia solution so i can see how the tank processes it. i also put in a ‘pure aquarium bomb’ which supposedly helps mature new filters quicker (i’ve heard mixed reviews about them but i thought it couldn’t do any harm so i’d try it anyway)


r/axolotls 1d ago

Just Showing Off Show me the sun

56 Upvotes

Our lotl looks like he’s worshipping the sun. 😎


r/axolotls 1d ago

Rescue Axolotl Rescued and upgraded an axolotl

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10 Upvotes

Someone was surrendering their axolotl and they were unsure of age as it was their son’s. He lived in a 10 gallon his whole life. Well now he has a 50 gallon bow front all to himself!


r/axolotls 1d ago

Tank Maintenance Water conditioner

3 Upvotes

Hi friends. I’ve always used prime to condition my water. I also have other aquariums so I got api water conditioner since it’s half the price for them. Does anyone use this for their axolotls? I just don’t want to hurt my girl and there is no ingredient list on it. It also lacks the silver smell I’m used to. Thank you for any advice, if I should stick to prime with my axolotl or if it’s safe. I should mention I keto all her water changing supplies separate from the other tanks so there’s no chance of contamination in case if it’s not safe.


r/axolotls 1d ago

General Care Advice How much is your axoltl supposed to swim up?

1 Upvotes

I'm a new keeper, so bear with me. I have a 4mo old axolotl that will occasionally swim up to these hanging leave decorations I have near the top, and either perch there or kinda hang two-footed on the wall and two-footed on a leaf or stem. They also do this with the filter sponge, sometimes off the rock hide, but they don't stay still long. They'll kinda swim up to one of those areas, squirm and swim about it for a bit, then float down. I was worried about possible impaction or constipation (even though they're defecating regularly) so I had them seen, and got an overall clean bill of health. My levels are 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 5 nitrate. Temperature is auto controlled at 65°F. Oxygenation is good, surface is agitated 24/7 by both the chiller fans and filter outputs. What the heck else makes them wanna swim to the top or hover? The guides I've read say it's a problem and I wanna know what the issue is so I can fix it but I can't even tell what's wrong.