Everything you need to know to be the BEST axolotl owner ever! 🎉
So you want to take care of an axolotl? That's awesome! Axolotls are super cool pets that look like real-life Pokémon! They're smiley, wiggly, and absolutely adorable.
But here's the thing: axolotls aren't like cats or dogs. They need special care to stay happy and healthy. Don't worry though—this guide will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know!
Axolotls are sometimes called "Mexican Walking Fish," but guess what? They're NOT fish at all! They're actually salamanders—which means they're more like frogs than fish!
Ready to start your journey? Let's go! 🚀
Think of your axolotl's tank as their whole world! It's where they'll eat, sleep, play, and swim. So we need to make it perfect for them!
Axolotls need LOTS of room to swim around. Here's the rule:
If you want TWO axolotls, you'll need at least 40 gallons. More space = happier axolotls!
Axolotls can grow up to 12 inches long—that's as long as a ruler! Some even get bigger. So don't put them in a tiny tank!
This is SUPER important! Axolotls come from cool mountain lakes in Mexico, so they like their water cold—way colder than you might think!
Important: If the water gets too warm (above 74°F), your axolotl can get sick! You might need a special aquarium fan or chiller if your room gets hot.
Click on the labels in this tank to learn what each thing does!
Axolotls are a bit clumsy and might accidentally swallow small rocks! That's why we use fine sand or nothing at all on the bottom. They can pass sand through their tummy, but rocks can make them really sick!
Before bringing your axolotl home, you need to get all their stuff ready! Click each item to check it off your list:
A glass aquarium—long and wide is better than tall!
Sponge filters are best—they don't make strong currents
To check the water stays cool (60-68°F)
Tests if the water is safe (checks ammonia and stuff)
Makes tap water safe by removing chlorine
PVC pipes, ceramic caves, or aquarium decorations
Java fern, anubias, or soft silk plants work great!
Super fine aquarium sand OR leave the bottom bare
Nightcrawlers, red wigglers, or special axolotl pellets
Long tweezers to wiggle worms in front of your axolotl!
Axolotls LOVE earthworms! In the wild, they eat worms, small fish, and even snails. Nightcrawlers (big earthworms) are like a yummy steak dinner for them!
Just like you need to clean your room, axolotls need a clean tank! Here's your cleaning schedule:
Check the temperature and look at your axolotl to make sure they're happy!
Change 20% of the water with fresh, treated water
Test the water with your test kit
Use a turkey baster to suck up poop from the bottom!
Before you get your axolotl, you need to "cycle" the tank. This means growing tiny helpful bacteria that eat your axolotl's waste. Without these good bacteria, the water becomes toxic!
Cycling takes 4-6 weeks, so set up your tank BEFORE you get your axolotl. It's like preparing a bedroom before a baby arrives!
Axolotls poop A LOT! They're messy eaters too. But that's okay—it just means they're healthy and eating well. Just be ready with your turkey baster!
Good news! A healthy, clean axolotl tank should have almost no smell at all! If you take care of it properly, people won't even know you have an aquarium in your room.
A clean tank sits here → almost no smell!
If your tank smells stinky, it's trying to tell you something! Here's what different smells mean:
Yikes! This means something is rotting. Check for uneaten food or... um... you know, poop that needs cleaning!
Too much chlorine! Always use water conditioner when adding new water.
Time for a water change! This usually means the water quality isn't great.
Axolotls themselves don't really have a smell! They're covered in a thin layer of slime (mucus) that protects their skin. It's kind of like how your nose makes boogers to stay healthy—gross but useful!
There are SO many reasons why axolotls are wonderful pets. Here are the best ones:
No barking, meowing, or squawking! Perfect if you live in an apartment or need peace and quiet.
Rain or snow? No problem! Your axolotl is happy in their tank 24/7.
Their adorable faces always look happy! They're like having a real-life emoji as a pet.
Axolotls can live 10-15 years! That's a long friendship!
Watching them swim is super calming. It's like having a lava lamp that's alive!
Allergic to cats or dogs? No problem! Axolotls don't have fur.
Taking care of an axolotl teaches you to be responsible every day!
Not everyone has an axolotl! You'll have one of the coolest pets around.
Axolotls can learn to recognize their owners! After a while, your axolotl might swim up to the glass when they see you because they know you bring the yummy worms!
Axolotls aren't just cute—they're basically real-life superheroes! Here's why scientists think they're incredible:
If an axolotl loses a leg, it grows back! Not just legs—they can regrow their tail, parts of their heart, their spine, and even parts of their brain! Scientists are studying them to help humans heal better someday.
Axolotls never really "grow up" like other salamanders. They keep their baby features (like their cute gills) their whole lives. Scientists call this "neoteny"—it's like being a kid forever!
Well, not exactly like a chameleon, but axolotls come in TONS of colors! Pink (leucistic), white (albino), golden, black (melanoid), spotted (wild type), and even glowing green (GFP)!
What can an axolotl regrow if it gets hurt?
Axolotls are critically endangered in the wild! There are only about 50-1,000 left in their natural home (Lake Xochimilco in Mexico). By taking good care of pet axolotls, you're helping keep these amazing creatures from disappearing!
Axolotls suck up their food by opening their mouth really fast, creating suction like a vacuum cleaner! SLURP!
Axolotls are most active at dawn and dusk. They have sensitive eyes and prefer dim lighting!
They have small teeth, but they don't chew! The teeth are just for gripping food before swallowing it whole.
The name "axolotl" comes from Xolotl, an Aztec god who turned into an axolotl to hide! (It didn't work—he got caught anyway!)
You've learned everything you need to know to take care of an axolotl! You're going to be an AMAZING pet parent!