What is the appropriate axolotl diet?

 

Axololts will need to eat mostly staple foods. You can also feed them treats on occasion but with a focus of nutritious foods.  Axolotls should be raised solely on live foods which are believed to be best food for them.  Though live foods are recommended as the main diet for axolotls they can also benefit on occasion from non-live foods as well.  Keep in mind that transitioning from live to non-live foods will take an adjustment period due to the axolotls natural need to hunt for its food. Their eyesight is also poor so moving foods are more attractive to them.

Staple foods:  

  • European nightcrawlers - which differ from Canadian nightcrawlers in size. They also are not as messy if you need to cut/chop them for your axolotl. European nightcrawlers are usually found in fishing supply stores as well as some pet stores.

  • Earthworms - non-store bought worms can carry parasites that can harm your axolotl so be sure to never feed them from worms you have found outside.  

  • Red wigglers - most axolotl owners and breeders use red wigglers, however, these do produce a bitter slim that may which could cause your axolotl to spit them out. If your axolotl is not a fan of this you can blanche or cull them. This is a process of either soaking in warm water to lighten them or until they are no longer alive preventing them from releasing the bitter slime. The benefit is these worms are much smaller than any crawler which makes it easier for younger/smaller axolotls to eat them.

  • Live black worms - black worms are a very popular and high protein worm that most breeders use to feed hatchlings as they are very small. However, older axies do love them just as well. These worms are very hard to find in local stores and usually must be purchased online from the only producer in the US, which is Eastern Aquatics whom are located in CA.

  • Salmon pellets - made especially for axolotls - when choosing to feed with pellets be careful in choosing a brand that does not contain land animals or large quantities of plant material.  Pellets can contain small levels of iodine. When fed in large quantities it has been found to cause some axolotls to morph into land dwelling salamanders.  I advise only using this as an occasional meal. These should not be an everyday food, live worms will always be best for your axolotl.

  • Repashy Grub Pie (found in the reptile section of most pet stores)

Feeding Your Axolotl

Treat Options Include:

  • Blood worms

  • Brine shrimp

  • Butter worms

  • Black soldier fly larvae

  • Raw shrimp(frozen and thawed) 

  • Raw salmon(frozen and thawed)

  • Ghost Shrimp

  • Cherry Shrimp

  • Mollies

  • Guppies

Feeding Tips:

  • Remove any uneaten food before it fouls up the water. Non-live foods such as pellets will need to be removed much sooner than live foods.  Worms will stay alive in the water for awhile before they die and start to mold.

  • If your water starts appearing extra cloudy or you notice several detritus worms or snails in your tank this is a good indication that you may be over feeding.  You may want to cut back the amount of food you are feeding your axolotl. Uneaten food is the major cause for this and it can also negatively effect your water parameters.

  • Not all axolotls have the same eating habits or appetite, you will have to work with your axolotl to learn it’s feeding requirements.

  • Since axolotls mainly eat live worms, it is always a good investment to farm your own.