How to Set Up the Perfect Habitat for a Pet Axolotl
Preparing the perfect home for your beloved pet axolotl is a very rewarding and entertaining feat. These unique creatures require special amenities for their health and happiness. Though caring for an axolotl may seem quite complicated at first, once its requirements are understood, creating optimum living conditions is fairly easy. This article will take you through an ideal tank, water conditions, filtration, and decoration to ensure a successful living axolotl.
1. Axolotl Basics: A Quick Glimpse
So-called Mexican walking fish are true comparably cast Axolotls that comprise an amphibian native to the lakes around Mexico City. They like to dwell in cool, fresh waters and are also known for their ability to regenerate limbs, heart, and even parts of their brain! With proper care, these creatures can live for more than just ten years. They are generally calm and affable; however, recreating their natural habitat is the core to keeping them healthy.
Jumpstart the pad of your axolotl by getting it just right-a tank. These little guys would even stretch up to a good 12-18 inches meaning they need a good amount of space to show it off. When eyeballing the dimensions of the tank, keep in mind: bigger is better. Here's what you should need to consider with respect to tank size:
Tank Size-Experts recommend the 20-gallon tank for just one axolotl. Want to get another friend for your pet? Then you will need something bigger, at least 30 gallons, to keep a couple of them happy busy.
Tank Material-Glass tank has been the preference of the majority for axolotls, for it is easy to clean. But you could go for acrylic ones as well; they tend to scratch much easier, which might affect the view of your little water dragon.
Tank Shape: Since axolotls swim and crawl on the bottom and do not go up and down, a longer tank works better than a higher tank. Ideally, you should be getting a tank that is 20 gallons long-about 30 inches long-because that's perfect for them.
3. Setting Up the Tank Environment
Snagging the proper tank size means it's now time to dive into making your axolotl's home. To make sure your buddy stays healthy and chill, setting up a cozy space without any stress is super important.
Substrate: Pick a good substrate for the tank's bottom. A lot of folks go for fine sand or no substrate at all. Gravel or big rocks are a no-go—they can get swallowed by accident, and that can cause the axolotl to choke or have tummy troubles. If you choose sand as substrate, it should be very fine and silky so that it does not harm your little friend.
Water Temperature: Cool-water species, axolotls prefer temperatures of 60 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 18 degrees Celsius). It is also very critical that temperature is maintained in ranges, because anything over the specified ranges will cause stress and illness to the axolotls. Placement of the tank requires no direct sunlight and not in an area where a lot of heat is built up axolotls just can't take it.
Water Purity: Axolotls need water that's both clean and free from chlorine. If the water's dirty, they can get skin troubles and other health problems. To keep your axolotl healthy, you gotta have a solid filter setup. This means you won't have to swap out the water as much.
Waste Management System: Since axolotls can make a whole bunch of waste, you're gonna need a decent filter. Go for one that doesn't make the water rush around too much because axolotls aren't the best at swimming. Too much water movement freaks them out. A lot of people say sponge filters are the way to go for these critters; they're both soft on 'em and do the job well. Work toward hitting that sweet spot of neutral pH (aim for 7.0) and keep the water soft. Those axolotls, they're pretty finicky about their water so you gotta keep tabs on it often. Make sure to test it and fiddle with things to keep it just right.
4. Putting in Hidey-Holes and Fancy Stuff
Axolotls, probably quite reclusive in nature, tend to take comfort in snoozing in small hidey-holes such as caves, passageways, or among greenery. And, when it comes to creating their habitat inside a tank, it is very important to add a lot of such hide-outs so that these axolotls could chill and all snugged-in. Hooping to bedeck your tank in finery? Here are the guidelines:
Cool Hideaways: Put in some PVC tubes, clay pots, or artificial caves to create chillaxing places in which your axolotl can hide. Don't make them completely cozy for your axolotl buddy to curl into but not much room that they'll lose themselves trying to escape.
Real or Artificial Greenery: Putting some live plant growing there can make your tank look verdant and give additional spots for your axo to "find" or "be found" yet must choose quite robust ones to survive on almost cold temperatures and lower light conditions. If you opt for false greens just ensure that they are super soft so as not to rub off on the sensitive skin of your axolotl.
Attractive Features: You might also want to put cool decorations in your axolotl's home, but they have to be safe and smooth. No sharp or jagged things can hurt them. Stick with non-toxic things and keep the chill vibe in the tank so as not to startle or rub their skins raw.
5. Keeping Water Fresh and Tanks Clean
Looking after the water's condition is crucial in caring for axolotls. Doing water swaps and scrubbing out the tank often stops harmful substances from piling up ensuring your axolotl's home stays nice and wholesome.
Switching Up the Water: Aim to swap out 20% to 30% of the tank water every seven days. This depends on your aquarium's size and its filter setup. Always fill up with water that's got no chlorine.
Sprucing Up: Get into the habit of tidying the aquarium and playthings to get rid of all the gunk uneaten bites, and icky stuff. To get the muck out from the bottom, use a tube sucker, and for the sides, a green goop scraper is your best friend. Never ever use mean cleaning stuff that could hurt your axolotl.
6. Feeding and Diet
Being flesh-eaters, axolotls love eating meaty food. Their health largely depends on the perfect kind of food they take. Below is what they can be fed:
Axolotls eat bluish or repeated frozen witness, of small fish, and shrimp live. However, what they really love is earthworms, bloodworms, and blackworms. These can easily be purchased at any pet shop. Add some special purpose-made feed pellets for axolotls, though that will be meat-eating, and it isn't even that bad. But remember, you're not making their whole diet out of it.
Feeding Frequency: Young axolotls need feeding every day, whereas adults should be fed every other day or every three days. Don't overdo it, because these guys can get quite fat- a sure recipe for many health issues.
7. Care and Touching
Axolotls like their solitude and aren't looking for company. Keep the touching low to keep them from freaking out. Whenever you gotta reposition your axolotl, be super gentle and make sure they land back into the water.
8. Typical Sickness and Avoidance Tricks
The axolotls are pretty strong animals, but they do manage to catch all kinds of things like fungus, skin problems, and even gill rot. Look at these tips so you won't have to encounter any of these problems:
Water Quality: I've already mentioned this, but again, I can't help saying it because of its utmost importance. You've got to keep the water real clean where your axolotl lives, take out the chlorine and use a legit filter.
Temperature: Don't let the water ever get hotter than 68°F (20°C), okay? Your little buddy could get crazily sick from it.
Diet: Make sure you're putting the good stuff into your axolotl: proteins so they'll stay healthy, not starving.