Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
A Mexican salamander that keeps its feathery gills for life; it needs cool water below 68°F, so it never shares a tropical tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 9.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Axolotl pellets, earthworms, frozen bloodworm
- Origin
- Lake Xochimilco, Mexico
- Hardier than41%
- Bigger than89%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Axolotl tank mates
- Assassin snailAxolotl needs cool water; assassin snails need tropical heat.Risky
- Bladder snailAxolotl (predatory) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Malaysian trumpet snailAxolotl (predatory) will bully the peaceful Malaysian trumpet snail.Risky
- Mystery snailAxolotl (predatory) will bully the peaceful Mystery snail.Risky
- Ramshorn snailAxolotl (predatory) will bully the peaceful Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Colombian ramshornAxolotl (predatory) will bully the peaceful Colombian ramshorn.Risky
- Neon tetraAxolotl can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraAxolotl can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyAxolotl can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasAxolotl can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusAxolotl can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpAxolotl can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for axolotls: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 25 cm (TL_amphibian)
- Adult mass
- 93.75 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 15.86 BU
- Min. water
- 40 L net
- Min. footprint
- 50 × 25 cm per specimen
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- still
- Body / fins
- amphibian, external gills fins
- Diet type
- carnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper, salt, nitrate
Sources: Axolotl.org – Housing · Caudata Culture
Care notes
Axolotls come from the lake canals of Xochimilco near Mexico City and grow to about 10 inches. Keep them alone or with other axolotls of the same size, in a long tank with a lid.
Water should stay between 57 and 68°F; above 75°F they get stressed and sick. Use bare glass or fine sand, since they swallow gravel, and keep the flow gentle. Fish nip their gills and small fish get eaten, so the tank is axolotls only.
Questions
What size tank does a axolotl need?
At least 13 gallons (40 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 9.8 inches without fins.
How many axolotls should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do axolotls need?
57–68 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 0–0 dGH. Axolotls come from Lake Xochimilco, Mexico.
How long do axolotls live?
10–15 years with good care.