Axolotl Care Guide: Tank Setup, Water Parameters, and Feeding
Axolotls: The Aquatic Oddity Worth Getting Right
Axolotls are permanently aquatic salamanders with feathery external gills that can live 15+ years with proper care. Get their specific requirements right and they are extraordinary companions.
Tank Size and Temperature
Single adult minimum: 20 gallons. Temperature is the single most critical parameter — 60–68°F. Above 72°F they experience stress. Above 75°F it becomes life-threatening. Most homes need an aquarium chiller.
Water Parameters and Filtration
pH 7.4–7.8, zero ammonia, zero nitrite, nitrate under 20 ppm. Use gentle filtration with baffled output — their feathery gills are stressed by strong currents. Cycle the tank fully before introducing your axolotl.
Substrate and Feeding
Use large river stones or bare bottom — fine gravel causes fatal gut impaction. Feed adults three times weekly: earthworms are the gold standard, followed by frozen bloodworms and quality axolotl pellets. Find everything for your setup in our axolotl supplies collection, water chemistry at aquarium chemicals, and our full aquatics collection.
