Yes, axolotls prefer dim lighting and thrive in darker environments because they are sensitive to bright light and lack eyelids, making darkness ideal for rest and activity, though they need a natural day/night cycle with periods of dark to mimic their native habitat and should have hiding spots. They are naturally nocturnal and more active at night, relying on senses other than sight in pitch-black conditions, so providing hides and turning off lights is beneficial.
Dim Lighting: While they don't need total darkness, they prefer dimmer lighting than many other aquatic creatures. Benefits of Dark Areas: Hiding spots, like caves or dense plants, allow axolotls to retreat from bright light if they desire.
Axolotls don't need a light. Think about their natural environment. To add to this- they don't have eyelids, so pitch dark is perfect for them to go to sleep in! Don't worry about it being too dark, OP- lighting in axolotl tanks is for people and plants.
They prefer dim light but cannot see in absolute darkness. That being said they've also adapted to using their other senses to get around like touch because of their poor vision. You don't have to have the tank lit up during the night.
Night and day
Axolotls come out at night to hunt. During the day, they avoid predators of their own. They burrow into the plants and mud at the bottom of the lake.
Provided the water is clean (low in organic wastes), cool, and well aerated, A. mexicanum will thrive in the tank. Many aquarists seek to keep axolotls with fish.
Signs to look out for in a stressed or unhealthy axolotl may be curled gills, hooked tail tip, small gills, sparse filaments, red spots, etc.
Axolotls are solitary creatures and are happy to live alone in their fish tank. They can be around other axolotls, as long as they are not small enough to fit in the mouth of the other.
Adult axolotls over about 7.5 inches only need to eat every two to three days.
🥹 While they don't bond like dogs or cats, axolotls can recognize familiar routines, vibrations, and even associate their human with food time!
Bare-bottom aquariums are not ideal for axolotls because they do not provide them with anything to grip. This can cause unnecessary stress and even sores on the end of their toes. Gravel is also not ideal because it can be easily swallowed and lead to an impaction that they may not be able to pass.
Signs that your axolotl is stressed include tightly curled forward gills, small gills or lack of gill filaments, or the very tip of their tail curling or folding over on itself, scratching at the gills with their back leg, or swimming erratically and writhing.
Sometimes Hiccup (my axolotl) gets these little zoom sessions where he goes very fast sometimes bumping into things until he stops somewhere and just chills. He seems good with a healthy appetite (he gets fed a mix of blood worms, sinking pellets and a frozen seafood mix for axolotls.)
Hiding is normal and not doing anything is normal - their instinct is to conserve energy by not moving unless there's a need to, so an axolotl that's sitting/hiding is a “happy” one for lack of a better term. They will generally be out at night moving around to look for food etc.
When your axolotl is sick, stressed, or injured, room temperature can actually make things worse. The fridge method helps them heal by slowing down their metabolism and reducing bacteria growth — giving their body a chance to recover.
Axolotls are not particularly fond of being touched. Unlike dogs or cats, they do not seek out physical interaction and can become stressed when handled frequently.
Proper aeration is essential for the health of your axolotl, as it helps ensure they have enough oxygen to breathe comfortably.
Usually, an adult axolotl poops about once a week. Anything above this is a sign that you're probably overfeeding your axolotl. However, if you suspect that your axolotl isn't pooping at all, it is also cause for worry. Ensure that you aren't missing its poop time and allowing it to dissolve.
For a 3 week vacation, I would have someone drop by to feed the axie a few times and top off any water lost to evaporation, but a good-sized and well-established tank with plants can go that long without cleaning.
However, they aren't particularly social animals and don't require any tank companions. They should not be kept with other species as axolotls might try to eat pet fish, and the fish sometimes nip at them. You even should be cautious about housing them with other axolotls.
Axolotls Look Like Babies for Their Entire Lives
This also means that their teeth never develop and that they must rely on a suction method to consume food. Sometimes, when eating, their mouths remain open for a few seconds after swallowing, which can make them look like they're smiling.
We now know that gill flapping in Axolotls is a natural and normal behavior aimed at optimizing oxygen uptake. This unique strategy enables the axolotl able to meet its oxygen needs in an efficient and relaxed manner, even when at rest.
It comes out in one piece but if your axolotl steps on it it'll break into dust basically. Vomit usually contains partially digested food. If you're feeding worms it'll be really obvious.
Axolotls need a lot of filtration and clean water but prefer an overall low water flow. Higher flow filters can be stressful to them, as the axolotls generally want to move slowly as they explore the aquarium and will struggle to fight against a big current.