As for lighting, the axolotl is a nocturnal creature so you need to avoid bright lighting during the day. Lunar LED lighting is a good choice if you want to see your axolotl while he is active without stressing him with bright lighting.
Axolotls actually have very poor eyesight. They rely on their excellent sense of smell to help them find their food. In the wild, they can be found in the dark muddy bottom of Lake Xochimilco, so they prefer habitats with less light in order to heighten their other senses.
Axolotls, unlike many terrestrial amphibians, do not require any specific lighting. A standard aquarium light to provide a day/night cycle will suffice, although they don't tend to like too much bright light, so it is best to keep it on a lower setting.
Blue lights are safe for viewing the Axolotl. Two of the most important aspects of Axolotl care are temperature and water flow. It is not a tropical animal, so it is critical that its aquarium is kept below 70° F (21° C), with 60-65° (15.5-18.3° C) being more ideal.
It may be true that compared to some exotic pets, axolotls have minimal care requirements, with no need for basking lamps or ultraviolet lights like you would need for most reptiles, and no need for aquarium heaters, like you would need for tropical fish, but they are still exotic pets, and they do have specific needs.
Axolotls live in aquariums and do best in cool or room-temperature water with low lighting. Provided each individual has 10-gallons of water they are peaceful in small groups. Besides a good aquarium pump, you do not need any special equipment to care for axolotls.
The ideal substrate for axolotls is sand. It can pass through even small individuals without any issues and provides them with something to comfortably grip as they roam through their aquarium.
The best axolotl food is a combination of earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia (a small aquatic crustacean). They also seem to enjoy lean pieces of beef and chicken. However, you should avoid the temptation to feed them too much live food, which may accidentally spread parasites and diseases.
They like to be in areas where they can easily hide in the daytime. Aquarium thus should consist of a hiding shelter such as PVC pipes, stacked rock, hollow ceramic decorations, & even hollow ceramic rocks utilized for cichlids make a good hiding spot for axolotls. Various other decorations are just optional.
As for lighting, the axolotl is a nocturnal creature so you need to avoid bright lighting during the day. Lunar LED lighting is a good choice if you want to see your axolotl while he is active without stressing him with bright lighting.
Conclusion. In conclusion, axolotls need a well-maintained tank with good water quality, a suitable filtration system, an appropriate substrate, decorations and plants, and adequate lighting to thrive.
They don't take any special care and attention, but they are susceptible to stress, so being disciplined with your tank maintenance is a must. Use this axolotl care guide I have provided you to ensure your pet lives a healthy and happy life.
Axolotl Tank Cleaning
You simply need to remove 25% of the aquarium water every 1-2 weeks to make sure that there is no buildup of harmful ammonia and nitrates in your tank. Follow the steps below to keep your aquarium clean and safe for your axolotls.
Axolotls can survive out of water for around one hour, provided that the area is moist and damp.
Axolotls make fascinating pets but are an intensive commitment. Caring for a pet axolotl is complex and requires a great deal of maintenance. Axolotls require an aquatic environment with very specific temperature, water quality and husbandry requirements.
Axolotls tend to wander around the bottom of their aquariums, and though depth of water is unimportant, providing them with enough space to comfortably explore is key to maintaining their health in captivity.
Silk or Live Plants
They love to hide in them, move them, and even sit on top of them. It is best to use silk or live plants because they are soft, plastic aquarium plants can have rough edges that could tear your axolotl's fins.
During the day, they burrow into the aquatic vegetation and mud to avoid being eaten, and at night they become animated…and hungry. While they use their gills to breathe underwater, they may pop up to the surface for a quick gulp of air from time to time.
The leading causes of Axolotl decline are human development, waste water disposal, and loss of habitat due to droughts. Despite their prevalence in the aquarium trade, these species are critically endangered in the wild.
Weaknesses: As they grow gills instead of lungs, axolotls cannot survive outside of water. Their regeneration is rather slow, meaning it'd still be easy to kill an axolotl. As pets, water temperatures outside an acceptable range (16-18 °C) will cause stress, which leads to disease and death.
Once they are 8 months old you will be able to feed them the full sized worm of the mixed pack and they will happily eat 2 or 3 good sized worms a day, but remember just because they eat it does not mean they want it. As long as your axolotl eats two worms a day in the first two years of its life then all is good.
Axolotls and goldfish cannot be kept together as tank mates or in a fish tank. The creatures require different basic living conditions and water parameters, and goldfish could stress and injure the Axolotls by nipping at their tails and gills.