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Axolotl Care Sheet

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If you're not willing to take the time to properly cycle your aquarium, axolotls may not be the right pet for you.

🐉 West Florida Axolotls & Exotics –

Basic Axolotl Care Sheet 🐉

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Welcome! Before bringing home your new axolotl, please review these important care guidelines to ensure a happy and healthy pet.

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🐲 Tank Size Requirements

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  • Minimum tank size: 20 gallons per axolotl

  • Add 10 gallons for each additional axolotl

  • Low and long tanks are preferred because axolotls frequently surface for air.

  • They breathe in three ways:

    1. Lungs

    2. Gills

    3. Skin

Tip: If you use a tall tank, add levels or platforms. Axolotls love plastic “dragon hammocks” with suction cups—they enjoy lounging and having resting spots.

🦎 Water Requirements

  • Freshwater only – despite some online sources, axolotls are not brackish water animals.

  • Dechlorinated tap water or spring water is best.

    • Remove chlorine and chloramines using products like Prime (found in pet stores or online).

    • Avoid dechlorinators with aloe or tea tree oil, which can damage axolotl skin.

  • Do NOT use distilled water – it lacks essential minerals.

  • pH range: 6.5–7.5 (neutral).

    • Expect small fluctuations while your tank is cycling.

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🐉 Tank Cycling

Before adding your axolotl, the tank must be 100% cycled. Cycling means building a colony of beneficial bacteria that break down toxic compounds:

  1. Ammonia → Nitrite → Nitrate

  2. Any spike in these levels can make the water toxic.

  3. Cycling is a chemical process, not just running a filter.

    • You must introduce an ammonia source to begin the cycle.

Tip: For step-by-step instructions, check our Cycle Guide Tab below.

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🌊🐉 Welcome to the World of Axolotls! 🐉🌊

 

First things first—cycle your tank using this guide to create the perfect home for your new underwater buddy.

 

Once your tank is ready, keep this handy cheat sheet to easily read your API Freshwater Master Test Kit and make sure your axolotl is living their best life!​

🐉West Florida Axolotls & Exotics – Comprehensive Axolotl Care Guide🐲

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If you cannot achieve safe water parameters for your axolotl’s tank,

tub the axolotl until your levels are safe.

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🐉Can an Axolotl Live in a Tub?🐲

Yes! Axolotls can live in a temporary tub with:

  • 100% daily water changes

  • Cool, clean, dechlorinated tap water or spring water

Tubs can be:

  • Any food-safe container, like Tupperware or Sterilite bins.

Axolotls are fine in tubs until the tank is fully cycled, as long as the water is cool, clean, and dechlorinated.
When in doubt: TUB YOUR AXOLOTL. ✅

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🐉Temperature Requirements🐲

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  • Ideal water temperature: 57–68°F

  • Never exceed 70°F (overheating is dangerous)

  • Tips for cooling water:

    • Place the tank on the floor or near an A/C vent

    • Use fans

    • Float frozen water bottles and rotate them

  • Avoid rapid temperature changes—it can shock your axolotl.
    Cooler is always safer than warmer!

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🐉Filtration🐲 

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  • Avoid powerful filters that create strong currents.

  • Reduce flow on HOB (Hang-On-Back) filters with:

    • Water bottles

    • Loofahs

    • Plants

    • Sponges on the intake (recommended for safety)

Recommended Filters:

  • Marineland HOB Bio-Wheel filters (our preferred choice)

  • Biochemical Stone Sponge Corner Filters (Amazon)

  • Sponge bio-filters (require an air pump)

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Axolotls produce a lot of waste, so be mindful of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

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🐉Tank Cleaning🐲

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  • Spot clean daily: Turkey baster or siphon

  • Partial water changes: 20% weekly or bi-weekly (depending on API readings)

  • Always monitor water parameters using an API Freshwater Master Test Kit:

    • Shake test kit bottles well before use to avoid crystal buildup

  • Pro tip: Pothos and other aquatic plants help lower nitrates and ammonia, though plants can be tricky in low-light, cold tanks.

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🐉Substrate🐲

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  • NO GRAVEL or SAND for babies!

    • Risk of ingestion and fatal blockage

  • Safe options:

    • Bare bottom

    • Tile, slate, or ceramic

    • Silicone bath mat (no mildew protection)

    • Painted underside of the tank

  • If using sand:

    • Only for axolotls 5–6 inches or larger

    • Very fine sand is safest

    • Crayola Play Sand (non-toxic) works well

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🐉Lighting🐲 

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  • No special lighting needed

  • Provide shaded areas like:

    • Sideways flower pots

    • Aquarium castles or hides

  • Avoid bright lights (axolotls have no eyelids)

  • Blue lights are safe for showing GFP glow

  • Avoid blacklights (stressful and harmful to eyes)

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🐉Tank Mates🐲

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  • Axolotls only! Not a community tank pet.

  • They can live alone or with other axolotls.

  • Important:

    • Same-sex pairs are fine

    • Opposite-sex pairs must be separated once mature (up to 18 months)

    • Dividers are not enough—males can still fertilize females

  • Overbreeding is deadly for females.

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🐉Decorations🐲 

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  • One hide per axolotl

  • Avoid sharp edges

  • Favorite resting items:

    • Lizard hammocks

    • Suction cup soap dishes

    • Plastic plants

    • Submerged turtle ramps

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🐉Diet🐲

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Staple Foods:

  • Live blackworms (best for babies)

  • Canadian or European nightcrawlers (cut to eye-width)

  • Red wigglers (only if accepted; blanch or soak to reduce slime)

  • Hikari carnivore pellets

  • Repashy grub pie or salamander blends

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Live Food for Stimulation (in moderation):

  • Guppies, mollies, platies, swordtails

  • White Cloud minnows

  • Cherry or ghost shrimp

Monitor carefully—fish can nip gills and carry parasites and diseases. 

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Occasional Snacks:

  • Frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp

  • RAW fish (salmon, tilapia)

  • RAW peeled shrimp

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Baby Diet:

  • Baby brine shrimp

  • Microworms

  • Daphnia

  • Live blackworms

  • White worms

  • Vinegar eels

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Clean uneaten food daily to maintain water quality.

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🐉Common Health Issues🐲 

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  • Stress often leads to:

    • Loss of appetite

    • Gill deterioration

    • Forward-curled gills or tail

    • Fuzzy or reddened skin

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Basic treatments:

  • Tub the axolotl

  • Treat with half-dose:

    • Methylene blue, Furan-2, or Kanaplex (fungal/bacterial)

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  • Natural support:

    • Indian almond leaves (antibacterial & antifungal)

    • Black tea baths (20 minutes)

  • Daily 100% water changes if tubbed

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🐉Recommended Supplies🐲 

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  • Water thermometer

  • API Freshwater Master Test Kit

  • Dechlorinator without aloe (we use Prime)

  • Siphon for water changes

  • Turkey baster for spot cleaning

  • Indian almond leaves (optional but recommended)

  • Black tea (emergency skin relief)

  • Furan-2, Methylene Blue (fungus & bacteria)

  • Prazipro, General Cure (parasites)

  • Fenbendazole, Nemotol (advanced parasite treatment)

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🐉Legal Restrictions🐲

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  • Illegal to own: CA, ME, NJ, AR, DC

  • Legal but cannot import without permit: NM, PR, HI

  • We will not ship without valid permits where required.

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🦎Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee🐲 

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  • Live arrival guaranteed with overnight shipping only

  • We accept: PayPal, Venmo, Facebook Pay, Zelle, and all major credit cards

  • Please read our Shipping Policy before ordering!

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