Can you keep axolotls with fish

The warmer the water is, the less oxygen it can hold. Because of this, the warmer an axolotl aquarium is, the more important aeration and oxygen levels become. Adequate aeration can make the difference between healthy and unhealthy axolotls in this borderline temperature range. Another important issue that is frequently overlooked is the substrate. In most aquariums, the color, texture, and size of the substrate are all simply a matter of taste, but since axolotls do not simply swim around, it becomes much more important.

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. I mistakenly kept the first axolotls I ever owned on gravel. Once I did enough research to realize my mistake, I moved them to a more appropriate setup. Within a few days, there were pieces of gravel they brought with them from their original tank in their digestive system.

They were lucky to not have any major health issues because of my mistake, but many are not so lucky. 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. Compatibility is a frequently debated topic when it comes to any aquatic animal, and axolotls are no exception.

Most axolotl keepers keep them with no other types of animals for a few reasons. Number one is that their external gills and slow nature simply make them an easy target for fish. Even slow fish find the flowing external gills too tempting and will make a meal out of them, frequently leaving the axolotls with no more than nubs of what were once large, full gills.

Another issue is that axolotls are nocturnal and can make an easy meal of sleeping fish in the middle of the night. The only fish I have ever had work well at all with axolotls are fancy goldfish. They are very slow, and if well fed, many individuals will not put the effort into going after the axolotls.

Mine would get too close to the axolotls, get nipped at, and then learn to stay away from them. However, even with fancy goldfish there is no guarantee, so the safest thing to do is keep axolotls to a species-only tank. Axolotls can pose a serious risk to each other as well. Small and young axolotls are easy targets for larger individuals and can simply be eaten or lose limbs. Overcrowding of similar-sized individuals can also lead to missing limbs or dead ones. It is important to mix only individuals of similar size and only with adequate space.

Feeding axolotls is fairly straightforward: They are highly carnivorous and prefer meaty foods. High-quality pellets can provide a well-balanced diet, and trout and salmon pellets of appropriate size are one of the most popular options. High-quality sinking foods for carnivorous fish are another popular option. In addition to these, many people rely on a variety of strips of meat and fish, frozen foods, live foods, chopped earthworms, and other similar foods.

Just like with fish, it is important to feed appropriate amounts because any uneaten food will rot and lower water quality. Aquarium setup is largely a matter of preference, but there are certain issues that need to be kept in mind. Very young and small individuals can be kept in standard gallon aquariums. These peaceful fish enjoy cold, hard, neutral pH water. In addition, they are either too fast for axolotls to catch, too big to make an attractive meal, or they reproduce fast enough that the population should be able to maintain itself.

Potentially good tankmates These fish sound like they could be good axolotl tankmates in theory, but I have not tried them personally, or they did not work for me, for various reasons.

Swimming buffet These are fish who enjoy the same water parameters as your axolotls, but are likely to become dinner very fast. If you breed them in a separate tank, they could be an attractive option as a source of cheap live food.

Experienced fishkeepers only! Do keep an eye out for signs of stress in both species, and be ready to separate or adjust your setup as needed. While axolotls are relatively hardy to slight fluctuations in their environment, they also have delicate, soft bodies with permeable skin. In fact, most of their body is made of cartilage rather than bone.

That means they should not be handled unless absolutely necessary. And if you do have to move them out of their tank, do so with a fine mesh net that won't entangle any of their body parts. Once you have their housing setup correct, you generally only have to spend a few hours per week on feeding and cleaning. The rest is simply enjoying them as a quiet, aquatic companion. Axolotls tend to be fairly bold and are perfectly content to move about their tank as they're being watched by their humans.

Some will come up to the side of their tank when a person is there observing them. They should not be kept with other species as axolotls might try to eat pet fish, and the fish sometimes nip at them, as well. You even should be cautious about housing them with other axolotls. Juvenile axolotls can be cannibalistic toward one another, so they are best raised in separate enclosures.

Adults can potentially be housed together, but still, watch out for cannibalistic tendencies. If a body part gets bitten off by a tank mate, an axolotl actually can regenerate it over time. However, it's still best to avoid this situation altogether. At least a to gallon fish tank is recommended for axolotls. Make sure the tank has a secure lid, as it's not uncommon for these animals to try to jump out of their enclosure. A land area is unnecessary in the tank for these fully aquatic animals.

At a minimum, the water depth should be slightly more than the length of your axolotl. But adding extra depth will help with water quality and give your animal more room to move.

Keep the tank in a cool room away from bright sunlight with the water temperature between 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit 14 and 20 degrees Celsius ; don't allow it to get above 75 degrees Fahrenheit 24 degrees Celsius. No special lighting is required for axolotls unlike many reptiles. In fact, a dark hiding spot, such as a flower pot laid on its side or an aquarium castle, is often appreciated. Some owners opt to leave the bottom of the tank bare, though others believe this might stress the axolotl if it can't get a foothold on the smooth bottom.

If gravel is used on the bottom, it must be coarse gravel that's bigger than the axolotl's head. Fine gravel might be ingested and cause an obstruction. Tap water treated with an aquarium water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines is fine for axolotls. Never use distilled water, and make sure the pH of the water remains between 6. You can find a water test kit to check at most pet stores. Most owners find a filtered aquarium is easier to maintain because unfiltered water needs frequent changing to remove waste.

However, if you choose to have a filter on the tank, the filtration rate should be slow. Powerful filters that create strong currents can stress an axolotl. Never do a full water change, as this can alter the water chemistry too drastically and stress your animal. In the wild, axolotls feed on snails, worms, crustaceans, small fish, and small amphibians.

In captivity, they can be fed a variety of brine shrimp, small strips of beef or liver, earthworms, bloodworms, tubifex worms, other frozen fish foods , and commercial fish pellets. Do not feed any worms or fish you caught yourself, as they can carry parasites. In general, no vitamin or mineral supplements are necessary. Consult your veterinarian regarding the amount of food to offer, as well as how often to feed your axolotl, as this varies depending on age and size.