Axo Food

[Bomberoo]

Feed mine on river shrimp from local aquatics store. Not to many at a time, axo's seam to not like them trying to eat there gill's (strangely!!)They live in the tank untill they are eaten so no problems with decaying food messing my water up. Frozen Lance fish and blackworms are also generally available from the local aquatics store. Again, only once every couple of weeks. I have found lance fish useful when other foods are not readly available. They stay fresh in the freezer for a year or so.
Earthworms when the cat/daughter brings 'em in from the garden (getting more frequent as my daughter is older now).
Never have given them prawns, don't like the idea of giving them something that has been cooked.
They have been healthy & stress free now for 13+ years, & have moved house about 4 times.
One thing to watch out with is if they get ill. There are lots of over the counter addatives to put in the water to 'help'. Quite a few of these can kill them.
Check out : Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander
Gotta' be one of the best websites for just about everything axolotl related.

[GemzD26]

Originally Posted by jaykickboxer

gotta say tho alhough im not condoning it if theyve lived 5 years on it how bad can it be.

I understand you point but Axolotls have been kept for over a hundred years as pets by humans and in all my time owning axolotls ive never seen Raw chicken being offered let alone their diet everyday for 5 years!
I have not idear whare the previous owner got this idear from imagine being fed that solid for 5 year its does not bother thinking about!

My first fed after 1 hour of putting her in my tank i dangled a worm infront of her and she snatched it from my hand.

I suppose all axolotls are diffrent it can take days to week for them to proplerly settle in.

[axoemz]

Ive tried them on earth worms but they arnt interested. I tried blood worm and one of them had some. What about brine shrimp or daphnia?

[jaykickboxer]

Yeh im not saying feed them it but just saying they've lived 5 years on it im surprised what the averidge lifespan for a axy anyways.

[GemzD26]

Originally Posted by axoemz

Ive tried them on earth worms but they arnt interested. I tried blood worm and one of them had some. What about brine shrimp or daphnia?

They are to big for Daphnia,Daphnia Is used when they are larva as larva they have to chase live food to make them eat,Same goes for Brine shrimp.

I would keep trying them on worms,they are still trying to settle in so be patient.

Bloodworms are good for food also but worms have more goodness for a axolotl

Thye may not be taking the worms as worms can release an after taste in the axolotls mouth and can make them spit it out or the worm may be to big for the axolotl to fit in its mouth.

You are best to get the worms and leave them in a tub with warm water give them a clean and leave them for ten mins for the worms to release their "defence" them chop them into lengths of 0.5 cm each and wiggle them infront of the axolotls face with your fingers.

Dont be worried they can really bite they just suck on your finger its happened to me a few times its a big of a shock but not painful!

[GemzD26]

Originally Posted by jaykickboxer

Yeh im not saying feed them it but just saying they've lived 5 years on it im surprised what the averidge lifespan for a axy anyways.

I think their lifespan just depend on the care and attention they are recieved by their owners.

Ive read an axolotl live up to 20 years giving the right care and attention.

I have one that was mistreated and even tho i cant tell her age she acts old and looks old if i was to hazard a guess i would say shes at least 6!

My second oldest is 2 1/2 and all my other are 1 year +.

I do my best to give them the best life they can have.

I think im goinng to be a mommy for a long time,

[axoemz]

Thanks for all your advice, they have started eating tonight and im well pleased. It did make me jump tho when they grabbed the food!
How many of your axos do u keep together Gem?

[GemzD26]

Ha ha,

Yeah my one eyes lexi did that to me a screamed like a little girl first time
Ive got old pics of the axolotls in my album your welcome to have a look i took new pics last week as ive moved them into new tanks and my little babies have now doubled in size!
Pics take forever to load up so ill have a bash at the weekend!

I have 4 girlies in a 4 1/2 foot tank 2 males in a three foot tanks and a loner female (by her own choice) in a two 1/2 foot tank.

I dont mix the sexes as i would have eggs everyware much to the disapointed faces on the boys ( they lived with the females before they showed their sex).

Plus one of the boys is a brother two too of the girls and i would not want interbreeding

Anytime you need advice please feel free to contact me always happy to give advice if i can

[axoemz]

Thanks!
I would eventually like to get a Leucistic axo, would it be ok in with my two or would it be best to put it in a seperate tank?

[GemzD26]

Hi,

Really depends on the size of your tank at the moment?

A three is a minimum for two axolotls so if its a three foot you have you would have to either upgrade to a Larger tank to accomodate the additional axolotl or buy a separate tank to hold it alone.

They guy who you got them from did her ever mention they had laid eggs?

If not it may be a possibility you have two males or two females and you would need to make sure that your additional one id not either or , You may end up with a heap of eggs
What substrate do you keep your axolotls on Gravel?

If so i would remove it as a precaution as gravel can cause impactaion in an axolotls stomach.