Question: How many earthworms do you feed your axolotl? AND how big is it?

[buchoproduction]

Hi there

I'm pretty new to looking after Axolotls (I recently adopted one from someone who left her behind when moving ) Que sharp learning curve! I've been feeding her from my own wormery i created just for her... But I was wondering if I'm feeding her enough?...
I feed two medium sized worms a day she is 8.5" and body isn't bigger than head.

 

[Cacique]

My axolotl right now is about 14cm and I feed him 1 red wriggler about 8cm long twice a day, once when I get up and once before I go to bed. This is also my first axolotl and yours is older and bigger, and I'm not too sure of the eating habits of an adult axolotl. I do know that you want to aim to feed them a worm (or worms) that equal to the size of the axolotl's body.

What is the length of the worms compared to your axolotl?

 

[keiko]

I think that sounds pretty good what you're doing. As long as the axie's belly is about the same width as her head it's all good. Some axies prefer to eat every day smaller portions and others prefer to be fed maybe even just once a week with bigger portions. I'm feeding mine about twice a week as much as they want to eat and then little snacks (one worm or a couple of pellets) every now and then. They are now 8 months and over 9 inches.

 

[auntiejude]

All axies are different, and you have to judge your own axie and it's feeding habits.

Generally adults don't need feeding every day, but I found that even at 12 months mine were nipping if they didn't get daily feeds.

They are now 1.5-2yrs old, all 9-10" and fed 1 large worm every other day, and an occasional portion of bloodwrom, waxworm or river/cherry shrimp.

 

[buchoproduction]

Thank you everyone who replyed! :-D ♥ Bucho is about 2 years I think... but due to bad treatment previously she has grown 2" and begs for food each day. I feed dendrobaena worms. The worms are about half her length and as it's a new wormery the worms are not to particulary big or fat yet! As it was mentioned each Axolotl us unique and eats different amounts. Her stomach is nearly the size of her head but should it be slightly bigger as females are rounder anyway? Should I feed a few worms to make up for the lack of size? Many thanks everyone! so excited to be apart of your community!

 

[buchoproduction]

Also shes just getting to grips with worms sometimes its a bit of a fight... is there a good way of tiring them out before feeding to her?

 

[Cacique]

I'm not sure how it would be with the kind of worms that you are using, but I mine will struggle or fight a little with the red wrigglers I feed them. I think it is either trying to get it in a good position or just trying to get rid of the fowl substance they release.

 

[kjnorman]

You can blanch earthworms before feeding, which will kill them and keep them from wriggling but not destroy their nutritional value (don't worry, worms don't have the nervous system needed to feel pain and they are killed instantly anyway - you're not a worm-torturing monster).
I do this by putting the worms in a mug when I'm boiling water anyway for tea (so I don't have to heat the kettle up twice). I use what I need for the tea, and then turn on the cold water and pour some of the remaining boiling water into the worm mug, then immediately put it under the cold water to stop the cooking process as fast as possible.

My axies eventually got used to the live worms so I don't do this very often anymore, but for a long time one was picky and wouldn't eat live ones.

My two adult axies are about 9-10 inches long and eat between 0 and 3 earthworms per day depending on how much they ate the day before and how excited they are about the food - if they really go for it I usually feed them more. They are both in good condition.

The also have some guppies in the tank that they occasionally (too occasionally - I have too many guppies!) snack on, and sometimes get bits of salmon or bloodworms to mix things up.