When to cut down on feeding?

[celticcrow77]

My axolotl's about 3 months old now and is a little past 5" long. Since he was hatched I've been giving him breakfast and dinner, so he has enough energy to grow, but I was wondering when I should start cutting back to one meal a day? I know once they're adults they should eat once every few days instead of every day, so I was wondering a good time-frame to start cutting back. I know it's not cut and dry, but any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Kaysie]

You can definitely stop feeding him twice a day. Usually by the time they're 5", I cut them back to 3ish times a week.

 

[celticcrow77]

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[ZoeT94]

I think it depends upon the axie. One of mine will only eat once every week! and the other one will quite happily eat every day. So ensure you do not underfeed them.

 

[Kaysie]

The reason you can cut back feeding is this: Larvae and small juveniles dedicate a LOT of energy to growing, so you should feed them every day to ensure they grow up healthy and strong. Once they reach 4-5inches (10-15cm), their growth slows considerably, so they don't have the caloric demand. If you feed them daily the same size meals you were feeding before, you'll end up with a pudgy axolotl.

You can still feed daily if you wish, but you should cut back on the amount of food. Axolotls are opportunistic eaters, and most will eat food whenever it's offered, no matter how much they've eaten. They'll eat to the point of vomiting.

 

[Aimzs Lotties]

*Dislike* silly vomiting axies..

 

[laalflaach]

Ive noticed that they wont stop eating too! El monstro, (silly name I know but thats what he is compared to all the other 21 babies) will eat and eat and eat, more than most of them put together. And every day, he has grown again! And its so noticable, its scary. But I have also noticed that feeding the frozen bloodworm, the tub I am feeding is empty, by the time I have fed the 6th tub, the first tub has bloodworm in it again, think they have sicked it up, but they then eat it again. Strange creatures!

 

[scooty16]

My adult axie is about 2 years but sometimes he isnt interested food for like 4 days to a week!

Is it harming him by him not eating for a week, instead 3 times a week?

 

[Johan]

It's not harmfull to feed your axies once a week. Like Kaysie said, once their growth slows they don't need as much food. Their metabolism is much slower when they are adults then when young and growing. I've only leared this myself not to long ago by someone who suggested I should feed less. I was told one big earth worm a week should be enough and when the axie wants more you can occasionally give one more worm or a treat.

 

[beverleyx]

i read that axis take 72 hours to digest their meal , mine will eat every day if I offer them a worm ( which is the best thing you can feed them ) but if I offer blood worms they wont touch them unless they are hungry

 

[auntiejude]

I wish I could persuade mine to eat just 3 times a week! If I don't feed them daily they start snapping at each other, the plants etc. I feed them little and often - even though I have tried more food less often.

And yes, given the chance they will gorge themselves - I once put 40 river shrimp in the tank thinking it would take them a few days to get through them. It took 4 hours.