When to feed my axolotl

[Not Albino Alex]

It is my first time having an axolotl and I don't know when to feed and and what to feed it. I would know but my axolotl is 2.5 inches so I don't know to feed it more often or less often or feed it less or more. For the past 2 weeks I have just fed it pellets every 3 days as much as it will eat (Alex eats of the sand so I don't know for how long Alex eats for). So when and how much and what should I feed it?

 

[SamAxolotl]

I don't think that sand for an axolotl that small is the best idea, based on what I've heard. Sand can cause injury to the axolotl, especially if they eat some, and even more so when they are that small, so waiting until they are larger (probably at the very least 6 inches long) until doing sand is better. Even then, sand can be risky. I've heard that hand-feeding and/or providing a food dish is best if you choose to do sand.
As for food, I have my little guy eating frozen blood worms and night crawlers/earthworms and change which one i use every time I feed him. I had some problems with pellets and therefore I opt not to use them. However, many people do have good luck with pellets, so ask around and see what brands people use.
for an axolotl that size, I'd say that one to two pellets every three days is a reasonable amount. I feed mine at night since I've heard they're more active then. I generally wait until mine has pooped after eating before I feed again (usually 1-2 days) and he seems to be doing great.

hope this helps!

 

[AMurry24537]

In reply to the pellets comment, I really like the axolotl pellets sold by Invert Aquatics (available on Amazon). I also agree that sand is probably not the best idea for a young axolotl, even if it is fine sand. Maybe wait until a bit later.

I usually feed my axolotl Canadian nightcrawlers. I did have to cut them into smaller pieces when he was young, but this is very doable. For an axolotl of that size, newly hatched brine shrimp are usually a preferred food. Be cautious with relying on bloodworms as a primary food source; they're basically a junk food for axolotls and provide little nutritional value.

Please do be aware that young axolotls have a high metabolism as they are growing very quickly. Also, their little bodies can only fit so much food at a time when they are young. Many people feed young axolotls like this every day, but every axolotl is a little different. If I were you, I would monitor your axolotl's eating habits. Most (but definitely not all) axoltotls will self-regulate, at least to some degree. I would add some food, see how much it can eat within about 5 minutes (or until it starts rejecting food). Try the same amount the next day. If it's interested, continue feeding every day at the same amount until its eating habits change.

Their metabolism slows down as they age, so they don't need to be fed as often, though they do often eat MORE food when they do eat. Keep any eye on your axolotl's weight as well. The goal is that the widest part of their body (when observed from above) is about the same width as the widest part of their head (maybe a touch smaller). If the body seems significantly smaller, you may need to feed a bit more food/more often. If it seems to be getting as wide or wider than the head, you may need to back off a bit.

Of course, some foods contain more fat than others, so the variety of foods you offer your axolotl will also have an effect on weight. All in all, live earthworms (ideally European or Canadian nightcrawlers) are usually considered the ideal primary food, but they can be too large for young ones, and a varied diet is always a good idea.

 

[Not Albino Alex]

I don't think that sand for an axolotl that small is the best idea, based on what I've heard. Sand can cause injury to the axolotl, especially if they eat some, and even more so when they are that small, so waiting until they are larger (probably at the very least 6 inches long) until doing sand is better. Even then, sand can be risky. I've heard that hand-feeding and/or providing a food dish is best if you choose to do sand.
As for food, I have my little guy eating frozen blood worms and night crawlers/earthworms and change which one i use every time I feed him. I had some problems with pellets and therefore I opt not to use them. However, many people do have good luck with pellets, so ask around and see what brands people use.
for an axolotl that size, I'd say that one to two pellets every three days is a reasonable amount. I feed mine at night since I've heard they're more active then. I generally wait until mine has pooped after eating before I feed again (usually 1-2 days) and he seems to be doing great.

hope this helps!

I might take the sand out and it has eating some sand before but just coughed it out. I'll try feeding it cut up earthworms every other or more day to vary it's diet (I have heard they can't live off pellets). Should I feed the worms frozen or not cos I have found 2 places where they sell live worms in small pots. At the moment I am dropping the pellets in front of Alex's face so he/r sees them so should I do the same with worms?
Thank you.

In reply to the pellets comment, I really like the axolotl pellets sold by Invert Aquatics (available on Amazon). I also agree that sand is probably not the best idea for a young axolotl, even if it is fine sand. Maybe wait until a bit later.

I usually feed my axolotl Canadian nightcrawlers. I did have to cut them into smaller pieces when he was young, but this is very doable. For an axolotl of that size, newly hatched brine shrimp are usually a preferred food. Be cautious with relying on bloodworms as a primary food source; they're basically a junk food for axolotls and provide little nutritional value.

Please do be aware that young axolotls have a high metabolism as they are growing very quickly. Also, their little bodies can only fit so much food at a time when they are young. Many people feed young axolotls like this every day, but every axolotl is a little different. If I were you, I would monitor your axolotl's eating habits. Most (but definitely not all) axoltotls will self-regulate, at least to some degree. I would add some food, see how much it can eat within about 5 minutes (or until it starts rejecting food). Try the same amount the next day. If it's interested, continue feeding every day at the same amount until its eating habits change.

Their metabolism slows down as they age, so they don't need to be fed as often, though they do often eat MORE food when they do eat. Keep any eye on your axolotl's weight as well. The goal is that the widest part of their body (when observed from above) is about the same width as the widest part of their head (maybe a touch smaller). If the body seems significantly smaller, you may need to feed a bit more food/more often. If it seems to be getting as wide or wider than the head, you may need to back off a bit.

Of course, some foods contain more fat than others, so the variety of foods you offer your axolotl will also have an effect on weight. All in all, live earthworms (ideally European or Canadian nightcrawlers) are usually considered the ideal primary food, but they can be too large for young ones, and a varied diet is always a good idea.

Thank you and Alex stops eating when he/r is full. Next time I feed Alex I will set a timer and see how much he/r eats.

 

[SamAxolotl]

In reply to the pellets comment, I really like the axolotl pellets sold by Invert Aquatics (available on Amazon). I also agree that sand is probably not the best idea for a young axolotl, even if it is fine sand. Maybe wait until a bit later.

I usually feed my axolotl Canadian nightcrawlers. I did have to cut them into smaller pieces when he was young, but this is very doable. For an axolotl of that size, newly hatched brine shrimp are usually a preferred food. Be cautious with relying on bloodworms as a primary food source; they're basically a junk food for axolotls and provide little nutritional value.

Please do be aware that young axolotls have a high metabolism as they are growing very quickly. Also, their little bodies can only fit so much food at a time when they are young. Many people feed young axolotls like this every day, but every axolotl is a little different. If I were you, I would monitor your axolotl's eating habits. Most (but definitely not all) axoltotls will self-regulate, at least to some degree. I would add some food, see how much it can eat within about 5 minutes (or until it starts rejecting food). Try the same amount the next day. If it's interested, continue feeding every day at the same amount until its eating habits change.

Their metabolism slows down as they age, so they don't need to be fed as often, though they do often eat MORE food when they do eat. Keep any eye on your axolotl's weight as well. The goal is that the widest part of their body (when observed from above) is about the same width as the widest part of their head (maybe a touch smaller). If the body seems significantly smaller, you may need to feed a bit more food/more often. If it seems to be getting as wide or wider than the head, you may need to back off a bit.

Of course, some foods contain more fat than others, so the variety of foods you offer your axolotl will also have an effect on weight. All in all, live earthworms (ideally European or Canadian nightcrawlers) are usually considered the ideal primary food, but they can be too large for young ones, and a varied diet is always a good idea.

I did not know this about blood worms, so this is very good information! I had heard they were a good food source and that's all I knew. No idea they were mostly junk. I will be adjusting my axie's diet accordingly now. Thank you!

 

[AMurry24537]

I might take the sand out and it has eating some sand before but just coughed it out. I'll try feeding it cut up earthworms every other or more day to vary it's diet (I have heard they can't live off pellets). Should I feed the worms frozen or not cos I have found 2 places where they sell live worms in small pots. At the moment I am dropping the pellets in front of Alex's face so he/r sees them so should I do the same with worms?
Thank you.

Thank you and Alex stops eating when he/r is full. Next time I feed Alex I will set a timer and see how much he/r eats.

I use live worms; they help stimulate the hunting instinct with their movements and my axolotl doesn't get some axolotl version of brain freeze, lol. I do usually drop the worms in front of my axolotl's face, same as the pellets. I have noticed that, while mine can definitely sniff out and find pellets basically from across the tank, he sometimes doesn't see a worm if it falls past him to the floor of his tank and lands underneath his feet. It takes him a while to find it (at least until it touches him and he freaks out ). To be fair though, mine is kinda blind, haha! He still finds it within about 20 minutes, it just takes him longer than most.

 

[Not Albino Alex]

I use live worms; they help stimulate the hunting instinct with their movements and my axolotl doesn't get some axolotl version of brain freeze, lol. I do usually drop the worms in front of my axolotl's face, same as the pellets. I have noticed that, while mine can definitely sniff out and find pellets basically from across the tank, he sometimes doesn't see a worm if it falls past him to the floor of his tank and lands underneath his feet. It takes him a while to find it (at least until it touches him and he freaks out ). To be fair though, mine is kinda blind, haha! He still finds it within about 20 minutes, it just takes him longer than most.

How would I get small live worms because Alex wouldn't be able to eat a worm around 1 inch so what should I do?

 

[SamAxolotl]

How would I get small live worms because Alex wouldn't be able to eat a worm around 1 inch so what should I do?

You can chop up things like earth worms so they're small enough. It's not pleasant, but does the job. Other worms you can often buy at pet stores or reptile expos near you (I'd check out expos: more personal experience and often better prices)

 

[Not Albino Alex]

You can chop up things like earth worms so they're small enough. It's not pleasant, but does the job. Other worms you can often buy at pet stores or reptile expos near you (I'd check out expos: more personal experience and often better prices)

Thanks
Edit: I can't find expos on Google maps so did you not say the full name or something?
Edit x2: or maybe it's an American thing like target or something.

 

[SamAxolotl]

Thanks
Edit: I can't find expos on Google maps so did you not say the full name or something?
Edit x2: or maybe it's an American thing like target or something.

Near me people who breed reptiles and then often will get together at an event center of some sort to sell their animals/animal food and products. Maybe ask and see if any local pet stores do it or know about it? It might be an american thing though, idk for sure.

 

[SamAxolotl]

Near me people who breed reptiles and then often will get together at an event center of some sort to sell their animals/animal food and products. Maybe ask and see if any local pet stores do it or know about it? It might be an american thing though, idk for sure.

Maybe reptile shows or just pet shows in general might be a better wording? Again, no idea if this Is an american thing though.

 

[AMurry24537]

I usually use scissors if I have to cut up some earthworms. It's kinda gross, but you get used to it, and axolotls grow quickly, so you usually don't have to do it for a really long time.