New baby axolotl

I became new mama to baby axolotl this past week. He (or she) is a white albino and is about 2 inches long named Coconut. He is doing really well eating blood worms. Have also gotten him to eat brine and mysis shrimp. I have been reading and researching all I can only axolotls. I look forward to learning more and any suggestions you have for little one of this size and age.

This is Coconut's tank. It is bare bottom with Java Moss and floating anubias. He is in a 2.5 until grows some more. Have a flow regulator on filter. Temp pretty consistent 68-70. Have fan directed on water to keep cool. Monitoring Temps very closely. Coconut is active and likes to hide under Moss or sometimes perch top of it. He seems like always hungry. Feeding twice a day. Any suggestions on tank appreciated. Suctioning waste and left over food every day. Have done one partial water change so far.

Welcome to the forum!

Your tank is looking good. Has it been cycled?

Your temperature is a little on the high side, ideally you want to aim for 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also you should look at feeding earthworms cut up into small chunks, this is more nutritionally complete than bloodworm.

Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling
Axolotls - Requirements & Water Conditions in Captivity
Caudata Culture Articles - Worms

Hello themamaj, and congratulations on your new baby!

I've raised them at that size and they do eat like troopers. Bloodworms are an ideal food at that size. As suggested by Axolotl Chris, you might want to try some chopped or small earthworms - they're recommended as a staple because they're very varied in nutrients. You could also try blackworm. Mysis and Brine Shrimp are a good addition for variety but he might be too big for those soon.

He looks good and your setup looks perfect for the moment, although lowering temperature may help a little - as Axolotlchris said, an ideal temperature is 62 degrees Farenheit/16 degrees Celsius to 64 degrees Farehheit/18 degrees Celsius. Saying that, axolotls can be comfortable anywhere up to 74 degrees Farenheit/23 degrees Celsius, but as said this isn't ideal and some owners do feel this puts stress on the animals. The key is to get the temperature consistent once it's lowered too. (My big tank is 22 degrees Celsius/72 Farenheit, so I've had to buy a chiller >.<).

Anyway, enjoy him! They're great little animals. Just be warned - they're like Pringles. You can never have just the one (unless you have far better restraint than I do ).

Soooooooo cute.

I agree that they are very addictive, and thanks to Petersgirl who may have just found the perfect name for my juvenile wild type......Pringles.

Thank you all so much for notes! I can already tell self restraint for more will be hard. Lol already so smitten with this little one! Awww Pringles would be such a cute name.

I did want to ask on chiller..cost..best place to buy etc. I plan to move Coconut to a 10 gallon when gets a bit bigger. I thought easier to observe and monitor as baby in smaller. I live in TN where summers can get toasty. My main concern is consistent temps and as you said would be best if I could keep temp a bit lower. As long as air conditioning and fan can keep about 68.

Also have been suctioning debris everyday. Will replace water that took out. Usually about 10%. Tank is not fully cycled yet. Am using stability and thought with daily change probably ok till does. Plan to do a 90% change at one week. Does all of that sound appropriate?

Plan to get earthwormsome today

If you have hot weather then you could see if your air con and a fan would keep the temp low enough. If not, a chiller is best.

Cycling using your Axolotl as the source of ammonia is not advised, since you can expose your Axolotl to high levels of ammonia which is toxic. Fishless Cycle - Cycle Your Aquarium without Using Fish

Do you have a liquid test kit to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrAte and PH?

AxolotlChris said:

If you have hot weather then you could see if your air con and a fan would keep the temp low enough. If not, a chiller is best.

Cycling using your Axolotl as the source of ammonia is not advised, since you can expose your Axolotl to high levels of ammonia which is toxic. Fishless Cycle - Cycle Your Aquarium without Using Fish

Do you have a liquid test kit to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrAte and PH?

Click to expand...

Yes, test regularly with API kit. Keeping close eye on my levels. Thank you

It's god you have the API test kit.

What are the test results for ammonia, nitrite, nitrAte, and PH ?