Axolotls are fantastic creatures, and their diet is equally interesting. So what do axolotls eat in the wild and in captivity? Let’s take a closer look!
The axolotl (pronounced ax-oh-lot-ul) is an ecological anomaly named after the Aztec god of fire, lightning, and death. These remarkable salamanders, native to Mexico City’s freshwater rivers and lakes, are extraordinary in more ways than one.
When they are endangered by predators, they can change their color to blend in with their surroundings.
Furthermore, unlike many other amphibians, they go through an incomplete metamorphosis process in which they keep juvenile traits, including fins, webbed feet, and gills (feather-like stalks on the head) into maturity. Neoteny is the technical name for this. It allows them to live an underwater aquatic lifestyle long after outgrowing their juvenile stage (though they do have lungs and gills to breathe air).
Their ability to regenerate entire limbs, lungs, hearts, spines, and sections of the brain while maintaining all of its normal functions is possibly their most remarkable and fascinating attribute.
These animals are thought to be a thousand times more resistant to cancer than the average mammal.
In geological terms, the species is relatively new, having developed only in the last 10,000 years or so from the closely related tiger salamander of the Americas. Unfortunately, habitat loss, poaching, and pollution (all of which it is particularly vulnerable to) have nearly driven this species to extinction; the IUCN Red List classifies it as critically endangered.
Axolotls have become popular as pets and laboratory animals worldwide (since scientists are interested in their unusual properties). Unfortunately, we don’t know much about the natural ecology or behaviors of the axolotl in the wild due to its scarcity, although their nutrition has been researched in some depth.
If you’re thinking about getting an axolotl as a pet, you’re already familiar with this fascinating species. These animals are carnivores, meaning they will eat anything small enough to consume!
Know More About Axolotls:
- Axolotls Care Guide – How To Care For An Axolotl
- Do Axolotls Lay Eggs – Fascinating Facts About Axolotl Breeding!
- What Do Baby Axolotls Eat – A Comprehensive Guide On Baby Axolotl Feeding
- Do Axolotls Sleep? It’s Not As Simple As You Would Assume
- Do Axolotls Get Lonely? Should You Keep Them Alone?
- Do Axolotls Have Teeth – Do They Bite?
- Where Do Axolotls Live | Why Are Axolotls Endangered
- Can Axolotls Live With Fish? A Comprehensive Guide On Axolotl Tank Mates
- How To Set Up An Axolotl Tank – The Ultimate Guide
Why Is It Vital To Know Axolotols’ Feeding Habit
Wild axolotls are on the verge of extinction, even though captive-bred axolotls are becoming increasingly popular in the aquarium trade. If you adopt one of these creatures as a pet, you must ensure that you properly care for it and feed it the necessary nutrition to keep it healthy and happy.
You already know that Axolotls come from the depths of Mexico’s lakes and rivers. It’s vital to remember that axolotls raised in captivity should be fed a diet similar to wild axolotls for the most outstanding results.
In this post, you’ll read all about axolotl diet recommendations and how much food should be provided per day!
What Do Axolotls Eat In The Wild?
Insects, small fish, and just about anything else that can fit in their mouths and be swallowed whole are what axolotls eat.
When the axolotl gets hungry, they can feast on various species in the swampy waters of Lake Xochimilco. Crickets, insects, mosquito larvae, slugs, worms, snails, small crustaceans, frog tadpoles, small fish, other small salamanders, and even small animals that frequent the lake are among the animals that live there.
The axolotl’s rudimentary teeth let them clamp down on their prey, but they can’t chew or shred it, so don’t be concerned if you don’t observe him devouring his food. Instead, your axolotl feeds by sucking water into his mouth with his prey and swallowing it.
Because the axolotl can’t chew, the food he consumes must fit in his mouth and be eaten whole. Furthermore, because wild axolotls are nocturnal, they spend most of their time hunting after dark and hiding in deep swampy waters during the day. So don’t be surprised if your pet axolotl behaves similarly in its home tank.
If you want your axolotl to stay healthy, they must have access to and variety in food. This means providing the same wide range of quality ingredients as what is found naturally occurring within their native environment.
What To Feed Axolotls In An Aquarium?
We know what kind of food axolotls like to eat in the wild. This makes it easier to figure out what type of food they need to be fed when they live in captivity.
Nightcrawlers, also known as earthworms, are nutritious and tasty for your pet axolotl.
Tips: It’s essential to buy your nightcrawlers from a garden that doesn’t use chemicals.
There are also a lot of water-based foods that you can feed your axolotl as well. Many of these foods are made up of blood worms and blackworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex, etc.
On the other hand, water-based foods can have parasites or infections that can be passed to your axolotl when he eats them. This is why you need to be very careful.
In some places, you can also feed the axolotl freeze-dried food. When it comes to pet food, this option doesn’t have as much nutritional value, but it also doesn’t have parasites or parasite infections, so you need to choose which one is best for you and your pet.
Axolotls can’t get their hands on beef hearts in the wild, so it’s best to only give your pet a small amount of this food, and only on infrequent occasions, to be safe.
Axolotls Care Guide – How To Care For An Axolotl
List Of The Top 6 Foods The Axolotl Eats
- Worms
- Insects
- Tadpoles
- Fish
- Snails
- Crustaceans
How Often Should You Feed Your Pet Axolotl?
Your axolotl, believe it or not, doesn’t require a lot of food. In reality, one or two earthworms every other day are enough to keep him fed and healthy. Adult axolotls may go up to two weeks without eating, but this is not advised.
However, if you have a baby, you must feed him daily because he is still developing and requires sustenance and nutrients to reach adulthood.
It’s vital to avoid overfeeding your axolotl to feed them the proper meals. Overfeeding your pet might cause constipation and digestion problems.
How Does The Axolotl Eat Food?
With its perfect sense of smell, the axolotl can quickly seek food along the muddy bottom of a lake or river in the wild. Once it has found adequate undersea prey, it will use a powerful vacuum to suction the meal into its mouth. Gravel is frequently ingested at the same time as other pollutants. This will aid digestion by grinding up food in its stomach. Their teeth are little and vestigial (meaning they’ve been severely reduced and no longer serve a role).
FAQs
Should I feed my axolotl daily?
Young axolotls should be fed daily. On the other hand, adults require providing every 2-3 days.
Young axolotls require more energy for more significant growth than adults, so feed them frequently.
On the other side, look at your adult axolotls’ stomachs, and those should be the same size as their heads. And hold off on the feed for a while if their stomach is enlarged or bloated.
Is there anything I shouldn’t feed my axolotl?
Feeding them is not recommended:
- Animals with a hard exoskeleton include shellfish, mealworms, and crustaceans.
- Meat that has been processed or preserved.
- Fish that serve as food.
Can I give the cooked chicken to my axolotl?
No, you can’t give the cooked chicken to your axolotl. Instead, stay away from human foods and stick to their natural diet.
Do you have to feed axolotls by hand?
You can feed your axolotls by hand. But if the axolotl is new to your tank, we don’t recommend hand feeding. To feed your axolotl by hand:
- Just above the pet’s snout, hold the food between your fingers.
- The axolotl will snap at the food as soon as it smells it.
Your axolotls can easily be fed bloodworms, earthworms, blackworms, and pellets by hand.
Wrapping Up
In the wild, axolotls spend most of their time hunting at night and then hide among aquatic vegetation and muck along the bottom during the day to avoid being eaten. Storks, herons, and giant fish are among their most common predators.
The introduction of new fish species (such as Asian carp and African tilapia) for aquaculture reasons and humans’ poaching have contributed to the axolotl’s precipitous decrease. Baby axolotls and the axolotl’s primary food sources are eaten by many of these fish.
In an aquarium, though, feeding axolotls is a breeze. But don’t forget to include protein-rich foods in their diet and stay away from hard-cooked foods.
It’s also important to consider your axolotl’s age before feeding or purchasing food. Always remember that a healthy axolotl is pleased.
This brings us to the end of our article on what axolotls eat in the wild and as pets. Remember not to overfeed your axolotl and provide the best possible care so that you can enjoy your time together.