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All about Baby Axolotl

Baby Axolotls are a species of salamander that are native to Mexico. They are a critically endangered species due to water pollution and predation. The axolotl, also known as the Mexican walking fish, is an amphibian and is critically endangered in the wild. Looking for information about a Axolotl Baby? We have the right article for you – enjoy reading!

All about Baby Axolotl
All about Baby Axolotl

This unique species is characterized by its neoteny, meaning it retains its juvenile characteristics even when it reaches adulthood. The axolotl is popular in captivity due to its regenerative abilities and is used extensively in medical research. This article will cover the background information about these animals, their behavior, physical appearance and how to take care of baby axolotls.

What do you need to know about Baby Axolotls?

Leucistic axolotl
Leucistic axolotl

Axolotls are a unique species of aquatic salamander that can be a challenging pet for novice aquarists. It is important to research the keeping and feeding requirements of axolotls before attempting to take on the responsibility of caring for them. 

Female axolotls are capable of laying hundreds to tousends of eggs. Typically around 95% of those eggs survive. They are carnivorous and known to eat their own eggs.

If an aquarist intends to breed them, they should be prepared to care for the baby axolotls. A suitable filtration system should also be installed in the tank to ensure that the water remains clean and to prevent small axolotls from entering the tank.

The water hardness, pH and temperature should all be monitored with a quality water testing kit and aquarium thermometer. A potential diseases that could be introduced to the aquarium should be taken into account and, where possible, live food cultures should be made at home.

All about Baby Axolotl
All about Baby Axolotl

Baby axolotls are known as larvae and they never metamorphose, staying in the larval stage forever, a phenomenon known as neoteny. Baby axolotls can be found in many different colors and they have external gills. Axolotls are a popular exotic pet and they can live for over twenty years when well cared for. They require a specific diet and optimal water conditions for their health and wellbeing. Axolotls are illegal to own in some U.S. states (California, Maine, New Jersey and D.C.) due in part to the potential of them escaping and invading natural ecosystems.

How much does an Axolotl Baby Cost?

The price of an Axolotl can vary depending on the desired color and age of the amphibian. The cost of a baby axolotl can range from $20 to $35, but it really depends on where you buy it. Axolotls are a species of salamander native to Mexico and can be found in the lakes of Xochimilco

Because of their unique appearance and behaviour, they are often kept as pets. They can live up to 15 years in captivity and require a great deal of care.

How often Feed a Baby Axolotl?

Cute baby cartoon axolotls
Cute baby cartoon axolotls

Baby axolotls have different feeding requirements compared to adult axolotls. For starters, they’re very small, so food that works for adult axolotls will not be a good choice for baby axolotls. If you’re considering breeding and raising baby axolotls, it’s time to brush up on your axolotl nutrition knowledge, especially when it comes to feeding baby axolotls, whose dietary requirements are a bit different from their parents.

Axolotl babies need regular feeding to stay healthy and active. It is recommended to feed them two to three times a week, depending on the temperature of the water they are in. An ideal food for small axolotls in their aquatic phase is food pellets. These pellets are well accepted due to their strong smell and should be given in quantities that the axolotl can consume in a few minutes. Baby axolotls should be fed two to three times a week with pellets specially designed for aquatic species. The amount given should be large enough for the axolotl to consume in a short time.

What could a Baby Axolotl Eat?

YouTube video
Feeding the baby axolotls

Within 24-72 hours after hatching, they will require food. From this point until they reach approximately 20 mm in length (a little under an inch). Later their diet should consist of live foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp, microworms and chopped blackworms.

Live daphnia is a great option for baby and juvenile axolotls. It’s widely available in aquatic shops, easy to grow and very nutritious. Baby brine shrimp is also a good option, and they’re easier to culture than daphnia. However, they’re a bit messier, so you must be on top of your water changes and tank cleaning. 

While adult axolotls can be fed with both living and nonliving foods, baby axolotls should be exclusively fed with live food. The reason behind this is that unlike adult axolotls that have a strong sense of smell, baby axolotls have their sense of smell developed just yet. On the other hand, baby axolotls are great at spotting movement and thus, they can identify live food that wiggles

Chopped blackworms are suitable for juvenile axolotls, although they’re very messy and leftovers must be cleaned quickly and water changed often. Microworms are another good option for baby axolotls and you can easily create your own live cultures at home. With microworms, you don’t need to worry about size, although these too are messy, so be careful to clean your tank. 

How do I Keep Axolotl Babies?

To keep baby axolotls, you should use a tank of at least 15-20 gallons and keep the temperature between 18-20°C (64-68°F). Axolotl babies need special care to keep them healthy. They should be kept in shallow water bowls. 

The tank substrate should be sand, but it’s important not to add any substrate until the axolotls are at least 5 inches long. It’s also important to keep the water parameters stable and to keep the axolotls in small groups to avoid cannibalism.

As the babies grow older, they should be transferred to small, lightly filtered aquariums. To avoid aggressive behaviour, it is important that the juveniles have sufficient space and are not overcrowded. They should also be fed regularly to ensure they get all the nutrients they need for growth.

What is the Size of a Baby Axolotl?

A small Axolotl
A small Axolotl

Newly hatched axolotl larvae can vary in size from 10-13 mm (about 0.5 inch). At the time of hatching, they will still have some egg yolk in their stomachs (the yolk will serve as their first food source until they begin to feed). 

Young axolotls are immediately independent and after five weeks have a body length of about 5 cm. At four months, they usually measure between 11 and 14 cm, although this can vary depending on the temperature. As they mature, axolotls can grow up to 25 cm long.

Can an Axolotl Bite?

Yes, axolotls do bite. Axolotls will bite anything that moves in their vicinity, but their teeth are too small to cause serious injury. Axolotl bites aren’t usually dangerous in the slightest. They may bite their owners if they mistake their hands for food or if they feel threatened. In most cases, an axolotl bite is not painful and feels more like a nip.

When are Axolotl Babies allowed in the Aquarium?

Axolotls should not be kept in an aquarium until they are at least 10 cm (4 inches) long, as their immune system is not fully developed at a smaller size, and it is important to cycle the aquarium before adding them. 

This will help keep the water clean and safe for the axolotl. You should also mix 1-2 litres of dechlorinated water with sea, rock or aquarium salt and cool it to the same temperature as the water you’re replacing. It is recommended to transfer smaller axolotls from the aquarium to food safe boxes rather than waiting until they reach a larger size. In addition, avoid overcrowding and do not place more than 50-100 eggs or developing axolotls in a shallow bowl.

How fast do Baby Axolotls grow?

Few days old baby axolotl
Few days old baby axolotl
Orizatriz, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The axolotl begins life as an egg and hatches after about three weeks of incubation. Newly hatched axolotls measure less than one centimetre in length and have not yet developed legs. With proper nutrition, axolotls can grow one centimetre each week and reach up to 30 centimetres in length as adults. 

Baby axolotls can grow rapidly. It is possible to reach a length of around 20 mm in just 9 days. Axolotls have a life expectancy of about ten to fifteen years in captivity. Although in the wild they can live up to twenty years. As young animals, they can become sexually mature after only six months. They reach their full size between eighteen and twenty-four months.

Summary

Axolotls are an amphibian species native to Mexico. Unfortunately, due to water pollution and predators, they are classified as critically endangered. These animals are known for their neoteny, meaning they remain in their juvenile form even when they become adults. This species has gained popularity in captivity due to its regenerative ability, and is used for medical research. 

Female axolotls can lay up to 1000 eggs, and about 95% of these eggs are likely to survive. Axolotls are carnivorous, and they can range in color from white to dark brown. When well cared for, they can live up to twenty years.

To ensure their health and wellness, they need to be fed a specific diet and kept in optimal water conditions. Unfortunately, they are illegal to own in some U.S. states due to their potential of escaping and invading natural ecosystems.

Article: All about Baby Axolotl! You can find more articles here: insects_blog or all about cute axolotl! Or maybe looking for baby cockroaches?

Marcel Kuhn