When I got my axolotl for the first time, I honestly had no idea what to feed it. I just thought any fish food would work, but I quickly found out that wasn’t true. Axolotls are kind of like underwater lizards, and they need the right kind of food to stay healthy.
I started giving mine things like earthworms, bloodworms, and sometimes even pellets made just for them. Once I changed their food, my axolotl became more active and looked a lot better.
I even did some reading on What Food is Best For Your Axolotl? and that helped me choose the right stuff.
Feeding them the right stuff is really important. If they don’t eat the right food, they might get sick, stop growing, or become less active. A balanced diet keeps them strong and helps their body work the right way.
I learned that mixing up what they eat, like switching between worms and pellets, is a good way to make sure they get all the things they need. It’s kind of like us—we feel better when we eat healthy food, and it’s the same for axolotls.
Axolotl Diet For Beginners
I was surprised by how much they can eat and how they try to swallow things whole. These little guys are true carnivores and need a proper meat-based diet to stay healthy. In the lab, axolotls are usually fed things like brine shrimp, California blackworms, or salmon pellets.
I also learned about species in the Ambystoma Colony, where both aquatic salamanders and terrestrial salamanders like to eat food pellets, crickets, and even beef liver. My axolotl would go for worms, insects, and sometimes even small fish—basically anything that fits in its mouth and can be swallowed.
Because axolotls have rudimentary teeth, they don’t really chew their food. Instead, they use those little teeth just for gripping, not biting or tearing. If you’ve ever tried hand-feeding them, you’ll know how they might latch onto your finger. It feels curious, not painful, because they aren’t strong enough to break through human skin.
Mine once grabbed a slippery earthworm, and though it wriggled, the worm couldn’t escape its mouth. But if the worm is too big to eat, the axolotl will simply let it go. It’s hard to deal with large food when you don’t have teeth for biting!
What Do Axolotls Eat in the Wild?
At first, I was curious about what they eat in the wild. It turns out they love worms, insects, and sometimes even small fish—pretty much anything that moves and fits in their mouth. Since they live at the bottom of lakes, they wait for food to come close, then snap it up and swallow it whole.
They don’t chew; they just gulp things down. Watching videos of wild axolotls hunting made me realize how natural and simple their diet really is. Because of this, when we keep axolotls as pets, we have to feed them food that’s close to what they eat in nature.
Giving them things like earthworms or small insects helps keep them healthy and happy. It also makes feeding feel more natural for them. So, if you’re keeping one at home, it’s good to remember what they eat in the wild—it really helps shape what they need in a tank too.
Best Foods for Pet Axolotls
At first, I was a bit confused about what axolotls like to eat, but after trying a few things, I found out that they really enjoy live foods. My axolotl goes crazy for earthworms and bloodworms—it’s like a game for him when the worms move around.
He also likes blackworms, daphnia, and sometimes I give him soft pellets too, just to mix things up. But honestly, nothing gets him more excited than live food wiggling in the water.
