Caring for Baby Axolotls: Tank & Diet

When I first started learning about axolotls, I couldn’t believe what I read — they always stay in their larval phase. It felt so strange to know that these babies never fully grow up. Their developing literally stops, and that’s what makes them so special. 

They’re not just cute; they’re one of the most desirable and exotic species you can find in the market. Sadly, they are nearly extinct, but still, they rank high among other aquatic pets. I remember reading an article that really opened my eyes to how unique they are and why people like me want to care for them.

If you’re a beginner, like I once was, there are some important things to know. Baby axolotls have very specific needs, especially when it comes to housing, water, and tank requirements. It might seem difficult at first, but once you’re aware of what they need, it becomes easier to fulfill those needs. 

You also have to think about their breeding, temperament, diet, and even possible health concerns. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much when I had my first one, but with the right details, you can start providing the optimal care they deserve. For anyone curious, this guide is here to tell you everything you need to know.

Caring for Baby Axolotls

Let’s discuss all the important points in detail about how to care for a baby axolotl

When I first got my newborn axolotl, I thought it would be like raising a simple little salamander, but I quickly realized they need more attention than a regular fish. These tiny babies are very susceptible to poor water conditions and changes in humidity, so you have to monitor everything closely. 

A good filtration system and always having clean water in their aquarium are a must. Their oxygen supply should never be overlooked either. To keep them fit and energetic, it’s important to take care of their tank needs properly and give them specific care. Keeping a close eye on water quality really helps maintain their health.

Tank Requirements and Set-Up

My baby axolotl, I couldn’t believe how adorable and calm it was. These exotic animals are actually a kind of salamander, and unlike fish, their metabolism and level of activity are much slower. Even grown axolotls can handle crowded conditions, but I noticed mine seemed to thrive better with a bit more space. While a 10-gallon water tank might be enough at the start, a 20-gallon container gave me more room to maintain steady water conditions and deal with the considerable wastes they excrete. Bigger tanks mean a more stable water body, which really helped keep my aquarium clean.

One thing I learned quickly was how important the ground area is. You want more length and width, not just height, so the surface space becomes useful for movement and comfort. For substrate possibilities, I first tried an empty surface, thinking it’d be easy to manage, but my little companion looked almost depressed without anything to hold on to. I switched to sand, which turned out to be the most suitable and secure option. The sand grains are so microscopic that even if the axolotl accidentally consumes them while digging or playing, it won’t harm their health.

To make the setup more natural, I added some greenery to the aquarium, like java grass, anubia barteri, and horword. These plants gave soft cover and looked nice too. I also placed crevices and hideaways using PVC cuttings and small clay pots, which gave my axolotl places to chill. For lighting, I avoided intense lights that could cause stress and instead used a tank LED light where I could adjust the intensity easily. That setup kept things peaceful and helped my axolotl feel at home.

There are some important Points for Baby Axolotl Tank Setup:

• Flat space matters more than deep water – Baby axolotls don’t swim much, so choose a tank that’s long and wide instead of tall. It gives them more room to walk and rest.
  
• Use soft sand like nature’s carpet – Fine sand feels natural and safe for axolotls. They can dig, rest, or even taste it without hurting themselves.
  
• Keep the setup calm and quiet – Bright lights or constant noise near the tank can stress them out. A calm corner in your room works best.
  
• Hide-and-seek spots are a must – Add little caves or tunnels using clay pots or PVC tubes. Axolotls love to hide when they feel shy or sleepy.
  
• Plants are more than decoration – Live plants like java moss or anubias help clean the water and give a cozy vibe. Just make sure they’re soft and not sharp.
  
• No sharp stuff allowed – Remove anything with hard edges. Axolotls have soft skin and can get hurt easily while exploring.
  
• LED lights with dimmers are ideal – They don’t need strong light. Use adjustable LED lights so you can keep it low and comfy.
  
• Keep water steady, not perfect – Baby axolotls like stable water. Instead of chasing perfect numbers daily, just focus on keeping changes slow and gentle.
  
• Use a sponge filter to avoid strong currents – Gentle filtration keeps the water clean without pushing your axolotl around. They’re not great swimmers!
  
• Room temperature works better than heaters – Most homes are already cool enough. Heaters can overheat the tank, which is dangerous for axolotls.

Water Requirements

When I first started caring for baby axolotls, I quickly realized how much their health, happiness, and even lifespan depended on keeping suitable water conditions. I always made sure the temperature stayed between 60-70°F (15-23°C) and that the pH level was steady around 6.5-8.0. 

It’s super important to have 0 ppm of chlorine, ammonia, and nitrite, while nitrate should stay within 0-10 ppm. I also kept an eye on water hardness, which I maintained around 7-14 GH, and made sure the carbonated hardness was in the safe range of 3-8 KH. Following this helped my little ones stay active and relaxed in their tank.

What Do Baby Axolotls Eat?

When it comes to feeding a baby axolotl, the key is to offer small, soft foods that are easy to swallow. At this stage, they usually eat live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp or finely chopped bloodworms. 

I learned that feeding them once or twice a day is enough, but the food should be gone within 15–20 minutes—if not, you might be giving too much. One golden tip I wish I knew earlier: always use feeding tongs or a turkey baster to place the food close to them, since baby axolotls often don’t chase their meals. 

And remember, a clean tank is just as important as the food, because leftover bits can pollute the water and make them sick.

Floating Upside Down

If you ever see your baby axolotls moving upside down, it can be a serious health concern. I remember the first time it happened to my pet, I panicked—but later found out it was due to methane buildup in their guts, often caused by stress, bad water conditions, or too much warmth. 

Sometimes, they may not process the food properly, leading to gastrointestinal blockage, which also causes them to float awkwardly. Gently scaring them to encourage movement toward the surface can sometimes help, and if they come down slowly, it’s usually a sign of trapped gas.

What Is a Baby Axolotl Called?

I was surprised to learn that a juvenile axolotl is actually classified as a larva. This might sound odd at first, but it makes sense once you understand that axolotls are part of the salamander group. 

Their offspring emerge from eggs covered in mucus and take approximately two weeks to mature. But unlike other amphibians, they don’t metamorphose into something new—they stay in the larval stage for their entire lifetime. It’s a unique trait that sets this species apart.

The scientific term for this is the neuroanatomical stage, and it’s a rare process in the animal world. There are other animals whose babies are also referred to as larvae, but axolotls are different because they never leave that stage. 

According to researchers, any creature that goes through a phase or experiences a shift in life to reach maturity is often considered larval. Think of frogs, which evolve from tadpoles into adults—they’re a classic illustration of this type of change. But axolotls? They just stay adorably stuck in time.

What Do Baby Axolotls Look Like?

I was amazed by its tiny size and distinctive characteristics. They look like little salamanders stuck in their larval stage, with soft exterior gills that fan out like feathers. Their posterior fin extends from the back of the head to the end of the tail, giving them a unique shape. 

Axolotls are neotenic, which means they retain features from their youth even after reaching maturity. In many species, there’s age-related gill loss, but this doesn’t happen in axolotls. That’s part of what makes them so special.

As they grow, baby axolotls start to show more clear traits. A mature one will have 3 sets of gill slits, called rami, with soft filaments or fimbriae that help with breathing and are positioned at the back of the head. Their big, broad heads and cute smiles make them really stand out. 

They also have long, delicate, and weak limbs, with small eyes that don’t have lids. Males are usually recognized by their expanded cloacae, which are papillae-lined organs that excrete waste, while females often have bigger bodies. 

A fully grownup axolotl, whether male or female, becomes completely evolved by 18-24 months of age and ranges in size from 6 to 18 inches, with an average around 9 inches. They can weigh up to 10.5 oz or 300 grams. Their native appearance is a blend of brown, emerald, yellow, and even lavender gills—a beautiful mix that adds to their charm.

Axolotl Behavior and Compatible Tank Mates

Axolotls are truly fascinating creatures to observe, especially when they become more energetic during the night or in soft-lit areas. While they often rest at the tank surface like a sloppy species, don’t let their welcoming personality, big smile, and charm fool you—they are actually ferocious carnivores that will consume almost anything. 

When it comes to housing, keeping them with other species, amphibians, shrimp, or small animals is risky, as they tend to bite, nip, or even swallow their prey without warning. Juvenile axolotls, especially those measuring 8 to 16 cm, may cause injury through nipping each other’s fins and limbs, so it’s best to keep them apart unless you have expertise and know how to feed them properly. 

While grownup axolotls that reach maximum size may live more harmoniously with fewer fights, they are still lonely amphibians by nature, and adding a second axolotl in the same aquarium often leads to problems—it’s usually best to keep them in isolation.

Common Health Issues

Even though axolotls look like strong little animals, baby ones are more prone to getting sick. There are a variety of things that can affect their health, and I’ve seen how quickly small problems can grow into something serious. A list of several issues often includes skin infections or bloating, which might really harm a young axolotl if not treated early.

Exophthalmia (Eye Problems in Baby Axolotls)

When I noticed my newborn axolotl’s eye sticking out, I got really worried—it was a classic sign of exophthalmia, or protruding eyes, which is one of the more serious health concerns in baby axolotls. 

This condition can happen if there’s increased nitrate in the tank for a long time, or if the nitrate concentrations rise due to bad water parameters. The protruding eye can also mean your axolotl is evolving or under stress. 

I learned that this issue can often be addressed by simply replacing the tank water regularly. It also helps to purchase a good filtration system to assist in maintaining optimum water quality, which really made a difference for mine.

Hyperthermia (Dealing with Overheating in Baby Axolotls)

One time, my newborn axolotl started acting strange, and I realized it was because of hyperthermia, a medical problem that happens when your pet overheats due to exposure to hot water. If the water temperature goes above 73F or 23C, baby axolotls can develop serious issues. 

The overheating not only causes stress but can also make the oxygen levels in the aquarium drop, which increases the risk of viral infections. This can be treated by lowering the tank’s temperature right away to give your axolotl relief. 

If a bacterial infection shows up, though, you might need antibiotic medication. I found that using a container cooling device can really assist in keeping the tank consistently cold, which is an excellent approach to avoid such problems altogether.

Overfeeding (Preventing Overfeeding in Baby Axolotls)

While axolotls can usually control how much food they eat, baby axolotls sometimes overeat if you’re not careful. I’ve seen how overfed young axolotls can develop obesity, and even face serious health issues. 

In the worst circumstances, they could die, especially if they experience digestion problems due to their inability to properly process large meals. An effective remedy I use is to provide just a little quantity of food that they can devour in about 1-3 minutes. 

This way, you’re only giving them what their body can handle, which really helps avoid problems.

Skin Infections (Skin Problems in Baby Axolotls)

I once noticed some strange bumps on my young axolotl, and it turned out to be pustules and abscesses, which are types of chronic skin illnesses that can really harm them. These skin infections are often triggered by poor water conditions in their tanks, though sometimes pathogens are also responsible. 

What really helped in my case was maintaining the aquarium with clean water, which is the best way to prevent these painful skin diseases and help your axolotl stay healthy.

Preventing Injuries in Baby Axolotls

Sometimes, infant axolotls may experience serious wounds, like losing a limb, part of their mouth, or even their beautiful gills. This usually happens when you keep many axolotls in a single aquarium, where they are capable of attacking or even eating one another. 

If one gets wounded, the best way to heal it is by separating it from the other animals. To minimize the chances of future accidents, always take away any sharp displays, rough enclosures, or sharp corners from the aquarium that could hurt them.

FAQs

What do baby axolotls need to survive?

When I first started caring for hatchlings, I noticed they were so transparent that you could actually see if they were eating or not. To keep them well fed, I’d feed them daily, always making sure there is plenty of daphnia swimming about in the water. As they get larger, it’s good to introduce live bloodworm into their diet a few times a week to keep them growing strong and healthy.

What do you feed baby axolotls?

When I started raising baby axolotls, I learned they primarily eat live foods in the beginning. Tiny things like brine shrimp, daphnia, and blackworms work best. As they grow, I slowly introduced smaller pieces of earthworms, and eventually, they were fine with soft pellets specially designed for axolotls.

How long does it take for a baby axolotl to grow?

From my experience, baby axolotls grow rapidly in their first year, with significant size increases happening almost every month—sometimes about an inch or more. Most axolotls reach sexual maturity around 18 months, but they continue growing throughout their lives. In captivity, they can live for 10–15 years, which gives you a lot of time to watch their changes.

How to take care of a juvenile axolotl?

Caring for juveniles takes real persistence and patience—they’re still growing and need a lot of attention. I always feed my little axolotl 2 times a day, and make sure no uneaten bloodworm is left in the tank. You will also need to do a full water change in their container every day because of the waste they produce. Keeping things clean is the key to keeping them healthy.