What Do Axolotls Eat?

Axolotls, the charming and intriguing Mexican salamanders, have been captivating people’s attention for centuries. These unique creatures are a type of tiger salamander, but they have evolved differently, leading to many fascinating features, including an amphibious lifestyle and the ability to regenerate lost body parts. Along with their captivating features, another area of fascination is what axolotls eat.

A Natural Diet in the Wild

In the wild, axolotls live in the lakes, streams and other lagoons in Mexico City. They are carnivorous, meaning they will feed on meaty sources of nutrition. In their natural habitat they will eat worms, small fish, mollusks, and insects like flies, mosquitoes, and crickets . They have specially adapted teeth to catch their prey. It is generally thought that axolotls have a prey preference of worms, as these make up the bulk of their diet.

Axolotl Care in Captivity

When keeping axolotls as pets, it is important to know what to feed them. In captivity, axolotls will not feed on all of the same prey items found in the wild, and so it is important to provide a variety of options. A quality commercial axolotl food is a great place to start. These foods generally contain a mix of worms, vitamins, and minerals that accurately mimics a wild-style diet. However, you can also provide other food sources such as frozen and freeze-dried krill, earthworms, blackworms and tubifex worms. Brine shrimp, crickets, and small guppies can also all form a part of a balanced diet.

Healthy Eating Habits

To ensure healthy eating habits, it is important to feed the axolotl only what it can eat within a few minutes. It is also important to provide a varied diet and to feed several times per week. It is recommended to only feed as much food as your axolotl can eat within a few minutes – this will help to prevent overfeeding and obesity.

Overall, axolotls make wonderful pet companions. To maintain their health and wellbeing it is important to have a good understanding of what they should be eating, and to provide them with a variety of food sources. Quality commercial foods and a range of insect and worm sources can achieve this, and provide a healthy diet for your axolotl.