How to House a Pet Axolotl

Co-authored by Brian Blake and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Approved

Axolotls, or Mexican walking fish, are aquatic salamanders that keep their external gills even as adults.^{[1]
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Research source} If you want an interesting aquarium pet, keeping an axolotl is a relatively easy process as long as they’re legal to own in your area. As long as you maintain a cold aquarium with hiding spots, you can have a unique pet of your own!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting up the Aquarium

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1
Get a 20 US gal (76 L) aquarium tank. Find a tank that’s about 30 inches (76 cm) long, 12 inches (30 cm) wide, and 12 inches (30 cm) tall so your axolotl has room to swim around.^{[2]
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- Don’t keep axolotls in a tank with other fish or species. Axolotls may try to eat smaller fish, and larger animals could get aggressive with your axolotls.
Tip: Get a tank 10 US gal (38 L) larger for each additional axolotl you own.
2
Put the tank away from windows and out of direct sunlight. Axolotls are sensitive to light and should be kept away from windows and sun. Keep your aquarium in a lower level of your house where the lighting remains constant throughout the day.^{[3]
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- Sunlight can also heat your tank and stress out your axolotls.
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3
Line the bottom of the tank with 3 in (7.6 cm) of fine sand or large rocks. Axolotls will try to eat anything that fits in their mouth, so pebbles will get stuck in their digestive system. Look for fine aquarium sand or rocks larger than the axolotl’s head to line the bottom of your tank.^{[4]
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- Sand or rock substrates can be purchased from your local pet or aquarium store.
- Fine aquarium sand is small enough to pass through the axolotl’s digestive system without causing any harm.
- Don’t leave the bottom of your tank bare since axolotls cannot grip glass easily and may become stressed.
4
Attach a filter with minimal water flow to the side of the tank. Axolotls prefer slow-moving water and get stressed in high currents. Visit your local pet store to find an aquarium filter with the slowest current, such as a sponge filter. Install the filter on the side of your tank following the manufacturer’s instructions.^{[5]
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- If you can’t a filter with a slow current, put aquatic plants in front of it to lessen the flow
5
Fill the tank with dechlorinated water 2-3 weeks before getting an axolotl. Tap water can contain chlorine which could harm your axolotl over time. If you plan on using tap water, either add a dechlorinating agent to treat it immediately or allow the chlorine to naturally evaporate over the course of a day. Keep the water in your tank for a few weeks before housing an axolotl so it has time to cycle.
- Dechlorinating agents can be purchased from your local pet store or online.
6
Cover the tank with a mesh lid. Axolotls can jump out of an open-top aquarium, which could be fatal to them. Make sure your aquarium comes with a mesh lid since it helps control the water temperature and protects your pets.^{[6]
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- If your tank didn’t come with a mesh lid, check your local pet store or online for one.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Adding Fixtures to the Tank

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1
Place 1-2 hollow rocks or pipes so your axolotl has a hiding place. Axolotls are nocturnal and sensitive to bright lights, so they need places to hide during the day. Look for hollow rocks or ceramic shelters at your local pet store to put in your aquarium. Otherwise, use PVC pipes with a 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) circumference for simple hiding holes.^{[7]
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- Provide multiple hiding places if you’re housing more than 1 axolotl. Each axolotl should have its own place to hide.
2
Keep 3-4 sturdy cold-water plants in your aquarium. Axolotls may bump into plants and uproot them if they don’t have a sturdy base. Look for freshwater plants at your local pet or aquarium store. Keep the plants you buy in small pots when you place them in your axolotl tank so they don’t get knocked over.^{[8]
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- Plants like Java ferns can be anchored to decorations, such as large rocks or driftwood.
- If you don’t want to care for or prune aquatic plants, use artificial plants instead.
- Put your plants in front of your filter if it has a strong current.
Common Freshwater Plants

Java fern
Water Wisteria
Anubias Nana
Marimo moss^{[9]
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3
Put in other smooth rocks or driftwood for extra decoration. Axolotls have poor eyesight, so they tend to bump into their surroundings. Avoid decorations or rocks that have sharp or jagged edges since they could damage your axolotl’s skin. Instead, use 2-3 smooth structures such as driftwood or solid rocks to beautify your tank more.^{[10]
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- Adding decoration to your tank is optional.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Maintaining the Tank for Axolotls

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1
Keep your aquarium below 70 °F (21 °C). Axolotls natively live in cold water and get stressed out in hot water. Avoid keeping your tank in direct sunlight or on upper floors of your home. Keep the aquarium in a room away from windows and monitor the temperature daily.^{[11]
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- Keep a thermometer in your axolotl tank so you can check the temperature at a glance.
- Axolotls can handle temperatures as low as 40 °F (4 °C).
Keeping the Tank Cold

Point a fan at the water's surface to encourage cooling and evaporation.

Add 5-6 ice cubes to your tank to bring down the overall temperature.

Keep a frozen water bottle dipped 1 in (2.5 cm) into the water in the corner of your tank.
2
Clean any waste along the substrate with a siphon each week. Axolotl waste looks like dirt and has a high level of ammonia that affects the balance of your water. To clean it, put the end of your siphon hose in a bucket. Put the other end of your siphon into the aquarium face down. Hold the siphon against your substrate so it creates a vacuum that lifts the waste.^{[12]
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- Water siphons can be purchased from your local pet store.
3
Change 25% of the water in your tank every week. Fill a bucket full of tap water the night before you perform the water change so the chlorine can evaporate. Siphon 25% of the water in your tank into another bucket to remove it. Pour the bucket of water you prepared the night before slowly into the tank so it doesn’t shock your axolotls.
- If you need to perform a water change on the same day, use a dechlorinating agent in your tap water.
4
Monitor the pH of your water once a week. Axolotls can survive anywhere between a pH level of 6.5-8.0. Use a pH water meter to check the levels of your tank to see if they’re in a healthy range. If your pH is too low, raise the pH by performing a water change or adding 1 tsp (4.8 g) of baking soda for every 5 US gal (19 L) in your tank. For a pH that’s too high, put 2-3 almond leaves on the bottom of your tank.^{[13]
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- Make any pH adjustments slowly so you don’t shock your axolotls.
- After you make a pH adjustment, check the levels again the following day to see how it has changed.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I properly aquascape an aquarium tank?

Brian Blake
Aquarium and Fish Expert
Brian Blake is an Aquarium Expert and the Owner of Boodleshire Aquatics based in the Kansas City Metro Area. With over 20 years of experience, Brian is an expert in freshwater planted aquariums, saltwater reef aquariums, and aquarium installation, care, and maintenance. Brian holds a Bachelor's degree in Ichthyology and Aquatic Environmental Science from Emporia State University.

Brian Blake

Aquarium and Fish Expert

Expert Answer

To aquascape aquariums effectively, start by ensuring the gravel is no thicker than one to two inches and maintaining a shallow bed for proper cleaning. Avoid excessive gravel depth, which can lead to anaerobic bacteria growth and hydrogen sulfide gas buildup. When adding rocks for aesthetics, ensure they are chemically inert. For a unique aquascape, gather sterile coral rock, break it into pieces with a hammer and chisel, and construct a habitat that fits your tank's dimensions. Use aquarium-safe epoxy to glue the pieces together, creating caves and interstitial spaces for fish and corals. Explore online for inspiration, looking for a "habitat" to strike a balance between providing ample space for fish to swim and open areas for them to hide and sleep.

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Question

Can I keep a suckerfish in the tank to help with algae?

Community Answer

No, I wouldn't recommend it. The suckerfish might injure the axolotl, or the axolotl might prey on the suckerfish.

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Question

Would it be better to have the tank on the ground or on a table?

Community Answer

it would be better if it was on a table. Dirt and other things are more likely to get in the tank and hurt the fish.

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Warnings

Don’t house an axolotl with different species. The axolotl may try to eat other fish, or the fish will try to eat your axolotl’s gills.^{[14]
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Make sure owning an axolotl is legal in your area before you purchase one. Some places where axolotls are illegal to own are California and New Jersey.^{[15]
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