RecoveryAmphibians
Axolotl care guide
Ambystoma mexicanum
A fully aquatic salamander that needs cool, clean, cycled water. Water quality — not heat — is the whole game.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Axolotl enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult axolotl should live in at least 30" L × 12" W × 12" H; we build toward 36" L × 18" W × 16" H (3 × 1.5 × 1.3 ft, roughly 4.5 sq ft of floor and about a 45-gallon glass equivalent).
A 20-gallon long is the minimum for one adult; add 10 gallons per extra axolotl.
- Hatchling / baby
- 24" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 20" L × 10" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 30" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 36" L × 18" W × 16" H recommended · min 30" L × 12" W × 12" H
Temperature and heating
No heaters. In warm rooms use a fan across the surface or an aquarium chiller. Temperatures above 72°F cause stress, fungus and infections.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — axolotls must never be heated
- Warm side (ambient)
- Water 60–66°F ideal
- Cool side (ambient)
- Never above 72°F
- Night
- Same as day
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Not required — dim, indirect lighting only. Run lights on a Low light, provide shade and hides photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target Fully aquatic. Track water parameters instead: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate under 20 ppm, pH 6.5–8.
Substrate and depth
Bare bottom or fine sand (no gravel — swallowing risk). Depth: 0–1 in.
Water and filtration
- Water depth
- At least as deep as the axolotl is long; 10–12 in typical
- Filtration
- Fully cycled, low-flow sponge or baffled canister filter
- Basking dock
- None needed
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Caves / hides
- Live low-light plants
- Liquid test kit
Build list
- Liquid water test kit — Log ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH weekly.
- Sponge filter — Axolotls hate strong current.
Axolotl FAQ
How big should an adult Axolotl enclosure be?
At least 30" L × 12" W × 12" H, and we recommend building to 36" L × 18" W × 16" H — about 3 × 1.5 × 1.3 ft, or a 45-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Axolotl need?
Basking or warm surface None — axolotls must never be heated, warm side Water 60–66°F ideal, cool side Never above 72°F, night Same as day. No heaters. In warm rooms use a fan across the surface or an aquarium chiller. Temperatures above 72°F cause stress, fungus and infections.
Does a Axolotl need UVB?
Not required — dim, indirect lighting only. Photoperiod: Low light, provide shade and hides.
What humidity does a Axolotl need?
Fully aquatic. Track water parameters instead: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate under 20 ppm, pH 6.5–8.
What substrate is best for a Axolotl?
Bare bottom or fine sand (no gravel — swallowing risk), at a depth of 0–1 in.
How big does a Axolotl enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 24" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 20" L × 10" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a Axolotl?
Never keep on gravel, and never use tap water without a dechlorinator. Cycle the tank before adding the axolotl.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own axolotl record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.