Amphibians
Axolotl care guide
Ambystoma mexicanum
A fully aquatic salamander that needs cool, clean, cycled water. Water quality — not heat — is the whole game.
Aquatic — water volume and floor area first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Axolotl enclosure size
Aquatic — water volume and floor area 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 (low light — provide shade and hides). Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off 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. Aquatic — water volume and floor area first.
What temperatures does an 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 an Axolotl need UVB?
Not required — dim, indirect lighting only (low light — provide shade and hides). Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does an 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 an Axolotl?
Bare bottom or fine sand (no gravel — swallowing risk), at a depth of 0–1 in.
How big does an 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 an 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.