Axolotls depend on their surroundings and diet. That is why their diet should be as closely as possible.
Axolotls are susceptible to parasites and diseases and need a balanced diet. We recommend high-quality pellets and foods as part of their wellness program.
Absolutely! My axolotl, Petey, loves mysis shrimp. Whenever I drop one in his tank, he’s always eager to gobble it up. He’ll even swim around the tank looking for more if he still needs to be full.
I’ve also noticed that mysis shrimp is great for getting Petey to engage with me while I maintain his tank. He recognizes the sound of the container opening and will come right over to investigate what I’m doing. When I offer him a few pieces of shrimp as a reward for being so curious, he’s always happy to accept them!
Overall, mysis shrimp is a great food option for axolotls like Petey. It provides an excellent opportunity for bonding between pet and owner.
Can Axolotls Eat Mysis Shrimp?
Axolotls can eat shrimp as part of a balanced diet. They should also eat worms, eggs, fish, and insects to meet their nutritional needs.
Axolotls should be fed once or twice daily. This guarantees their daily food intake.
Axolotls eat bloodworms, nightcrawlers, red wigglers, pellets, and brine shrimp (preferably freeze-dried). Ghost shrimp or very small fish can be given as snacks, but not as a main source of nutrition.
Brine shrimp cost less than daphnia and are easy to grow at home. Unfortunately, they rot quickly in freshwater and require messy feeding.
Nutritional Content of Mysis Shrimp
Pet owners supplement their axolotl’s diet with certain foods depending on its growth stage. This could be fresh or frozen prey, depending on its stage.
Baby axolotls should eat daphnia and brine shrimp, which are nutritionally complete. These can be found frozen and thawed for your axolotls.
Frozen bloodworms are inexpensive and tasty for adult axolotls. Adult axolotls lack the nutrients they get from eating live worms.
Axolotls can also eat brine shrimp, a crustacean. Like blood worms, these come in blister pack cubes or sheets and must be purchased from an authorized reseller.
Health Benefits and Risks of Mysis Shrimp
Mysis shrimp provide easy-to-digest nutrition for your tank and are a favorite fish food. These animals also improve water quality by consuming excess nutrients and organic waste.
UC Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) has used Mysis shrimp to study Lake Tahoe pollution. TERC is testing a Mysis removal program to clear the lake.
Axolotls love Mysis shrimp and will eat until full. To avoid food boredom, switch up their meals occasionally.
Other Alternatives to Mysis Shrimp
Unfortunately, Mysis Shrimp are not the only nutritionally dense option for axolotls. In captivity, these adorable creatures can eat earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.
Axolotls can eat small live crickets, guppies, and other bottom feeders. Still, they should not rely on them for nutrition because they may carry parasites and diseases.
If they are the right size for an axolotl, feeder shrimp (live ones without hard pincers) can be offered. Pellet foods can be beneficial, but only as treats.
Axolotls should be fed a diet that mimics their natural diet. In their natural habitat, these salamanders feed on earthworms, small fish, snails, and larvae.
Conclusion about Eating Mysis Shrimp
Axolotls love mysis shrimp, small, protein-rich freshwater crustaceans. They come in different sizes and flavors and can be frozen or kept alive.
Axolotls can eat mysis shrimp in small amounts, but too much can cause constipation or impact, which is dangerous. Shellfish and krill may cause digestive issues, so avoid feeding them. Daphnia is another good food for axolotls, even though it may have parasites. Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and krill can be fed in pellets or flakes to your axolotl.
