Carnivorous axolotls need protein-rich diets. Pellets offer a nutritious and convenient food source.
Pellets should only make up a small portion of your axolotl’s diet. For optimal nutrition, add live or frozen foods like worms.
I found it important to provide my axolotl with various types of food, though, as he seemed to get bored easily if he only ate one type all the time. So, in addition to the pellets, I gave him brine shrimp, bloodworms, and other live foods occasionally.
Overall, my experience with feeding my axolotl pellets was positive, and he seemed to enjoy them!
Can Axolotls Eat Pellets?
Insects, crustaceans, amphibians, and even plants are axolotls’ natural diet. In captivity, they eat nightcrawlers, red wigglers, tubifex, daphnia, brine shrimp, ghost shrimp, and pellet food.
Adult axolotls will occasionally eat small fish like guppies or goldfish. Still, these should be offered only occasionally because they may be too large to swallow.
Only feed pellets as a supplement to earthworms and other foods. Feeding axolotls pellets alone could lead to overfeeding and water quality issues from uneaten pellets.
Nutritional Content of Pellets
Axolotls eat pellets. They contain vitamins and minerals and are high in protein.
They supply axolotls with calcium. Pellets should only be given occasionally because they can cause rapid weight gain, which is unhealthy for these animals.
Most pellets contain balanced amounts of essential nutrients for birds. Pelletizing and extrusion remove cellulose and other antinutrients from proteins and grains, improving their nutritional value.
Health Benefits and Risks of Pellets
Axolotls have specific nutritional needs, so they must be fed. Pellets can be an ideal source of nutrition and a convenient addition to their diet.
It is important to weigh the risks and benefits of eating pellets. The main risk is their high fat and protein content, which can cause bloat or obesity.
Pellets may not provide your axolotl with enough vitamins and minerals. Thus, it would help if you supplemented their pellet-based diet with other foods.
Other Alternatives to Pellets
Axolotls can also eat live daphnia and brine shrimp.
They provide essential nutrients to baby axolotls, who love them. Beware of parasites when buying them from a pet store or other sources.
Axolotls can also eat earthworms, bloodworms, blackworms, and soft pellets, which can be purchased online or at aquarium stores.
These foods can get messy, so tank cleanliness is important. Uneaten food pollutes water, so remove it immediately to avoid water chemistry issues.
Conclusion on Eating Pellets
Pellets are one of the healthiest foods for axolotls. They have a balanced mix of vitamins and minerals, are high in protein, and are low in fat.
These pellets sink and reach your axolotl at the right time, making them easy to digest.
For optimal nutrition, axolotls should eat an exclusive brand of pellets. General-purpose fish pellets may only provide some of the vitamins and minerals needed.
Depending on their size and age, axolotls should be fed 3–4 times a week. Overfeeding an axolotl can cause obesity, bloating, and impaction, lowering the water quality in your tank.
