You should know what axolotls eat in the wild before adopting one. It would help if you fed your axolotl a nutritious, parasite-free diet.
Worms, insects, brine shrimp, and small fish are axolotls’ natural diet. They can also eat frozen foods and pellets in captivity.
When I first got my axolotl, I was determined to find out if they could eat woodlice. To my surprise, they loved it! Whenever I put a few woodlice into their tank, they would go out of hiding and gobble them up. It was entertaining to watch.
I learned that woodlice are a great source of food for axolotls. They provide lots of protein and calcium, which helps keep your axolotl healthy and happy. Plus, the crunchy texture is something that most axolotls seem to enjoy!
Woodlice are worth trying if you’re looking for an interesting snack to give your axolotl. Just ensure you don’t overfeed them – like any other food, too much can harm their health.
Can Axolotls Eat Woodlice?
Woodlice are small terrestrial crustaceans that like damp or dark places. They hide in caves and under rocks, making them hard to spot by predators.
They do not have many defenses, but they have several useful adaptations to avoid attackers. These include their hidden colors, gills, dorsal fins, and small mouths that do not bite larger animals.
Axolotl eggs are fertilized after mating and hatch within a few days. Female axolotls need a tank environment conducive to breeding to maximize breeding success due to their short gestation period of only a few days.
When kept in captivity, baby axolotls must be separated from adult ones to avoid predation. They should always be fed meat-based pellets.
Nutritional Content of Woodlice
Woodlice are vital to a healthy garden’s nutrient cycle. They feed on decaying plant matter in dark, damp places.
Crabs and lobsters are related to these Isopoda crustaceans. Their exoskeletons are segmented and rigid, with seven pairs of jointed limbs.
They contain vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and are a good protein source. Their calcium, iron, and zinc content is impressive.
Health Benefits and Risks of Woodlice
Woodlice are essential to a healthy garden’s nutrient-recycling ecosystem. They help make compost by eating decaying plant material.
When threatened by birds or spiders, woodlice roll into balls, earning them the nickname pillbugs. Both parties benefit from this deterrence strategy.
Woodlice with Wolbachia bacteria can turn genetic males into functional females. This bacterial infection can cause a population’s female population to rise unexpectedly.
Ants and woodlice are close because the latter feeds and shelter them in their nests. Ants do not eat terrestrial isopods because they are friends and do not see them as prey.
Other Alternatives to Woodlice
Aquarium owners prefer woodlice. These crustaceans are great tankmates because they eat decomposing organic matter.
They can eat organic soil, leafy greens, decomposing waste, and old fruit and vegetables. Earthworms aerate the substrate and provide nutrients for your axolotls, so you may want to add them to the tank.
Woodlice behave like pill millipedes when threatened. These tiny insects curl into balls to protect themselves from predators.
Conclusion about Eating Woodlice
Crabs and prawns are related to woodlice, which are nocturnal. They like damp, dark places like under rocks, rotting wood, and compost piles.
Two small tubes called uropods protrude from their backs, and their antennae help them navigate.
They split from their marine ancestors over 430 million years ago and joined the Isopod family of Crustacea.
