Axolotls eat meat and are carnivores. Most food will be swallowed whole because their teeth are designed for gripping rather than tearing.
Axolotls love red worms because they are high in protein and low in fat. To avoid introducing bacteria and other contaminants into the tank, clean them before feeding them to your pet.
I’ve also found that they’re quite fond of bloodworms. They don’t seem as enthusiastic about these as the earthworms, but they still gobble them up eagerly when I offer them.
Finally, brine shrimp can also make a good snack for your axolotl. It’s important to remember to provide variety in their diet, so don’t just feed them worms all the time!
Red worms
Red worms are a popular choice for aquarists, but before feeding them to your pet, keep a few things in mind. Axolotls can have issues with red worms because they are high in phosphorus and low in calcium.
If not cleaned before feeding your axolotl, they may introduce parasites and other harmful organisms. Red worms can also harm your pet’s digestion.
Brine shrimp is another favorite food of axolotls, but they can be expensive and hard to find. They’re high in protein and a good red worm alternative.
Earthworms and night crawlers are also good for axolotls, but they should be cut to make them easier to digest. This reduces the risk of choking and impaction.
Earthworms
Axolotls are carnivorous and eat worms like earthworms, hornworms, mealworms, and Dendrobaena. They can eat these foods if they’re cut up.
Because they’re nutritious, turtles and axolotls eat earthworms. They shouldn’t be overfed because it could cause constipation or impaction.
Worms are also easy to digest and don’t have a heavy exoskeleton that could harm your pet. This makes them safer to feed your axolotl than insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Pet stores and online retailers sell earthworms. Worm farms and bioactive tanks allow you to raise your worms. As worms vary in size and age, check the package for the number of worms per tub.
Brine Shrimp
Small saltwater crustaceans are brine shrimp. They’re in the genus Artemia and live in salty inland waters like brine pools and salt pans.
Fish-like gills on their limbs allow these small crustaceans to breathe. Their hard exoskeleton helps them survive in salty waters.
They’re a centimeter long when mature. Males are larger than females and have their second antennae enlarged and modified into clasping organs for mating.
Cysts floating in brine pools hatch them. These eggs-like cysts can hatch quickly or remain dormant for years in oxygen-free environments. These traits have made brine shrimp useful in many research fields, including space experiments.
Bloodworms
Axolotls are like bloodworms because they’re high in protein and nutrients. However, you should feed your axolotls other foods with more vitamins and minerals to give them a varied diet.
Hemoglobin in midge fly larvae gives these worms their red color. Many aquarium stores sell them, and many fish eat them.
They’re great for babies and kids but may need to be more nutritious for adults. Offer them rarely as they get older.
Bloodworms can be prepared live or frozen. They are easy to feed and popular with aquarists but more difficult to manage than other worms. Before feeding your fish, they must be cleaned.
