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Ethical Axolotls

This guide’s audience is primarily folks who either haven’t yet owned an axolotl, or who need to urgently acclimate a new axolotl into their water. If you find yourself asking “How do I acclimate an axolotl?”, or “How do I tub an axolotl?”, then this article is for you.

Supplies for Tubbing

  • Dechlorinator (even if the source water has no chlorine, products like Seachem Prime and Aqueon Water Conditioner bind heavy metals)
  • Non-iodized Sodium Chloride, aka Aquarium Salt (explained on the Parameters page, dosing a low salinity will buffer your axolotl against nitrogen toxicity, and improve oxygenation)
  • Test Kit (to ensure the source water is safe for your axolotl, use an API Freshwater Master Test Kit and an API GH/KH Test Kit
  • ~3 Gallon Tote (two tubs are better than one, it makes transfers easier)
  • 5 Gallon Bucket (for preparing new water)
  • Thermometer
  • Food (european nightcrawlers are ideal, see the Nutrition page and our Earthworm Informational
  • Water with axolotl-safe chemistry (this is why the test kit is important! Read more about it on the Parameters page)
    • pH 7.4-8.2 (low pH causes acid burns or cycle instability, while a higher pH causes increased ammonia toxicity)
    • GH 10dGH< / 180ppm< (low GH causes inappetence, neurological symptoms, fungal infections)
    • KH 6dKH< / 110ppm< (low KH causes pH instability)
    • Ammonia 0ppm (up to 0.5ppm is usable – high ammonia causes cell damage, respiratory distress, rashes)
    • Nitrite 0ppm (nitrite causes hemoglobin to oxidize into methemoglobin, resulting in reduced oxygen transport)
    • Nitrate 0-15ppm (high nitrate turns to nitrite in the body)

Should I Float The Bag? Also, What Is Tubbing?

No, you shouldn’t! It doesn’t really benefit their acclimation process. However, when you are ready to unbag your axolotl, you should not put them immediately into the tank, or even directly into fresh water. This is NOT due to temperature shock, but the differences of pH, mineral hardness, and bacterial biome may cause your axolotl to become ill. Instead, put the axolotl and the water from their bag into a clean tub, and proceed with the acclimation instructions.

Briefly, ‘tubbing’ your axolotl means to house your axolotl in a water-safe plastic bin or tote, with 100% water changes performed at least once daily. Depending on the axolotl’s age and size, the best tubs will be 1 – 5 gallons in capacity, which is ~4 – 20 quarts / liters. A small, unfiltered aquarium can also be used as temporary housing for an axolotl, however the tank will still need to be drained to 90% or more each day to dilute ammonia concentrations in the water. 

It is highly recommended to tub your axolotl for a minimum of 30 days upon arrival, regardless of if your aquarium is cycled. In fact, because a cycled aquarium is populated by a large variety of bacteria types, being placed directly into a cycled aquarium may result in an otherwise avoidable fungal or bacterial infection. After travel, an axolotl’s already delicate immune system will be at its most vulnerable. If an axolotl is moved to a new water column (be it across the country or across town) then they should not move immediately into a cycled tank. Again, they should be tubbed after moving to a new type of water, regardless of convenience.

Quick Acclimating

When acclimating your axolotl into a different type of water, it helps to have a 5 gallon bucket available to prepare the new source water. You should have tested your tap water by now for its chemistry, if not, please test it before exposing your axolotl to it. What is safe for us to drink is not necessarily suitable for an axolotl to live in. Read the PARAMETERS page ASAP. Do not use water with a pH below 7 or above 8.4. Do not use soft water, water treated by a water softener, or distilled / RO water.

Preparing the clean water

  1. Fill a clean 5 gallon bucket with very cold fresh water.
  2. Add your dechlorinator of choice (Seachem Prime is dosed at 2 drops per gallon, whereas many other dechlorinators are dosed by the milli-liter. Read the instructions closely.)
  3. Add any and all other products you would like to dose. This includes the recommended 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of aquarium salt. While aquarium salt is especially beneficial in most water types, it may also be necessary to include baking soda or general hardness additives, depending on your source water.
  4. Agitate the water. This can be done with a pump, an airstone, or by stirring the water vigorously. If you need to pause the process at any point, make sure you agitate the water again before pouring it into a tub.

Acclimating the axolotl

  1. Prepare a clean tub, and open the axolotl’s bag. Gently pour all of the water into the tub along with the axolotl. It’s okay if the water doesn’t yet completely submerge the axolotl.
  2. Using a clean pitcher or similar, add enough of the treated bucket water to completely cover the axolotl’s dorsal ridge (back). 
  3. Add up to one gallon of water each time you add water. The addition of one gallon each 2 – 4 hours is a great structure for your initial acclimation period.
  4. After the tub has been filled, or around 3 additional gallons in, you may offer a small amount of food, no more than one European Nightcrawler or around half of a Canadian Nightcrawler, if the axolotl is an adult.
  5. Plan a care schedule with 12 hours spacing between each water change, and prepare to perform 50% water changes on the tub each time. This timeline of 50% water changes will continue for approximately 48 hours. 
  6. After the 48 hours have passed, you may begin doing 100% water changes of the tub as infrequently as every 24 hours, ensuring the axolotl is not left in poopy water for too long.
  7. Perform daily 100% water changes for at least 30 days before your intended date of adding the axolotl to the tank. Carefully review our CYCLING GUIDE to ensure your aquarium is cycled to the right ammonia bioload, so ‘new tank syndrome’ doesn’t occur, causing build up waste to potentially cause your axolotl to pass away.

Quarantine

The timing of the acclimation process conveniently lines up with the minimum recommended quarantine period for cohabitation. If you already have an axolotl and you would like to introduce another, regardless of where the axolotl is from, it should both be acclimated appropriately (like any axolotl) and quarantined for a minimum of 30 days.

Some quarantine recommendations

  • Use separate tools for each species, new arrivals, and ideally each enclosure that you care for.
  • Clean tools daily in hot water and disinfectant. 3% Hydrogen Peroxide is sufficient, bleach or white vinegar may also be used. 
  • Scrub used tubs daily with hot water and disinfectant. Rinse very well.
  • Never use cleaning agents with surfactants or fragrances on aquatics supplies, this includes soap.
  • Take frequent photos of the quarantining animals. Because an animal’s health may improve or decline in an indiscernible fashion, day-by-day images provide a point of comparison.
  • Keep the tub environment clean. Any provided hides should not be porous, and no decor or substrate should be used.