You can gauge whether an axolotl is stressed when it is not eating and when its gills are forward-curled. The best way to avoid this is by fitting a spray bar or flow-spreading outlet.
Axolotls in the wild spend much of their time resting on the bottom of lakes and canals. They occasionally surface to gulp or release air to adjust their buoyancy. Larvae swim more than adults but are also mostly benthic.
The easiest way to tell if an axolotl is sick is by noting changes in its eating habits. If the animal is stressed because of infection or wa- ter quality, it will probably stop eating or re- duce the quantity it consumes before other symptoms become obvious.
The two main signs of a stressed axolotl are gills curved forward, and a curled round tail tip. Especially among young axolotls, the gills can curve forward because the water flow is too strong.
Signs that your axolotl is stressed by the water flow include forward-curled gills, sliding/slipping, and staying in one spot (particularly in a cave or tank corner.)
Sometimes axolotls will just swallow a bit of air to float there, not moving. You can test to make sure that they are not stuck by lightly nudging them or blowing on them to make them swim back down.
Humans can touch an Axolotl anytime. There is nothing on their skin that can hurt a human. Keep in mind that before you touch an Axolotl, make sure to wash and disinfect your hands. Try to avoid transferring any type of bacteria or contaminants from human skin to the Axolotl.
Axolotl TRPV1 has a sensitivity to three irritants of capsaicin, acid, and 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane. Heat stimulation activates axolotl TRPV1 with the threshold at 30.95 ± 0.12 °C. Axolotl might show noxious response to mild heat through TRPV1 with the unique thermal threshold.
Axolotls have thin, permeable skin that can easily be damaged by human touch. Touching or handling an axolotl can remove its protective slime layer, which can leave them vulnerable to bacterial infections. Axolotls are also susceptible to stress due to environmental shifts and may become anxious when being handled.
The best axolotl food is a combination of earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia (a small aquatic crustacean). They also seem to enjoy lean pieces of beef and chicken. However, you should avoid the temptation to feed them too much live food, which may accidentally spread parasites and diseases.
They don't take any special care and attention, but they are susceptible to stress, so being disciplined with your tank maintenance is a must. Use this axolotl care guide I have provided you to ensure your pet lives a healthy and happy life.
They like to be in areas where they can easily hide in the daytime. Aquarium thus should consist of a hiding shelter such as PVC pipes, stacked rock, hollow ceramic decorations, & even hollow ceramic rocks utilized for cichlids make a good hiding spot for axolotls. Various other decorations are just optional.
They have weak eyesight and seem to find food by smell and by their lateral line organs, which are sensory organs located along the sides of their head and trunk.
During the day, they burrow into the aquatic vegetation and mud to avoid being eaten, and at night they become animated…and hungry. While they use their gills to breathe underwater, they may pop up to the surface for a quick gulp of air from time to time.
Axolotl Lighting and Temperature
Exposing them to direct light can also cause stress. But if there is any light-emitting near your axolotl's tank, provide it with plenty of places to hide such as caves, wood, plants, etc, and at the very least, only use LED lighting to lessen the stressing impact.
The leading causes of Axolotl decline are human development, waste water disposal, and loss of habitat due to droughts. Despite their prevalence in the aquarium trade, these species are critically endangered in the wild.
Silk or Live Plants
They love to hide in them, move them, and even sit on top of them. It is best to use silk or live plants because they are soft, plastic aquarium plants can have rough edges that could tear your axolotl's fins.
Axolotls are very curious and appear to recognize their owners as food providers. It is common for these salamanders to actively swim toward people outside their tank. They are surprisingly interactive, but should never be handled as being taken out of the water is extremely stressful.
Axolotls are messy animals, and sensitive to poor water quality. They therefore require excellent filtration to maintain pristine water conditions. A filter rated at x2 aquarium volume would be recommended, unless the water level is not filled to the top of the aquarium.
Adult axolotls poop about once a week. Usually, an adult axolotl poops about once a week. Anything above this is a sign that you're probably overfeeding your axolotl. However, if you suspect that your axolotl isn't pooping at all, it is also cause for worry.
This is their way of moving clean, oxygenated. water to their gills rather than just moving to a fresh. patch of water.
Although axolotls are primarily active at night, the behavior of these amphibians is so unpredictable that they cannot be classified as nocturnal.