4 Years!!
Thank you so much for being here and supporting what I do ❤️ I can’t wait to see who we can help in the future!
My day can always be made better by walking through those aquariun aisles 🥰
Axolotl 101: Water change
How to do a water change on an axolotls aquarium, how to know when it’s required, how much to do and how to start a syphon without using your mouth.
Axolotl 101: Testing & Dosing
In this video I’ll explain how to test your aquariums water parameters using API’s liquid test kit, some tips to go along with it as well as how to find the right doses of ammonia to cycle your aquarium.
Axolotl 101: The Nitrogen Cycle
In this video I’ll breakdown the nitrogen cycle, why it’s so important, how to do a fish-less cycle, how to speed up the process and lots of little tips and tricks!
World Wildlife Fund Who chose these photos?? Unfortunately in countries who have less access to information as we do in Canada and the USA it’s been normalized to keep animals how you would see them in the wild even if that means keeping them with their natural risks. I would assume most of the photos used in this calendar are from areas who are a little behind where humans knowledge of axolotls currently sits. I almost have to wonder if they chose crappy specimens for this calendar on purpose because it’s much easier to find photos of cute, healthy and well cared for axolotls. One of the main differences between a fish tank and an axolotl aquarium is that most fish tanks can have gravel and axolotls should NEVER. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see your axolotl eat rocks. They will. (And they will in the wild too, they live a lot longer in captivity because we’re *supposed* to minimize unnecessary risks.) An axolotl can become impacted by one little piece of gravel the first time it eats some or it could take a couple of years for it to build up into an impaction but in almost every case on gravel it eventually will. Will it immediately kill an axolotl? No, it’s a slow death sentence but a death sentence in most cases it is. An impacted axolotl will first start having appetite issues as it feels full and can’t pass anything through the gravel impaction anyway. This will cause them to either refuse food or regurgitate it which will lead to being malnourished over time, and as we all know malnutrition can cause all sorts of issues such as being more prone to injuries, infections from those injuries, deformities from not being able to heal properly, illnesses, failing organs and just generally being in rough shape. About half of the photos in this calendar show axolotls being kept on gravel substrates and you can already see the symptoms of impaction showing in most of them (Underweight, unhealthy gills, deformities). WWF hit me up! I ca
Axolotl 101: Cold Water
Don’t be the person who purposely ignores the part of axolotl care that states they need cold water. They need it!
In this video I’ve listed methods and tips for keeping an aquarium cold, what happens if you don’t and why frozen water bottles should NOT be your plan. The reason this needs to be figured out before you buy an axolotl is because if none of these methods will work in your situation it may not be possible for you to keep an axolotl and you’ll want to know that before having the animal.
I’ve learned that immediatly asking for a photo of the tank can greatly speed up my process for screening potential adopters. Sending me a photo like these makes it very clear to me the depth your research got to. Or lack of.
Axolotl Tank Info
Here’s a basic checklist of what you should see in every axolotl tank.
Size. One adult axolotl will require a minimum of a 2 foot long tank. This equals to about a 20g aquarium in the long dimensions however some axolotls can reach over a foot in length so more is always better to allow them to reach their full growth potential. Personally I recommend no smaller than a 2.5 foot long tank which will be about 30-40g. You’ll need an extra foot of floor space which is approximately 10 more gallons for each additional axolotl.
Lid. Axolotls can make quite calculated jumps so they will require a lid. I suggest using a lid that allows airflow into the tank rather than a fully closed aquarium hood which will trap warm air. You can use reptile terrarium screen lids or egg-crate cut to size.
Filters. Axolotls are dirty creatures who have very large bioloads. Unlike fish their turds are too heavy for most filters to pick up so it’s suggested to filter your aquarium for 3 times the size it actually is. Spot cleaning turds as you see them will still be necessary but the triple filtration will protect you if you miss one and it gets stomped. Axolotls don’t like too much flow so you may need to adjust it. I suggest keeping a mechanical filter as well as a sponge filter in every tank.
Temperature. Since axolotl need consistently cold temperatures you’ll need a method to do this and a thermometer to keep an eye on it.
Hides. Because axolotls don’t like light they require hides to feel safe. It’s recommended to have at least two hides per axolotl. These can be anything from ceramic pots, mugs, aquarium safe reptile caves or decor, pvc pipes and even large mason jars. Plants can be amazing in axolotl tanks for keeping nitrates in check however it can be tricky as you’ll need to find plants that do well in low light and cold water.
Substrate. Never use gravel with axolotls!! They cannot pass it through their digestive track. Stick to bare-bottom or fine sand.
Tootles
Nearly a month ago we had Tootles surrendered to us from a family who’d been struggling to keep her water parameters safe for the last couple of years. This has resulted in a lot of damage to her gills that is most likely permanent but fortunately she’s otherwise in awesome health! She is what I would consider to be a “baldie” and is a good example of what happens to axolotls when their care requirements are ignored or underestimated. Tootle’s got lucky in that her previous owner noticed her decline and decided to seek help for her from professionals instead of just allowing her to waste away. Unfortunately most axolotls don’t get this lucky and are just left to die once they reach this point.
Axolotl 101: Feeding
Axolotl 101: Feeding
Most adult axolotls will be able to eat even the largest Canadian night crawlers whole and live however some will require their worms to be cut in half. This is something you should be comfortable with doing because any axolotl could end up needing it. I’ll only be speaking of worms here because they are the best thing to be feeding.
To stun a worm before feeding you’ll need to “blanch” them under hot water. This will stop them from moving and hopefully save them from any discomfort when you cut them if you need to. I suggest doing this even for axolotls who can manage full sized worms as it stops the worm from fighting when being swallowed, some worms can be quite strong and this can spook some axolotls into refusing worms so it’s best to just make it as easy as possible.
In the blanching stage I also give the worm a little ring-out to clean out their digestive track, this is not necessary but saves the worm from pooping in your tank as it’s eaten.
Axolotls can be fed in a few different ways but because of their bad vision most will prefer to be hand fed, directly in-front of their face but they all have different preferences, you’ll have to learn your own but I’ve left a few common examples in this video.
Be sure to check back later to ensure the food was eaten and remove it if it wasn’t as decaying worms will quickly foul your water and the smell can turn axolotls off of worms for a long time. If you’re dealing with pickiness and you find a dead worm hidden in your tank it’s likely the cause.
There isn’t a specific time you need to feed them but it is suggested to stick with the same time every day and axolotls are more active at night so most people do it then.
I would suggest feeding with the lights off or dim either way.
How much you should be feeding depends on the axolotl, it’s age and its gender but most adults will thrive off of one worm every other day. You want to aim for their stomach to be the
Happy Pride friends! Remember love is love 💖
Axolotl 101: Diet
Part 1
Adult axolotls staple diet should always be earthworms. Nightcrawlers, red wigglers, any of those juicy worms. Be careful where you get them from, avoid digging them out of the ground or buying dyed bait worms (which usually appear flourescent yellow or green) and ensure you have a supplier to buy from even in the winter, BEFORE buying an axolotl.
Pellets and bloodworms should be fed with caution as they act more as junk food and can cause issues with their appetite.
Feeder fish should be avoided as most will pick at axolotl gill filiments and many contain thiaminase which blocks axolotls ability to absorb Vitamin B1. If you must use feeder fish, choose fish that don’t contain thiaminase, quarantine them appropriatly and feed them by hand.
While crickets and mealworms are a go-to with most reptiles the same way bloodworms are the go-to with most fish, axolotls can not digest the exoskeleton of crickets or mealworms which can lead to impaction once they build up.
#thebluethumb #thebluethumbaxolotlrescue #axolotl101 #axolotl
Axolotl 101: Diet
Part 1
Adult axolotls staple diet should always be earthworms. Nightcrawlers, red wigglers, any of those juicy worms. Be careful where you get them from, avoid digging them out of the ground or buying dyed bait worms (which usually appear flourescent yellow or green) and ensure you have a supplier to buy from even in the winter, BEFORE buying an axolotl.
Pellets and bloodworms should be fed with caution as they act more as junk food and can cause issues with their appetite.
Feeder fish should be avoided as most will pick at axolotl gill filiments and many contain thiaminase which blocks axolotls ability to absorb Vitamin B1. If you must use feeder fish, choose fish that don’t contain thiaminase, quarantine them appropriatly and feed them by hand.
While crickets and mealworms are a go-to with most reptiles the same way bloodworms are the go-to with most fish, axolotls can not digest the exoskeleton of crickets or mealworms which can lead to impaction once they build up.
#thebluethumb #thebluethumbaxolotlrescue #axolotl101 #axolotl
Jack (4 year old, male, albino) and Clove (>1 year old, male, wild-type) are both still available for adoption in Ontario with overnight shipping available throughout Ontario and Quebec, Canada! $40 rehoming fee on each. Message for more info!
Axolotl 101: Commitments
Axolotl 101: Commitments
1. Research. Axolotls are exotic animals. All animals require your time and effort in research to both understand their care requirements and keep up to date with new knowledge but this is especially important with exotic animals. You need to be prepared for a journey of learning that will never end.
2. Science. The most important thing to prioritize in your research is your understanding of the nitrogen cycle so that you’ll know when to do maintenance. Most axolotl tanks will require a weekly water-change. I’ll be making another series all about aquarium cycling.
3. Cold. Axolotls require cold water so you’ll need to seriously commit to a way to keep your aquarium cold all year. Some are fortunate enough to have a cold basement or air conditioned room but without those you might need to dish out some funds for an aquarium chiller.
4. Worms. You need to be willing to commit a spot in your fridge for your axolotls worms. Earthworms should always be axolotls staple diet and extra large ones (like Canadian nightcrawlers) will often need to be cut in half. You will also need a constant supply of them. If this is not something you’re comfortable with please reconsider an axolotl but if these are commitments you’re willing to make be sure to stay tuned for more Axolotl 101!
I’ll dig deeper into each of these topics soon!
#thebluethumb #axolotls #axolotl101 #thebluethumbaxolotlrescue
The goal of this page was always to educate and I’ve individually walked countless people through different parts of axolotl keeping over the past almost 4 years. It’s been very rewarding to watch so many people excel with information that took me so long to understand myself because I know how much time and stress I’m saving them. However I’m burning out with having to write different people the same essays over and over again. The world of social media has moved from memes to reels and I’ve been wanting to make that switch for a while, my mental and physical health kept pulling me back but there’s no better time than the present! So the era of Axolotl 101 begins today! I’m going to be posting a themed video and infographic explaining a different part of axolotl keeping each week (Plus a meme in there too of course!) and I’ll specifically be diving into the most common questions I get so that not only will I be able to simply send those people a video to help, they’ll have what will eventually be a full in-depth axolotl care resource to go to on their own. Thanks for sticking with me over the past couple of weeks that I took to myself but adoptions and surrenders are now open again! I have a lot of messages to reply to but if you’ve been waiting and I don’t get back to you by tomorrow maybe just send me a little “nudge” ❤️ #axolotls #thebluethumb #thebluethumbaxolotlrescue #axolotl101
TeeTurtle Reversable Axolotl Plushy ❤️
Axolotl Merch Alert!
TeeTurtle is selling these Axolotl Plushies, and when we seen that one of the options was in blue we just had to!
Another little Blue-Thumb for our collection ❤️
If you’re interested in buying one for yourself here’s the link! They have lots of other Axolotl merchandise to shop through as well!
https://www.teeturtle.com/products/reversible-axolotl-plushie?variant=19577791463929
