What Do Axolotls Eat? | Lotty & Finn’s Favorite Snacks & Feeding Tips

Meet Your Guides: Lotty, Finn & Glowria

Hi friends! Lotty here 🩷. People always ask me: “What do axolotls eat?”

Honestly, my brother Finn says the answer is “everything tasty that fits in your mouth.”

But since Glowria the firefly insists we be proper guides, we’ve put together this easy guide to the axolotl menu.

What Axolotls Eat in the Wild 🌊

In their native home — the canals and lakes around Xochimilco, Mexico — axolotls munch on:

• Worms
  

• Insects
  

• Small crustaceans
  

• Tiny fish
  

They’re opportunistic feeders, snapping up anything small enough to fit in their wide smiles.

Axolotl Academy – Science Spotlight 🔬

For curious minds and eager learners, explore more about this topic on our Explorer Resources page.

Wild axolotls are carnivores. Instead of chewing, they use suction—snapping their wide mouths open to create a vacuum that pulls food in. This makes them efficient hunters in murky canals, where speed matters more than sight.

Key Takeaway: Axolotls are natural vacuum cleaners of their wetlands, helping to keep ecosystems balanced by eating worms, insects, and small fish.

The Best Foods for Captive Axolotls 🪱

Axolotls in aquariums need a balanced diet that’s safe and easy to digest. Here are top picks:

• Earthworms 🪱 — Lotty’s #1 favorite! Nutritious and wriggly.
  

• Bloodworms — Perfect for young axolotls.
  

• Sinking Pellets — Finn calls them his “explorer rations.” Balanced and convenient.
  

• Occasional Treats — Brine shrimp, ghost shrimp, or parasite-free feeder fish.
  

Foods to Avoid 🚫

Not everything is safe for an axolotl’s belly. Here’s what to skip:

• Gravel or large substrate → can be swallowed and cause impaction.
  

• Big prey → choking hazard.
  

• Feeder fish from unknown sources → risk of parasites.
  

• Human food → no fries, bread, or leftovers, please!
  

Finn likes to joke: “If Glowria won’t light it up, we don’t bite it up!”

Feeding Schedule: How Often Do Axolotls Eat? ⏰

• Juveniles → Daily meals
  

• Adults → 2–3 times per week
  

• Tip → Remove uneaten food to keep the tank fresh and clean
  

Glowria always reminds us: “A clean tank means a happy axolotl!”

Lotty & Finn’s Mealtime Tales ✨

Lotty: “Worms are the squiggly spaghetti of the axolotl world — delicious and healthy.”

Finn: “I’m more of a pellet guy. Explorer fuel keeps me strong on my adventures.”

Glowria: “My job? To keep these two from overeating. Glow responsibly!”

Adding personality makes axolotl care less intimidating — because caring for us is simple once you know the basics.

Final Splash 💧

So, what do axolotls eat? Worms, pellets, and simple fresh foods — nothing fancy, just the basics. Once you know their favorites, feeding them is fun and easy.

🌟 Want to explore more axolotl adventures? Download your free Axolotl Explorer Starter Kit at www.AxolotlExplorer.com and keep swimming with us!

PS: Lotty & Finn live in our imagination, where adventures are full of curiosity and fun! If you’re caring for real axolotls, always check with experts for proper guidance. Curious to dive deeper? Visit our Explorer Resources page for trusted sources and links.