Commercial feeds in form of pellets or granules provide for the balanced nutritional needs of pets. There are several pellets in the market that you can use to feed axolotls. The best axolotl pellets are the soft and moist sinking variety which are easier for axolotls to eat.
I have had my axie, Betty for 9 years. As a new axolotl keeper, I kept Betty on a 100% worm diet. However, I needed something to supplement her with.
I did extensive research by reading feedback from other axolotl keepers and watching several YouTube videos. I went ahead and looked at the ratings of suggested products on Amazon and their features.
Here is a list of my top pick pellets which I recommend for feeding axolotls. My axie, Betty gets super excited whenever I give her the Hikari Tropical sinking pellets, she gobbles the pellets immediately.
Note however that axolotls are messy eaters. When you feed them on pellets you might have to invest in a good water filter to keep the water clean.
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Summary table of best axolotl pellets
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*The ratings are based on amazon at the time of publication and are subject to change
Which are the best axolotl pellets?
There are several pellets which can be used to feed axolotls. For the purpose of this review, I will divide axolotl pellets into 3 categories.
- Salmon pellets
- Shrimp pellets
- Other pellets
Salmon pellets for axolotls
Salmon pellets are good food options for axolotls for a number of reason. They are soft, moist and tasty therefore easy to eat. Salmon pellets are rich in proteins and essential vitamins. As such, they are highly nutritious and are therefore good for supplementing axolotl diets. Additionally, they are easily available in pet stores and online platforms.
Below is a review of the best salmon pellets that I recommend for feeding axolotls
Hikari Tropical Sinking Carnivore Pellets
We recommend these pellets for axolotls for a number of reasons.
The first reason is that Hikari is a brand that has been in the fish keeping business for almost 140 years. You can therefore count on their products to be of the highest quality.
Secondly, these pellets are specially designed for bottom feeding of carnivorous pets. They are therefore ideal for axolotls.
The third reason is that Hikari sinking carnivore pellets are absorb moisture easily without losing their shape. Once they absorb water, they take the shape and texture of live food making it easy for axolotls to spot and eat them.
Additionally, these pellets do not disintegrate in water. This reduces clouding of the water unlike other sinking pellets.
The other reason is that Hikari sinking pellets are highly nutritious. They contain a minimum of 47% crude proteins and 3% fats. They are therefore designed to meet all your axolotl’s dietary needs.
Lastly, Hikari sinking pellets have a pleasant smell which guarantees that your axolotl will eat them. Most axolotls keepers prefer these pellets. Furthermore most axolotl owners reported that their axolotls love these pellets including my Axie, Betty.
Feed your axolotl two to three times daily the amount that he or she will finish within minutes. Be careful not to overfeed your axolotl. Remove any uneaten pellets within a few hours of feeding.
Key features
- High digestible protein levels (min 47%)
- Absorbs water rapidly taking the form of live food
- Free of unwanted parasites common in live food
- High carotene content for color making them attractive to axolotls
Pros
- Soft and moist
- Absorb water rapidly while maintaining their shape
- Do not disintegrate rapidly hence do not cloud the water
Cons
- The pellets may be too big for smaller axolotls. Soak them in water then cut into smaller pieces before feeding small axolotls.
- May have a bad smell if left in water for too long
Invert Aquatic Soft Pellets for Axolotls
The Invert Aquatic Soft pellets are designed for bottom feeding of Axolotls, Newts, Salamanders, Amphibians and other small amphibians.
We recommend these pellets for a number of reasons. First, these pellets are ideal because they can easily be broken into smaller pieces. As such, you can use them on axolotls of any age including baby axolotls or other small aquatic pets.
The second reason is that the Invert Aquatic pellets absorb water and sink easily. These pellets are therefore ideal for axolotls who prefer spending most of their time underwater.
Lastly, these pellets are highly nutritious. They have a minimum crude protein content of 45% and fat content of 18%. They therefore are good for supplementing your axolotl diet.
As per manufacturers instructions we recommend feeding your axolotl only on what they can consume within a few minutes. Additionally, scoop out any uneaten pellets using a net to keep your tank clean.
Key features
- Soft and moist
- Absorbs water easily
- Sinks easily
- High protein content (45%) favorable for axolotls
- Come in re-sealable bags
Pros
- Easy to break into small pieces to feed baby or small axolotls
- Affordable
- Highly nutritious
- Absorbs moisture easily and is soft
Con
- Disintegrates easily in water leaving the water cloudy (feed only what your axolotl can eat in a few minutes)
- Has a fishy smell (axolotl love the smell though)
Aquatic Foods Salmon Pellets
The Aquatic foods salmon pellets make good supplement for your axolotl for a number of reasons. The first reason is that these pellets are specially designed for use with axolotls, shrimps and all fish.
The second reason is because these pellets are soft and moist. Therefore they have an ideal texture for axolotls. Additionally, aquatic foods salmon pellets absorb water easily and sink slowly making them ideal for axolotls.
The other reason is that aquatic foods salmon pellets are highly nutritious. They have a minimum crude protein content of 45% and 18% fat content. They are therefore suitable for carnivorous pets that require high protein diets including axolotls.
Most axolotls love and readily eat these pellets, however some like my axie Betty may not eat them.
Key features
- Soft and moist
- High protein content (45%)
- Absorb water easily
Pros
- They sink easily
- Highly nutritious
- They are soft making them favorable for axolotls
Cons
- They are small in size hence may not be suitable for adult axolotls
- Have a bad smell
AQUATICBLENDEDFOODS ABF Gourmet Axolotl Soft Food Pellets
The ABF Gourmet Axolotl Soft Food Pellets is a type sinking pellets specially designed for use on axolotls. We recommend these pellets for use on axolotls for a number of reasons.
The first reason is because these pellets are soft and moist making them ideal for axolotls. Additionally, these pellets absorb water and sink easily which is suitable for axolotls who spend most of their time under water.
The second reason is because these pellets are highly nutritious. They have 45% minimum crude protein content and 18% minimum crude fat. They are therefore ideal for supplementing axolotl diets.
We recommend feeding your axolotl on only what they can eat within minutes. Do not leave the pellets for long in water as they tend to disintegrate and foul water.
Key features
- Designed for use on axolotls
- Soft and moist
- Absorbs water and sinks easily
- Highly nutritious with a protein content of 45%
Pros
- High protein content (45%)
- Absorbs water easily
- Soft and moist making them suitable for axolotls
Cons
- Disintegrates easily in water thus easily makes water foul
Shrimp pellets for axolotls
Shrimp pellets have high protein content which make them ideal for use on axolotls. Additionally, they are rich source of vitamin A, E and D as well as folic acids which are essential for axolotls. We recommend the soft, moist and sinking variety of shrimp pellets as the most ideal for axolotls.
Below is a review of some of the shrimp pellets which I recommend for axolotls.
API Tropical pellets
API fish food pellets are specially formulated to help fish use nutrients more readily. We recommend the API tropical pellets and API bottom feeder shrimp pellets for a number of reason.
The first reason is because these pellets have a high protein content obtained from shrimp. Therefore, your axolotl will obtain optimal proteins for healthy growth.
The second reason is because these pellets ensure superior nutrition such that your axolotl will produce 30% less ammonia than if fed on other products. As such, you will be able to maintain cleaner and clearer water for your axolotl.
Lastly, this pellets absorb water easily and sink to the bottom hence are easy to use. Additionally they are supplemented with seaweed and squid to promote the growth and health of your axolotl.
Key features
- Comes in the form of pellets
- Soft and moist
- High protein content
- Balanced superior diet
Pros
- Sinks easily
- Absorbs moisture easily
- Highly palatable
- Easy to use
- Fish produce 30% less ammonia
Cons
- Remove within 5 minutes otherwise will cloud water
Other pellets for axolotls
There are several other types of pellets that axolotl owners use to feed axolotls. Here is a review of some of the other type of pellets which I recommend for use on axolotls.
Zoo Med Aquatic Newt Food
The Zoo Med Newt Food is a high protein diet made by a company that is based in the US.
This product comes in the form of soft and moist pellets. These pellets have a high protein content making this diet suitable for axolotls. Additionally, the Zoo Med Newt food is made with Anchovy and Krill. These are highly palatable lipids. As such, your axolotl cannot resist this pellets.
Lastly, the Zoo Med Newt Food due to its high protein diet serves as a good supplement for live foods.
Key features
- High protein content
- Made with Anchovy and Krill
- Highly palatable
- Comes in the form of soft moist pellets
Pros
- Soft and moist
- Absorb water easily
- Sink easily
- Highly palatable
Cons
- Tend to disintegrate after some time (Remove any uneaten pellets within a few hours)
FAQs about axolotl pellets
How to feed axolotl pellets
To feed your axolotl on pellets drop the pellets in-front of your axolotl using a pair of feeding forceps.
If this is the first time you are feeding your axolotl on pellets they may spit it out. However as they develop a taste for the pellets he or she will start to seek out the pellets.
Note that some pellets may require to be pre-soaked before being dropped into the axolotl tank.
We recommend feeding axolotls on pellets 2 to 3 times daily on pellets that they can consume completely within minutes. Scoop out any uneaten pellets using a net within a few hours of feeding. This is because some pellets may disintegrate and cloud the water.
How many pellets should I feed my Axolotl?
To feed juvenile axolotls start with 1 pellet 3 times a week. If the pellets are large in size cut them into smaller pieces then feed them to your axolotl.
If the axolotl eats all the pellets, increase the amount by 1 for as long as the axolotl will take the pellets.
For adult axolotls above 6 inches, give 2-3 pellets daily for as long as he or she will take it.
It is recommended to feed your axolotl with a variety and not to use pellets as staple food as pellets have a tendency to increase their weight.
Make sure you remove any uneaten food within 24 hours of feeding. Remove uneaten pellets after 30 minutes of feeding as some pellets may disintegrate in water making the water cloudy.
How do I get my axolotls to eat pellets?
If you want to train your axolotl to eat pellets, follow the following steps
- Make sure the pellet is small enough to fit in your axolotls mouth
- Wait until when they are hungry
- During feeding, drop the pellets one by one in-front of your axolotls nose
- If the axolotl does not eat the pellet, leave it overnight in the tank
- Alternate feeding pellets with normal food until your axolotl gets accustomed to the pellets
- If the axolotl does not feed on the pellet after 3 trials on alternating days, try a different type of pellet.
Conclusion
Pellets are good source of food for axolotls. They are several types of commercially available pellets designed for use on axolotls.
The best types of pellets should have a high protein content and low fat content as axolotls are carnivorous.
We recommend feeding axolotls on pellets together with other normal foods such as live worms because pellets tend to make axolotls increase weight.
Read our separate article on what axolotls eat to see other food options for pet axolotls.
