Axolotls

Adult Axolotls

Healthy adult axolotls can usually go without food for around a week to ten days without any problems, however, they are ideally fed every 2-3 days as adults and we don’t recommend going longer than this. In some cases, they might manage up to two weeks, but that’s really pushing it and shouldn’t be done. If you’re going away for a weekend or a few days, they’ll usually be just fine, especially if they’ve had a good feed beforehand and their water quality stays stable, but perhaps ask a friend or family member to pet sit for you if it’ll be longer than three days.

Juvenile and Young Axolotls

Juvenile axolotls with their back legs fully developed shouldn’t go more than a few days without food. They’re still growing and need regular meals to stay healthy. Smaller axolotls – from hatching up to around 23cm, which is the size they generally grow to nowadays – need feeding every couple of days, much like the adults, we suggest no longer than every 2–3 days.

Larval axolotls (the tiniest ones, before legs develop) need feeding every day. Their little bodies burn through energy quickly, so missing meals can be risky. If you’re raising larvae, daily feeding is a must.

Key Considerations

• General health: A plump, healthy axolotl can manage longer without food than one that's underweight or unwell.
• Tank setup: Clean, well-filtered water with good oxygen levels and a stable temperature (around 16–18°C) helps reduce stress during fasting.
• Pre-trip feeding: You can offer a slightly larger meal before heading off, but don’t go overboard though as too much food can go uneaten.
• Water quality: Always remove any leftovers after 20 minutes. Rotting food can quickly foul the water, which is more dangerous than skipping a feed.