Here is an Axolotl care guide I put together to help you get started in your Axolotl journey. I have also included links for some products I recommend.

Twin Cities Axolotls
(Facebook – Twin Cities Axolotls)
Twincitiesaxolotls@gmail.com
Www.twincitiesaxolotls.com or Www.axolotlstore.com/store

Care Sheet – (COLD WATER, SPECIES ONLY, CARNIVORE)

Background Information
Axolotls are commonly known as Mexican walking fish but in fact they are not a fish at all. Axolotls are a salamander and are a part of the amphibian family just like frogs and toads and because of this they need special care when it comes to life in captivity.
Axolotls cannot be cared for like fish as they are more sensitive to water levels, light, heat, chemicals and water flow, this is why they need specialized housing in order to be healthy and happy.
Axolotls are an amazing animal for many reasons, one of which is their ability to re-grow limbs and vital organs, this does not mean that they are invincible because in our experience they are quite delicate and need to be treated accordingly this care sheet will provide all the information a new axolotl owner will need to know.

Products required for healthy Axolotl
1. 20 gallon (long preferred) tank/aquarium for 1 adult and 10 gallons each additional adult
2. Test Kits- we recommend you purchase – the Freshwater API Master test kit. This kit contains everything you need to test for Ammonia, PH, Nitrite and Nitrate. API Master Test Kit:  https://amzn.to/2N0Fr4M
3.  Single Test Kits. – GH/KH Test Kit. For testing General Hardness.
4. Water Ager/ Tap Water Conditioner/ Seachem Prime. Seachem 500ml:  https://amzn.to/2TJpdPQ. Do NOT use any conditioner that has aloe or any sort of stress “coat”
5. Non-iodized table salt or aquarium salt, (buy at grocery store )
6. Aquasonic Tropical aquarium conditioner/ Epsom Salts- to raise General Hardness (no scent or fragrance ) (buy at grocery store)
7. If need help keeping ph stable can also use Malawi Victoria buffer. Seachem Malawi/Victoria Buffer 600gram https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002APIKK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gPwREbBHQZH2Z
8. Temperature Thermometer:  https://amzn.to/2MUoWa8 
9. Food- European night crawlers or red wigglers or night crawlers ( https://shop.speedyworm.com/mobile/european-nightcrawlers-p7.aspx or can buy at Walmart in fishing/sporting goods section), black worms (www.easternaquatics.com – tell them I sent you), sinking salmon or carnivore pellets (Axolotl Food, Soft Moist Sinking Pellets for Axolotls, Shrimp, Snails & Tropical Fish 1/8″ Rangen Salmon Pellets – two sizes for juvie or adult ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787VG741/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_8S0FMSRVMYZMZXMQ5E4D ) or (Axolotl Food, Soft Moist Sinking Pellets for Axolotls, Shrimp, Snails & Tropical Fish 3/16″ Rangen Salmon Pellets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787Q8H5T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_0W056KB1VPATXS07M748?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 ), repashy grub pie (Repashy Grub Pie Insectivore Diet Gel Premix (Reptile) 6 Oz JAR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X4S6M0M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_28SWQ276EX6YBFN4JWC6 ) and most raw seafoods (I.e. Frozen raw shrimp or fish from grocery store). Frozen Bloodworms and parasite free guppies and ghost shrimp as a treat.
10. Sponge filter (with air pump) or over the top filter or canister filter. Filter should be at least 3 times that rated for the size of tank – I.e. 20 gallon tank uses filtration for 60 gallons or more )
Over the top filters:
MarineLand Penguin 350 BIO-Wheel Power Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009IMDQM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D1wREbVBBDSKS
Sponge filters
AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Nano Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HVZVMP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_6A84W5TTC6TBM0BDVBYP
Or
ALEGI Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter Kit with Air Tubing, Suction Cups, Check Valves for 20 Gal, 30 Gal, 55 Gal Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X4TJ8JJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_HZ8DA9CXZY49QMXK6788

Airline flow valve to reduce the flow in sponge filters if air pump does not have an adjuster
 
Additional items if needed:
Aquarium Fans or clip on fan:  https://amzn.to/
 
Carib Sea Moonlight Sand:  https://amzn.to/2GChcZc 
 NOTE: Sand is only recommended for Axolotls that are 5-6 inches or bigger! 🙂
Aquarium Light:  https://amzn.to/2I0rNQk 

Tank divider if need to separate make and female or different sizes (2” difference)
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183625781359

Low light Plants:
Marimo moss balls, Java fern, Christmas moss, jungle vale.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Marimo-Moss-Balls-4-Balls-4cm-Live-Plant-Aquarium-Tank-In-USA-/182821075357?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

HOUSING
Tanks
As axolotls can grow to 30 cm/12″ or bigger they do need a lot of room, over population of a tank will cause cannibalism and stress to the axolotls.
Axolotls will need no less than 2ft square feet per axolotl. Or 20 gallon Long for first axolotls and 10 gallons for each additional axolotl.
Different tanks hold different amounts of water per foot, so when picking a tank make sure it has enough room for your axolotls.
Axolotls prefer floor space rather than depth.

Substrate
Substrates are very crucial to an axolotl tank, and need to be chosen wisely as a bad substrate can cause death and injury to axolotls.
No Gravel And Pebbles – Not allowed/or Recommended because axolotls eat by sucking water into their very wide mouths. Anything that’s around them will enter their mouths INCLUDING PEBBLES AND GRAVEL.
For juveniles under 6 inches long a bare bottom tank only.
Over 6” can use fine sand or bare bottom

Filtration
All filters need to be cycled for approximately 6 to 8 weeks before adding axolotls. This will give the filter enough time to grow the beneficial bacteria needed to keep the water clean and at a safe level. Without a cycled filter you risk having ammonia spikes which can burn your axolotls skin.
      Filtration is important to keep the water clean and keep the water parameters within the required fields.
      As Axolotls are sensitive to their water conditions it is best to have a filter and do weekly 10-15% water change per week. Then a 25% water change per fortnight (every two weeks).
     When cleaning filters use your tank water as tap water will kill any beneficial bacteria.
     When choosing a tank filter you must consider the water flow, as high pressure water movement will stress the axolotls. They prefer still water and anything to powerful can and will cause stress.
     If your filter is very powerful there are some things you can do to help to reduce the water flow. You can set up some plants across the line of water flow, you can baffle the flow of an over the top filter by attaching a bath sponge or two where the water flows. Also to block the direct water movement from your axolotls set up there hides, caves, decorations in a shielded area of the tank. If using a sponge filter can add an airline flow valve to adjust the flow.

 Required Water Parameters for Healthy Axolotls
Ammonia- 0
PH- 7.2 to 7.6
GH- 200 to 250ppm
Nitrites- 0
Nitrates- no higher than 40ppm

I use a modified holtfreters salt solution in the tanks and tubs to ward off fungus and increase the water hardness. For every 5-10 gallons of water I use 1 tbs non iodized table salt or aquarium salt, 1 tsp epsom salt (no scent infusions, want plain), and 1/8 tsp or dash of nusalt (a salt alternative in the grocery aisle that is sodium chloride). Start of using the mix for 10 gallons and if have problem with fungus then use for every 5 gallons. If have problem keeping PH stable, I also add 1 tbs of Malawi Victoria buffer to the water.

Temperature
Temperature is very important for axolotls, they need a stable temperature anywhere from 59 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit at the most.
An ideal temperature to aim for is 65-68 degree Fahrenheit.
The higher the temp, the more likely to develop fungus on the gills which requires a tea bath, Indian almond leaves or methylene blue bath in a tub to get rid of.
To keep the temp down, use a fan in top of the tank and have it blow across the top. Also add extra oxygen or filter on the water.

Decorations
   The best things for axolotls are caves, small hides, live or plastic plants and other things that will give them somewhere to hide.
   This gives them more security and makes a great layout for their tank.
PVC pipes and terracotta pots make great in-expensive decorations for axolotls to hide in.

Plants
Any low light plants are suitable for an axolotl tank. For example java moss, java fern, marimo moss ball, jungle vale etc.
You will NOT need to use plant fertilizer as axolotls produce enough waste! Plant fertilizer is not healthy for axolotls either.

FEEDING
Main Food
    Earthworms – best food for axolotls as they are the most nutritional food source for axolotls.
    Pellets – are a stable diet for axolotls and are available at pet shops
     Black worms – are a nutritional source of food also available from aquarium shop not from the wild as these may have parasites

Treats
Frozen Bloodworm’s and frozen brine Shrimp. Frozen brine shrimp is very messy and will require a big clean up after feeding
Tuna – in spring water not brine or any flavored water.
Raw/uncooked Seafood- frozen at some point and then dethawed to kill any parasites.(shrimp/Prawns, Trout, Scallops, Fish)

MEALWORMS or crickets ARE NOT ADVISED AS FOOD AS THEY HAVE AN OUTER SHELL THAT THE AXOLOTLS CAN NOT DIGEST.

Axolotls will eat until they are full, if you are fattening up your axolotl your aim is to have their belly’s as wide as there head’s that’s a good size for a healthy axolotl.

ALL UN EATEN FOOD SHOULD BE REMOVED DIRECTLY AFTER EATING
If not removed this will cause the water to spoil within a matter of a few hours.

Cycling Your Tank
Cycling your tank is very important to maintain the water levels, cycling can take up to 6 weeks to complete and it is advised that you do this before adding the Axolotl to the tank. But in the meantime you can keep the axolotl in a shoe box size plastic tub or something comparable and do daily Or twice daily (depending when the mess up the tub) 100 percent water changes on those tubs using room temperature dechlorinated water or spring water (like from grocery store). If use tap water need a dechlorinator like prime. If have RO or RODI water system will need to add some salts.
You can treat the water of a 5 gallon bucket ( like those they sell for $5 at a hardware store) and use this water for the daily water changes. I grow them out in plastic tubs so it’s perfectly fine to stay in a tub til tank is cycled. Also good idea to have two tubs so have a tub to put it in when cleaning their tub.

For information on how to cycle your tank please visit this site
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

Also:
https://modestfish.com/how-to-cycle-your-aquarium/

My website is www.twincitiesaxolotls.com