Axolotls are obligate carnivores and must consume meat to survive. Without animal tissue to consume as a source of essential fatty acids, their diet must contain high concentrations of vitamins, proteins and healthy fats in order to stay strong and healthy.
Young axolotls require a diet rich in proteins and healthy fats in order to develop properly. Freshwater crustaceans such as daphnia or moina provide ample sources of these vital components of nutrition; both should be fed at least once daily, while moina should be offered several times each week.
Once axolotls reach the juvenile stage, they can consume slightly larger foods such as bloodworms and blackworms as well as small sinking pellets. Earthworms (European Nightcrawlers) are the recommended food source for adults due to providing balanced protein sources along with essential vitamins and minerals. Red worms may be fed, though before being introduced they must first be blanched first to remove their natural bitter slime that may make axolotls vomit them out.
Frozen foods such as bloodworms and ghost shrimp may be fed as supplements to the axolotl's diet, though not as the primary source. Uneaten food should always be removed immediately to maintain water quality; feeding too frequently could cause bloat or malnutrition if done too frequently; the ideal frequency would be every two-three days as their digestion needs require that amount of time for their food to fully process before becoming digestible again.
