When you first hear about putting your Axolotl in the fridge when it’s not feeling well, it sounds a bit absurd.
But the method called “fridging” has some advantages. In this article, we explain what to look for when “fridging” your axolotl, what illnesses it can help with, and how safe fridging works.
What is Axolotl Fridging?
Axolotl fridging describes the practice of putting a sick or injured axolotl in the refrigerator for a period of time to help it heal.
Advantages of fridging your Axolotl
Axolotls are naturally more suited to colder temperatures, their home lake, Lake Xochimilco usually has a water temperature between 53 to 68 °F (12 and 20 °C). At cooler temperatures, the axolotl’s metabolism slows down but the growth of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi is also slowed. This can give you valuable time during fridging to make a reliable diagnosis and medications have more time to take effect.
Also, axolotl’s immune system works better at low temperatures and it can recover faster.
But fridging is not a cure-all and should only be used when your axolotl really needs it. Unnecessary periods in the refrigerator can quickly have the opposite effect and stress your axolotl.
When does fridging make sense?
Fridging can help when your axolotl is very stressed or it has suffered from poor water quality. Click here for an article with signs to look out for if your axolotl is stressed.
It can help with fungal infections as the fungi grow slower in low temperatures. And fridging can also help with constipation or problems with the gastrointestinal tract, for example, if the axolotl has eaten gravel or a lot of substrate.
How long should the axolotl stay in the fridge?
The Axolotl shouldn’t stay in the fridge longer than necessary, as soon as it feels better you can put it back in its aquarium. Depending on the reason for the stay, fridging for several days to weeks may make sense. In general, however, the axolotl shouldn’t spend more than 3 weeks in the fridge, otherwise there is a risk that various physiological processes, such as digestion, will shut down too much.
What else should be considered?
Due to the cooler temperatures the Axolotl may not show much interest in food for the time its in the fridge, this is a normal reaction and should disappear as soon as the Axolotl is back in its tank. Also, due to the slowed metabolism, axolotls do not lose weight as quickly as they would at normal temperatures. However, if the axolotl you want to place in the refrigerator is underweight, you should rather refrain from fridging.
To make sure that the sudden light in the refrigerator when you open it doesn’t frighten the axolotl and it can’t jump out of the container by accident, you should place a lid on the box. To make sure that the axolotl has enough oxygen the lid should be air-permeable or have air holes.
The water in the Axolotl container must be changed daily to 100%, so that the Axolotl doesn’t get a temperature shock, you should have a second container, which is in the refrigerator and is filled only with water for the water change.
Step 1: prepare the refrigerator
The temperature of the refrigerator should be between 42 to 50 °F (6 and 10 °C), most refrigerators have a thermostat where you can set the temperature. In any case, the temperature should not be lower than 41 °F (5 °C). To make sure that the water in the refrigerator is not too cold, you can put a glass of water in the refrigerator for some time and check the temperature.
Step 2: Prepare the containers
Ideally, you need two containers in which the axolotl has enough space. In one container is the axolotl, in the other is water for the daily water change. Also, the box with the water must stay in the refrigerator so that it has the same temperature and the axolotl does not get a temperature shock when you do the water change.
The daily water change is important so that the waste products and feces of the axolotl can not deteriorate the Water quality and to have enough oxygen in the water.
Step 3: place the axolotl in the fridge
Next, place the axolotl from its tank into the container, you can use a fine fish net or your hands depending on what is easier and less stressful for the axolotl. The tank should be large enough for the axolotl to stretch out completely and move around a bit. There also should be enough water in the container to completely cover the axolotl, but it shouldn’t be filled to the brim either, so the axolotl can get some air if it wants to.
Once the axolotl is in the container you can put it in the refrigerator, the water in the container should be the same temperature as in its aquarium and only cooled down together with the axolotl in the refrigerator, so that the axolotl doesn’t get a temperature shock.
Step 4: monitor the axolotl in the fridge
During the time the Axolotl spends in the fridge, you should monitor it well, so that you don’t miss when it starts to feel better and can move back into its aquarium. You should also continue to keep an eye on the water temperature so that it doesn’t get too cold.
The water in the tank of the axolotl must be changed daily and you should offer him food.
Step 5: Return to the aquarium
When your Axolotl is feeling better it can be put back into its tank. In order to acclimate the Axolotl to the aquarium water again, it should be mixed with it step by step during the daily water change. To do this, it is best to fill a few bottles with water from the aquarium and place them in the fridge to adjust the temperature.
- First water change: 75 % water from the fridge and 25 % tank water.
- Second water change: 50 % water from the fridge and 50 % tank water
- Third water change: 25 % water from the fridge and 75 % tank water
- Fourth water change: 100 % tank water
The next day the axolotl is ready to return to the aquarium. To do this, it is best to put the container with axolotl into the water and wait for about an hour until the water temperature has adjusted. After that you can open the box and let your Axolotl swim into the aquarium.
Conclusion
Fridging is a great way to help your axolotl recover and heal when it is sick. Thanks to its adaptation to cool temperatures, most axolotl get better quickly after a few days in the fridge.