What kind of light do axolotls need and how many hours a day should it be on?
Axolotls don’t need any special lights, since they don’t have eyelids and are used to a shady environment, they are especially sensitive to too much light.
But lights can still be useful if you have plants in the aquarium or simply want to get a good look at your tank.
How much light do axolotls need?
Axolotls originally stem from Lake Xochimilco in Mexico, whose surface is heavily overgrown with plants. As a result, Axolotl’s eyes have become accustomed to low light conditions and they basically need no additional lights, natural room light is sufficient.
On the contrary, too much or too strong light can quickly stress axolotls. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons for extra light:
1. It looks better
You may prefer to have lights in the tank so that you can observe your axolotl better. Since axolotls don’t have eyelids they can’t close their eyes when the light gets too bright, so it makes sense to have some hiding places in the tank that provide shade. If your Axolotl then has some places where he can retreat into the dark and the lights are not too strong, he won’t mind.
Hides that can provide shade for your Axolotl are:
Otherwise you can also make a DIY hide out of a cup or a clay pot. It is important for all hides, whether purchased or homemade, that they have no sharp edges on which your axolotl can injure itself. Also, it shouldn’t contain any chemicals that can be released into the water.
2. Aquarium plants
Another reason are the plants, depending on what plants you have in your tank, they may need additional light to grow well.
Suitable plants for an Axolotl tank are:
Click here for an article with the 14 best plants for an Axolotl aquarium.
3. Natural daytime rhythm
Even though axolotls are especially active during the twilight hours, it isn’t recommended to keep your axolotl in complete darkness. By providing additional light with a time switch*, you can simulate a normal day and night rhythm similar to that found in the wild.
Ideally, the lights should be on for about 10 to 12 hours per day to mimic the hours of sunlight. You can also reduce the hours a bit to 8 to 10 in the winter and increase to 10 to 12 hours in the summer, but it won’t make much difference to your axolotl’s quality of life as long as the lights are not too strong.
Even if lights are not absolutely necessary, you should definitely have a lid on your aquarium. Axolotls can’t climb, but in rare cases they can jump out of the tank.
Best lights for Axolotl
Suitable axolotl tank lights should include these features:
- dimmable light
- produces hardly any heat
- Full spectrum light
- Waterproof
To make sure that the light is not too bright for your axolotl, it is useful to purchase aquarium light that is adjustable. This way you can turn down the brightness if you notice that it is too bright for an axolotl.
In the best case scenario, the lights produce little or no additional heat, so the water can stay nice and cool for your axolotl. Full spectrum lights are especially important if you have plants in your tank so that they are optimally supplied and can grow.
A suitable light for axolotl, for example, are these lights*, which can be dimmed and have an integrated timer.
Conclusion
Lights in the Axolotl tank are not absolutely necessary, but if you have plants in the tank or simply want to have a good view of your Axolotl, you can add additional lights. You should make sure that the light is not too bright and that the Axolotl has enough hiding places where he can retreat into the shade. A suitable light is ideally dimmable and produces hardly any heat.