Axolotls like cold water, but how do you keep your axolotl aquarium cool in the summer heat?
Axolotls are very sensitive to high temperatures and can quickly become ill if the water is consistently too warm. They can tolerate water temperatures between 50 and 68 °F (10-20 °C), but if the temperature is above 68 °F (20 °C) for any length of time, you should take steps to cool the aquarium.
The best solutions for this are an aquarium cooling fan* or aquarium chillers*.
The ideal water temperature for axolotl
Even though Axolotls tolerate temperatures between 50 and 68 °F (10-20 °C), the ideal water temperature lies between 60 and 64 °F (16-18°C). In order to know the current temperature of the water, you should have a thermometer in your Axolotl tank.
You can choose between the classic analog thermometers* or digital thermometers*, where you can also set an alarm if the temperature gets too warm.
5 ways to cool your aquarium
1. Aquarium Cooling Fan
A long-term solution to keeping the water temperature cool enough for your axolotl is to install an aquarium cooling fan. These provide evaporative cooling by increasing airflow. This can lower the aquarium temperature by about a few degrees (2-5°C) depending on the strength of the fan, the size of your aquarium and the outside temperature.
However, this method reaches its limit on very hot and humid summer days, as on these days the air is already so saturated with moisture that hardly any aquarium water can evaporate.
You can increase the cooling effect of the fan by making sure that there is as much air flow as possible. In addition, you can set the flow speed of your filter a little faster, so that the surface flow is stronger.
It is also practical to have an automatic thermostat that turns on the cooling fan when the water temperature becomes too warm.
2. Aquarium Chillers
Aquarium chillers go one step further and cool the aquarium water directly. Especially with a larger aquarium, with more than 26 gallons (100 liters), it makes sense to invest in aquarium chillers.
Also, if the room where the Axolotl aquarium is kept in, gets very hot in the summer, an aquarium chiller makes sense.
The only negative point of an aquarium chiller is the often high price, compared to the cooling fans. A good aquarium chiller often costs between 200 to 400 dollar, but the cooling capacity is a lot stronger than cooling fans.
Short-term solutions
Your tank is right now too warm and you don’t have time to buy a fan or chiller? Then here are a few tips on how you can quickly lower the water temperature.
3. Water change with cool water
The fastest way to lower the water temperature in your aquarium is to change the water with cooler water. Make sure that the temperature difference isn’t too big, so that your Axolotl doesn’t get a temperature shock. The new water should only be a few dress colder than the aquarium water.
Depending on how much water you have exchanged, the aquarium will warm up to the original temperature after a few hours.
4. Cold packs or Frozen water bottles
Another way to lower the water temperature a few hours longer is to put frozen water bottles in the aquarium. Once the water bottles have thawed, you can simply refreeze them and rotate with multiple bottles.
With cold packs, you must be careful that they are sealed and don’t leak.
This method works best for smaller tanks or if you only need to cool the water down a few degrees, if the temperature difference is very large, the cold packs probably won’t be enough.
Also, you should avoid using store-bought ice cubes for cooling, as we don’t know what else is frozen in the water. Small ice cubes also thaw very quickly, so they can’t cool the aquarium down much.
5. Move the tank to a cooler place
If you have the possibility, you can also move your aquarium to a cooler place, such as the basement or the ground floor.
In general, you should also make sure that your Axolotl tank isn’t in direct sunlight, as this heats up the water even more and promotes algae growth. To make it a bit more comfortable for your Axolotl, you can also make sure that there are enough hides and a few plants in the aquarium, under which the Axolotl can hide and provide shade.
Click here for an article with the best plants for an Axolotl tank.
What happens to an axolotl if the water is too warm?
Water that is too warm quickly causes stress in axolotls, making their immune system more susceptible to disease. Overall, if the temperature is too high, it shortens the life of axolotls and can lead to many complications.
If the water temperature is significantly too high, their skin can also be damaged. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the water temperature doesn’t rise above 68°F (20°C).
Conclusion
A cool water temperature, ideally between 60 and 64 °F (16-18°C), is very important in keeping Axolotls healthy. And is difficult to maintain, especially in the summer months. Short-term solutions are e.g. water changes or cooling packs, if the temperature is too high in the long term, aquarium fans or aquarium chillers are the best solution.