Axolotls are very sensitive to high temperatures. But what is the best temperature for axolotls and when does it get too warm for them?
Axolotls come from cool waters and need water temperatures between 53 to 68 °F (12-20°C). The ideal water temperature for Axolotls is between 60 to 64 °F (16-18°C).
What is the ideal water temperature?
Although axolotls can tolerate temperatures in the range of 53 to 68 °F (12-20°C), their ideal temperature is between 60 to 64 °F (16-18°C). They can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 °F (10°C), although this slows down their metabolism considerably. The upper temperature limit is 71 °F (22°C).
For the health of Axolotl it is important that the water temperatures aren’t too low and especially not too high. That is why you should check the water temperature regularly. You can use either an analog aquarium thermometer* or a digital thermometer*. With most digital thermometers you can also set an alarm to let you know when the temperature is too high.
Minimum water temperature for axolotl
The lowest water temperature that axolotls can tolerate is 50°F (10°C). In their natural environment, Lake Xochimilco, these temperatures are quite common in winter.
However, in the long term, the temperature shouldn’t be below 50°F (10°C) in any case.
Maximum water temperature for Axolotl
On the other hand, the highest water temperature that Axolotl can tolerate is about 71 °F (22°C). Water that is too warm can become dangerous for the Axolotl much faster than water that is too cold. Especially in the summer months it can get too warm in the tank.
Therefore you should make sure to check the water temperature regularly in the summer when it gets very warm in the room.
If you notice that the water temperature is too high, you can permanently correct the temperature with an aquarium cooling fan* or aquarium chillers*.
What happens when the water is too warm?
Permanently too high temperatures cause stress in axolotls, making them more susceptible to disease.
Axolotls that are in water that is too warm lose their appetite and their skin gets damaged. If the water temperature is too high for a long period of time, axolotl’s life can be significantly shortened or it can be fatal.
How do you keep aquarium water cool?
There are several methods to ensure that the water temperature doesn’t get too warm for your axolotl during the summer.
- Don’t place the aquarium in sunlight
- Don’t place the aquarium next to heat sources
- place the tank in the coolest room of the home
- use an aquarium cooling fan* or aquarium chillers*
- add frozen water bottles to the tank if you need to reduce the temperature quickly
A simple option to keep the water temperature low is to make sure that the aquarium isn’t placed in direct sunlight. Otherwise the sun would heat up the water and the probability of algae is significantly higher.
Also, your aquarium shouldn’t be next to the heater or other sources of heat. A shady corner in the room is best.
If you have the possibility, you can also put your tank in another room in the summer where it is cooler, such as the ground floor or basement instead of the room under the roof.
The easiest long-term solution is to install an aquarium cooling fan or aquarium chillers, which can keep the water temperature cool enough during the warm months.
When your aquarium water is acutely too hot, you can also add frozen water bottles to the tank to quickly lower the temperature. This method is only a short-term solution and you must be careful that the temperatures don’t fluctuate too much.
Do Axolotls need a heater?
No, normally axolotl tanks don’t need a heater. The water temperature won’t drop below 50 °F (10°C) in a heated room. You will only need a heater if the axolotl aquarium is in a room that is heated very little, or if it gets very cold. But under normal circumstances, the heat in the room is enough for the tank to stay warm enough.
Basically, it is usually much more difficult to keep the water temperature low enough.
Conclusion
The right water temperature is very important for the health of axolotls and since they are rather cold-water animals due to their natural environment, they are especially sensitive to warm temperatures.
The ideal water temperature is between 60 to 64 °F (16-18°C) and the water shouldn’t be higher than 71 °F (22°C) for a long period of time.