Can Axolotls Eat Brine Shrimp?

 

If you own an axolotl.cyou, you may be wondering if it can eat brine shrimp. Brine shrimp is a cheap and nutritious food source that can be purchased frozen, freeze-dried or live.

Juvenile axolotls may enjoy this food, while adult axolotls should only eat fully grown adults. 

Brine Shrimp

Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) are crustaceans found in inland saltwater lakes. They exhibit remarkable tolerance to salinities that are only one-tenth of what oceanic waters experience.

They belong to the subphylum Crustacea, an arthropod group which includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, barnacles, copepods, krill and water fleas.

Brine shrimp differ from other crustaceans in that they lack a shell, instead possessing an exterior hardened coating and multiple pairs of jointed appendages. They belong to the order Brachiopoda and share several characteristics with them such as branched appendages, hard exoskeleton, and two pairs of antennae.

Daphnia

Daphnias are filter feeders, meaning they ingest suspended particles in water. To do this, they use two flattened leaf-like legs called phylopods to generate a current of water that traps food material in their feeding grooves.

These filter feeders can consume a wide variety of microorganisms and organic debris. Their favorite foods include unicellular algae like Euglena, vegetable matter, yeast and dried milk.

Daphnias can be collected year-round, but their peak season is from May to July. All you have to do is dip a jar into some fresh water and stir the bottom with a net.

Pellets

Axolotls enjoy eating, so it's essential to provide them with a variety of foods. Axolotls should be offered live, frozen and pelleted options in order to ensure that they get all the essential nutrients.

Pellet food is an ideal option for many axolotls, though some may struggle to consume it. To make feeding your axolotl easier, offer soft pellets of the right size that sink slowly into their stomach.

Brine shrimp are a favorite choice among many axolotl hobbyists. These tiny crustaceans can be purchased hatched or home-cultured in cube form like bloodworms, making them an excellent main course when mixed with other acceptable live food items for variety.

Mealworms

Brine shrimp are small crustaceans that live in salty water. They breathe through gills on their feet and use proteins called hemoglobin in their blood to transport oxygen.

They possess numerous pairs of legs and a body joined together like human elbows or knees. Furthermore, they possess an exoskeleton which protects their soft parts and keeps them from freezing.

Mealworms are an excellent source of protein and nutrients. They're high in iron, zinc, vitamins, and minerals.

Stanford and Chinese scientists recently discovered that mealworms can degrade polystyrene plastic (styrofoam). Their gut microbes are capable of breaking down this type of plastic into biodegradable frass, potentially helping reduce the amount of plastic polluting our environment.

Feeder Fish

Axolotls are voracious eaters and can survive on a variety of foods such as live or frozen invertebrates, formulated pellets, small fish, fruits, vegetables and seeds.

Juvenile axolotls are especially sensitive to food, so you should avoid feeding them anything with a hard exoskeleton. Doing so could lead to stomach rot and ultimately death.

Earthworms are another excellent food choice for your axolotl's tank. They can easily be purchased at bait stores or online, making them an excellent main meal choice.

Guppies make ideal tankmates as they're small and lack a hard exoskeleton, meaning your axolotl can safely eat them without issue. Before adding them to the same tank with your axolotls, be sure to quarantine them for at least 30 days. Please visit here axolotl.cyou for more information.