Cold, clean, stable water

Axolotl care starts with water because the animal cannot step out of bad conditions.

If something looks wrong, read the water first.

What to test

At minimum, track:

• Ammonia
• Nitrite
• Nitrate
• Temperature
• Water change timing
• Waste removal
• Feeding and leftovers

What the numbers should do

In a stocked axolotl tank, ammonia and nitrite should read 0 ppm.

Nitrate is less immediately dangerous, but it is not a trophy. It is a waste signal that needs management through water changes, waste removal and not overfeeding.

Temperature matters because warm water can increase stress and make other problems worse.

Read the water before you rewrite the tank.