Can Axolotl Eat Chicken? Is It Good For Them?

When you are figuring out what to feed your axolotl, you might wonder if chicken is a good option. It is a protein, it is readily available in most kitchens, and it seems like it would be a decent food for a carnivorous amphibian. But is chicken actually safe for axolotls? And even if it is technically safe, is it good for them?

Can Axolotls Eat Chicken?

Technically, axolotls can eat small pieces of raw chicken without it being immediately toxic or harmful. However, just because they can eat it does not mean they should. Chicken is not a natural part of an axolotl’s diet, and there are some real nutritional concerns with feeding it regularly. Most experienced axolotl keepers and veterinarians do not recommend chicken as a staple food or even a regular treat.

Why Chicken Is Not Ideal for Axolotls

The biggest issue with chicken is that it is a warm blooded animal protein that axolotls would never encounter in the wild. Axolotls evolved to eat things like worms, insect larvae, small fish, and other aquatic invertebrates. Their digestive systems are designed to process these types of foods efficiently.

Chicken, especially from the grocery store, is higher in fat than the foods axolotls are designed to eat. Even lean chicken breast contains more fat and different types of fat than what an axolotl’s digestive system handles well. Over time, a diet too high in the wrong kinds of fat can lead to liver problems and obesity in axolotls.

There is also the issue of bacteria. Raw chicken is notorious for carrying salmonella and other harmful bacteria. While axolotls do live in water with various microorganisms, introducing chicken borne bacteria into their tank is an unnecessary risk that could lead to water quality problems and potentially make your axolotl sick.

What About Cooked Chicken?

Cooked chicken is actually worse for axolotls than raw chicken. Cooking changes the protein structure and makes it harder for axolotls to digest. Additionally, any seasonings, oils, or butter used in cooking are harmful to axolotls. If you ever do offer chicken (which again, is not recommended), it should only be raw, unseasoned, boneless, and cut into very small pieces.

If You Must Feed Chicken in an Emergency

Sometimes people find themselves in a situation where they have run out of their axolotl’s regular food and cannot get more right away. If chicken is truly your only option for a day or two, here is how to do it with minimal risk. Use raw, boneless, skinless chicken breast only. Cut it into very small pieces, no bigger than the space between your axolotl’s eyes. Offer only a tiny amount. Remove any uneaten pieces from the tank after 15 to 20 minutes to prevent water quality issues.

This should only be done as an absolute last resort, not as a regular feeding practice. Get proper axolotl food as soon as possible afterward.

What Should Axolotls Eat Instead?

The best food for axolotls is earthworms, specifically nightcrawlers. They are nutritionally complete, easy to digest, and most axolotls love them. Earthworms should be the primary staple of any axolotl’s diet. You can buy them at bait shops, pet stores, or online.

Other good food options include bloodworms (great for juveniles and as occasional treats for adults), live or frozen brine shrimp (good for babies and small juveniles), blackworms (another excellent choice), daphnia (good for very young axolotls), and quality sinking pellets designed for axolotls or carnivorous fish as a supplemental food.

For baby axolotls that are too small for earthworms, start with live baby brine shrimp, then graduate to bloodworms, and eventually work up to chopped earthworms as they grow. A varied diet that centers around earthworms will keep your axolotl healthy, well fed, and in great condition.

Foods to Always Avoid

While we are on the topic, there are several foods you should never feed your axolotl. Processed meats like deli meat, hot dogs, or sausage are full of salt, preservatives, and additives that are toxic to axolotls. Any food with seasoning, oil, or butter is off limits. Large feeder fish can injure your axolotl and may carry parasites. Mealworms have hard exoskeletons that are difficult for axolotls to digest and can cause impaction. And of course, anything that is not a food item, like gravel, small decorations, or plant material, should be kept away from hungry axolotls that will try to eat just about anything that fits in their mouths.

Stick to the foods axolotls are designed to eat, and you will have a healthy, happy pet for years to come. Save the chicken for your own dinner.