Husbandry of axolotls and other amphibians (Merck): cool thermal gradient, water temperature
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual article "Environment and Husbandry for Amphibians" (first-hand, retrieved 2026-07-29 via curl, HTML stripped to plain text). All bullets are exact verbatim substrings of the cited source_file and C1-substring verified.
Husbandry for axolotls and other caudatan amphibians
The POTZ of amphibian species is generally less than the POTZ of reptilians; caudatan species prefer temperatures substantially lower than anuran species.Water temperature regulation with water chillers and air conditioning must be considered for enclosures.Provision of a thermal gradient within a species POTZ allows most amphibians to self-regulate body temperature.
> Yaw , DVM, CertAqV , Texas State Aquarium Last updated: Feb 2026 v3300948 Quarantine | For More Information | Due to amphibians’ unique integument and physiology, their metabolism and immune function is uniquely reliant on a stable environment. > Infectious and nutritional diseases are common problems in tropical amphibians kept in suboptimal conditions. > The range of temperatures necessary for proper metabolism, called the preferred optimal temperature zone (POTZ), varies among species. > The POTZ of amphibian species is generally less than the POTZ of reptilians; caudatan species prefer temperatures substantially lower than anuran species. > Water temperature regulation with water chillers and air conditioning must be considered for enclosures. > Provision of a thermal gradient within a species POTZ allows most amphibians to self-regulate body temperature. > Enclosures should be spot-checked daily with a laser temperature probe, which can be purchased at most hardware or pet stores. > Aquatic amphibians may be accommodated in aquariums with areas for swimming. > Terrestrial amphibians need a shallow container of water in the enclosure. > Moisture may also be provided by incorporating small streams, waterfalls, or ultrasonic humidifiers into enclosures, or by misting frequently with a spray bottle. > Organic substrates and refugia that limit water loss can also help provide humidity within microhabitats. > Water must be clean and free of toxins such as chlorine, ammonia, nitrite, pesticides, and heavy metals. > Chlorine can be removed from tap water by placing the water in a container and circulating it through a carbon filter for ≥ 24 hours before use. > The chloramine bond must be split with specific dechlorinating agents (eg, sodium thiosulfate), after which water can be filtered with carbon to remove the chlorine.
Yaw , DVM, CertAqV , Texas State Aquarium Last updated: Feb 2026 v3300948 Quarantine | For More Information | Due to amphibians’ unique integument and physiology, their metabolism and immune function is uniquely reliant on a stable environment.Infectious and nutritional diseases are common problems in tropical amphibians kept in suboptimal conditions.The range of temperatures necessary for proper metabolism, called the preferred optimal temperature zone (POTZ), varies among species.The POTZ of amphibian species is generally less than the POTZ of reptilians; caudatan species prefer temperatures substantially lower than anuran species.Water temperature regulation with water chillers and air conditioning must be considered for enclosures.Provision of a thermal gradient within a species POTZ allows most amphibians to self-regulate body temperature.Enclosures should be spot-checked daily with a laser temperature probe, which can be purchased at most hardware or pet stores.Aquatic amphibians may be accommodated in aquariums with areas for swimming.Terrestrial amphibians need a shallow container of water in the enclosure.Moisture may also be provided by incorporating small streams, waterfalls, or ultrasonic humidifiers into enclosures, or by misting frequently with a spray bottle.Organic substrates and refugia that limit water loss can also help provide humidity within microhabitats.Water must be clean and free of toxins such as chlorine, ammonia, nitrite, pesticides, and heavy metals.Chlorine can be removed from tap water by placing the water in a container and circulating it through a carbon filter for ≥ 24 hours before use.The chloramine bond must be split with specific dechlorinating agents (eg, sodium thiosulfate), after which water can be filtered with carbon to remove the chlorine.