The Secret Life of an Axolotl After the Lights Go Out

You turn off the aquarium light.

Your axolotl is sitting peacefully in its favourite spot, looking innocent, adorable and approximately 3% awake.

You walk away.

And somewhere behind you...

The night shift begins.

Axolotls can seem pretty relaxed during the day, but once the lights dim and the house becomes quiet, you may notice a very different little creature cruising around the aquarium.

So what exactly does your axolotl get up to after bedtime?

Let’s investigate the secret nocturnal-ish life of the axolotl.

Are Axolotls Nocturnal?

Axolotls are generally most active during low-light periods, particularly around dusk, dawn and during the night.

Rather than being strictly nocturnal, they are often described as crepuscular, meaning they tend to become more active around dawn and dusk.

This makes sense when you consider their natural environment.

Axolotls originate from the waterways around Xochimilco in Mexico, where aquatic vegetation, murky water and changing daylight levels provide plenty of shaded areas.

They don't need a brightly illuminated aquarium to go about their business.

In fact, axolotls don't have eyelids.

Yes.

Your axolotl has been winning staring competitions unfairly this entire time.

8:00 PM: The Lights Go Out

The aquarium light switches off.

For a moment, nothing happens.

Your axolotl remains perfectly still.

Then...

wiggle.

One foot moves.

The tail flicks.

The gills flutter.

The transformation from decorative potato to underwater explorer has begun.

Many owners notice their axolotls become noticeably more active once the aquarium and room lights are dimmed.

An axolotl that spent much of the afternoon lounging under a plant may suddenly begin wandering around the entire tank.

9:00 PM: Tank Patrol Begins

Apparently there are important things requiring inspection.

The plant must be inspected.

The cave must be inspected.

That rock definitely wasn't there yesterday.

It was.

But it requires inspection anyway.

Axolotls use a combination of senses to navigate their surroundings and detect movement in the water.

You'll often see them slowly walking along the bottom of the aquarium before suddenly swimming to another location.

Sometimes there appears to be a destination.

Sometimes there absolutely does not.

10:00 PM: The Great Glass Investigation

If you've ever spotted your axolotl wandering repeatedly along the front of the aquarium at night, you're not alone.

Some axolotls become enthusiastic nighttime explorers.

They may walk along the bottom, swim through plants, investigate hides and cruise around different areas of their aquarium.

You might even catch them standing dramatically against the glass.

Where are they going?

Nobody knows.

Possibly Mexico.

Unfortunately, the glass keeps getting in the way.

Occasional exploration is normal, but persistent frantic swimming or unusual behaviour should always prompt you to check your water parameters, temperature and aquarium conditions.

11:00 PM: Is That Food?

Something moved.

Therefore, according to axolotl law, it might be edible.

Axolotls are ambush predators.

Rather than chasing prey over long distances, they detect nearby movement and rapidly suck food into their mouths.

This feeding response can make nighttime aquarium activity particularly entertaining.

A worm appears.

The axolotl notices.

There is a brief calculation.

Then...

SCHLOOP.

Worm gone.

Axolotl innocent.

Midnight: Interior Decorating

You carefully arranged the aquarium.

The plants look beautiful.

The hides are perfectly positioned.

Everything belongs exactly where you put it.

Your axolotl disagrees.

Axolotls aren't exactly professional landscapers, but their nighttime adventures can result in plants being nudged, leaves being sat on and lightweight objects being shifted.

Sometimes you'll wake up to discover a plant looking suspiciously different.

There is only one resident.

The resident has no comment.

This is one reason aquarium decorations should always be secure and axolotl-safe.

1:00 AM: The Bubble Elevator

If your aquarium has bubbles from an air stone or sponge filter, you might notice your axolotl interacting with them.

Some axolotls appear completely uninterested.

Others seem fascinated.

They may wander through the bubbles, sit near them or swim through the rising stream.

Every axolotl has its own personality and preferences, so behaviour that fascinates one axolotl may be completely ignored by another.

One axolotl discovers bubbles.

Another discovers a particularly comfortable leaf and decides that's enough adventure for one evening.

2:00 AM: The Floating Incident

You wander past the aquarium on your way to the kitchen.

Your axolotl is floating.

Panic.

You approach the tank.

The axolotl slowly sinks.

Looks at you.

And carries on with its evening.

Axolotls can occasionally float for perfectly harmless reasons, including simply choosing to hang around higher in the water column.

However, persistent or uncontrolled floating can indicate a problem, particularly if your axolotl appears unable to return to the bottom.

Always look at the entire situation rather than assuming every unusual position is normal nighttime behaviour.

Check your water parameters, temperature and your axolotl's overall condition if something doesn't look right.

3:00 AM: Absolutely Nothing

This is also an important part of the schedule.

Axolotls don't spend the entire night zooming around their tanks.

They rest.

A lot.

An axolotl may remain completely still for extended periods before becoming active again.

Because axolotls don't have eyelids, it can be difficult for us to tell when they're resting.

There is no adorable little eye-closing moment.

They simply stop.

And stare.

Even while resting.

Slightly unsettling.

Still cute.

4:00 AM: The Plant Becomes a Bed

Why use a perfectly good hide when you can balance awkwardly on a plant?

Axolotls frequently use aquarium plants as resting places.

Broad-leaf plants can provide shaded areas and comfortable platforms where an axolotl can perch.

Sometimes this looks perfectly reasonable.

Other times you'll find an axolotl folded into a position that appears to violate several laws of anatomy.

If they're comfortable, apparently that's all that matters.

5:00 AM: Early Morning Patrol

As dawn approaches, another period of activity may begin.

Your axolotl might start exploring again, wandering around the aquarium or investigating anything remotely food-shaped.

This is another reason you may notice your axolotl becoming active early in the morning.

You're waking up.

They're finishing the night shift.

6:00 AM: Human Detected

Footsteps.

Movement.

A familiar shape approaches the aquarium.

Suddenly your previously relaxed axolotl is standing at the front of the tank.

Coincidence?

Possibly.

But axolotls can learn associations between activity around their aquarium and feeding.

If your arrival regularly results in food appearing, your axolotl may become noticeably interested when you approach.

Does this mean your axolotl has been waiting lovingly for you all night?

We probably shouldn't get carried away.

You may simply be the giant worm-delivery creature.

Still counts.

Do Axolotls Need Darkness at Night?

Yes, axolotls should experience a normal day and night cycle.

They do not need aquarium lighting running around the clock.

Because axolotls don't have eyelids and naturally prefer lower-light environments, bright lighting can be uncomfortable, particularly when there are no shaded areas available.

If you're using aquarium lighting for live plants, provide plenty of hides, caves and shaded areas so your axolotl can move away from the light whenever it chooses.

At night, turning the aquarium light off allows the tank to follow a more natural day-night rhythm.

Should You Leave a Night Light on for Your Axolotl?

Your axolotl doesn't need a night light.

They are perfectly capable of navigating their aquarium in low-light conditions.

If you want to observe nighttime behaviour, avoid suddenly blasting the aquarium with bright light.

You can often see plenty simply using the ambient light in the room.

And you may discover that your supposedly lazy axolotl has been running a surprisingly busy operation while you've been asleep.

Is Nighttime Swimming Normal?

Some nighttime activity is completely normal.

Walking around the aquarium, occasional swimming, exploring plants and hides, changing resting locations and investigating movement can all be part of normal behaviour.

What you want to distinguish is exploration from distress.

Constant frantic swimming, repeated attempts to escape, unusual gill appearance, persistent floating, loss of appetite or sudden behavioural changes deserve closer attention.

Whenever behaviour suddenly changes, check the basics first:

• Water temperature

• Ammonia

• Nitrite

• Nitrate

• pH

• General water quality

• Your axolotl's appetite and physical condition

At Little Lotl's, we recommend keeping axolotl water between 14–18°C.

Can You Watch Your Axolotl at Night?

Absolutely.

In fact, it's one of the best ways to discover behaviours you may rarely see during the day.

Try quietly checking the aquarium a few hours after the main lights have been turned off.

You may find your axolotl:

• Exploring the tank

• Sitting in a completely different location

• Wandering through plants

• Swimming around

• Investigating bubbles

• Perching somewhere ridiculous

• Looking suspiciously interested in anything that could potentially become dinner

Just avoid repeatedly disturbing them with bright lights.

Think wildlife documentary.

Not police interrogation.

Every Axolotl Is Different

Perhaps the most entertaining thing about watching axolotls is discovering just how different their behaviour can be.

Some are adventurous.

Some are food obsessed.

Some investigate everything.

Some seem to have appointed themselves head of aquarium security.

And some find one comfortable spot and consider movement an unnecessary expenditure of calories.

Getting to know what's normal for your axolotl can also help you recognise when something changes.

The Secret Night Shift

So, what does your axolotl actually do after you go to bed?

A little exploring.

A little swimming.

Some resting.

Possibly rearranging your carefully positioned plants.

Definitely checking whether food has mysteriously appeared.

And quite a lot of staring into the darkness with those permanently open eyes.

By morning, they'll probably be back in their favourite spot looking completely innocent.

You didn't see anything.

They weren't doing anything.

And that plant definitely moved itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are axolotls nocturnal?

Axolotls tend to be more active during lower-light periods, particularly around dusk, dawn and nighttime. They are often described as crepuscular rather than strictly nocturnal.

Do axolotls sleep at night?

Axolotls have periods of rest, although they don't have eyelids, so they don't close their eyes the way humans do when sleeping.

Do axolotls need a light at night?

No. Axolotls don't require a night light and should have a normal period of darkness.

Why is my axolotl more active at night?

Increased activity during low-light periods can be normal axolotl behaviour. You may notice more walking, swimming and exploring once the aquarium lights are turned off.

Why does my axolotl come to the glass when I approach?

Axolotls can learn associations between activity around their aquarium and feeding. If approaching the tank frequently means food arrives, they may become interested when they see movement nearby.

What temperature should an axolotl tank be?

Little Lotl's recommends maintaining axolotl water at 14–18°C.

Discover More About Axolotls With Little Lotl's Australia

The more time you spend watching axolotls, the more you realise there's considerably more going on behind those tiny eyes than their daytime potato impersonation suggests.

At Little Lotl's Australia, we're passionate about helping Australian axolotl owners understand their animals, create suitable aquariums and enjoy all the weird, wonderful and occasionally ridiculous behaviours that come with owning an axolotl.

Explore our axolotls, care guides, food, plants, water-care products and aquarium supplies, and discover everything you need for a happy little lotl.

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